{"id":4593,"date":"2021-08-15T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-15T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=4593"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:25:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T23:25:49","slug":"oscar-peterson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/oscar-peterson\/","title":{"rendered":"Pianist Profiles: Oscar Peterson&#8217;s Jazz Legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (1925-2007)\u2014lovingly nicknamed &#8220;OP&#8221;\u2014is widely recognized as one of the greatest jazz pianists who ever lived. Renowned for his dazzling virtuosity, technical skill and even voice, &#8220;the man with four hands&#8221; continues to influence and inspire pianists decades after his death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Biography<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Oscar Peterson was born on August 15, 1925 in the humble &#8220;Little Burgundy&#8221; neighborhood of Montr\u00e9al, Qu\u00e9bec, Canada. He was the fourth of five children and his family were Caribbean Canadians with roots in St. Kitts and the British Virgin Islands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Oscar&#8217;s father saw music education as a way out of poverty. He was a self-taught organist and insisted all his children learn the piano and a brass instrument. Oscar&#8217;s first mentor was his older sister <a href=\"https:\/\/rabble.ca\/news\/2021\/02\/heritage-minute-honours-oscar-peterson-overlooks-big-sister-daisy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daisy<\/a>, who later also became a respected musician in the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Oscar%20Peterson\/oscar%20-%20young%20with%20friends.jpeg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">A young Oscar Peterson already surrounded by adoring fans. (Source: Toronto History, <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/2.0\/?ref=ccsearch&amp;atype=rich\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-2.0<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Growing up, Oscar also fell in love with the trumpet. But a bout of tuberculosis damaged his lungs and ended any career he may have had with the brass instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At one point, the young Oscar won the attention of manager Norman Gantz, who also managed the career of artists like Ella Fitzgerald. Norman Gantz kickstarted OP&#8217;s career in the United States by having him perform as a &#8220;guest artist&#8221; at Carnegie Hall in 1949. (OP couldn&#8217;t perform as the main act because he couldn&#8217;t secure a work visa in time.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that explosive American debut, the rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As a musician, I respond to the harmony and rhythm of life, and when I\u2019m deeply moved it leaves something singing inside me.<\/p>\n<cite>Oscar Peterson on writing <em>Canadiana Suite<\/em> (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cshf.ca\/song\/canadiana-suite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\ud83c\udfc6 Key Achievements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Order of Canada (Companion), Order of Ontario (Member), Ordre national du Qu\u00e9bec (Knight), Order of Arts and Letters, Government of France (Officer)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>15 honorary degrees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8 Grammy Awards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 Juno Awards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>First living person (other than a reigning monarch) to be featured on a Canada Post stamp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Has a street named after him (Oscar Peterson Boulevard in Mississauga, ON)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/90954434\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:96.632996% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/90954434?et=F1eMNtAnRVVO5Ngtuc0TzQ&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=0IHzmtD8H782z0DBBIXQvdLmXwKmJdM5J8h2GgIwCgw=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"574\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Influences and Style<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>OP is a staple figure in jazz&#8217;s mid-twentieth century golden age. He rubbed shoulders with other greats like Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, while dazzling audiences with the Oscar Peterson Trio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">What made OP so beloved? His technical prowess stunned audiences, for sure, but as with all successful artists, his style wasn&#8217;t without criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perfectionist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At 17, Oscar wanted to drop out of school to pursue music. His father, a strict disciplinarian\u2014who was, according to Oscar, &#8220;more than firm&#8221;\u2014wasn&#8217;t pleased. Still, he ultimately said yes under the condition that Oscar not only become a successful jazz pianist, but <em>the<\/em> greatest jazz pianist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A remarkably cohesive ensemble, the three musicians seemed to have telepathic powers of communication.<\/p>\n<cite>N. Paglinauan, <a href=\"https:\/\/seamus.npr.org\/programs\/jazzprofiles\/archive\/peterson.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NPR<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:473px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/73909479\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:125.5814% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/73909479?et=nWdg6oCcQxR1_qY-DczNzA&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=3tPk0Gexriz7oqltuSv8vx_7H43kjyGBUJhSOkDoZvc=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"473\" height=\"594\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This attitude towards perfectionism would follow Oscar for the rest of his career. He challenged the musicians he played with and his own style is marked by its technical precision. His first trio, with Herb Ellis and Ray Brown, was intended to sound as one artist rather than an ensemble of three. This demanded the band be <em>tight<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Technical Virtuosity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Those 7 Times Oscar Peterson Went Next Level Genius | bernie&#039;s bootlegs\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gxs4KWxcw1w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Seven times OP showed off his skills. The drummer can barely keep up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>OP is perhaps best known for his dexterity. A typical Oscar solo is rife with lightning fast yet crystal clear runs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This technical virtuosity likely came from the diversity of mentors Oscar studied with in his youth. He attended the Conservatoire de musique du Qu\u00e9bec \u00e0 Montr\u00e9al, but also took lessons from Harlem jazz legend Louis Hooper. He even studied under Paul de Marky, whose &#8220;grand-teacher&#8221; was Franz Liszt, perhaps the greatest classical virtuoso of all time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely, Oscar&#8217;s reputation for speed also earned him a fair share of critics. Some critics find that his playing, while impressive in performance, lacked emotion and artistic originality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"blue-text-block\">\u2753\ud83c\udfb9 <b><i>DID YOU KNOW?<\/i><\/b> OP had a <i>stroke<\/i> while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2008\/12\/17\/98358091\/oscar-peterson-piano-master\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">playing live<\/a>, and he still managed to finish the concert! Now that&#8217;s dedication.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Style Synthesizer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>As a musician, Oscar not only played with high technical skill, he also understood music on a deeply intuitive level. He can deftly mimic, pick inspiration from, and riff upon the styles of his heroes and contemporaries. Even his vocal style has been likened to Nat King Cole&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a video of Oscar that demonstrates his understanding of and fluency in other musicians&#8217; jazz styles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/youtu.be\/QqPhypQAhU8\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Utter dedication, every time you play. And if that is scary, it is also uniquely exciting: Once it&#8217;s bitten you, you never get rid of it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>Oscar Peterson on improvising in front of a large audience (Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sistema-toronto.ca\/black-history-month-oscar-peterson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sistema Toronto<\/a>)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1962, OP composed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cshf.ca\/song\/hymn-to-freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Hymn to Freedom.&#8221;<\/a> Inspired by the spirituals he grew up hearing in the Montr\u00e9al Black community, it became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement. With lyrics by Harriette Hamilton, this song would later be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Pop-up Video: Oscar Peterson performs Canadian Suite | From the Vaults\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1trxUoIXlk0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Another of OP&#8217;s most well-known works is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cshf.ca\/song\/canadiana-suite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Canadiana Suite<\/em> (1963)<\/a>, a love-song to his home country. <meta charset=\"utf-8\">Each song of the 8-piece suite explores a place in Canada, from the Maritimes and the cities of Toronto and Montr\u00e9al to the prairies and the Pacific Northwest. The suite celebrates the vastness and diversity of the country. Of course, OP names one song after his childhood neighborhood, &#8220;Place St. Henri.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Today, OP is a revered figure in Canadian cultural history. But life wasn&#8217;t always easy for the Black musician from an immigrant family. As this <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7cdXEhR9dd4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Heritage Minute<\/a> clip shows, at times, Oscar had difficulty entering performance spaces due to the color of his skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\">OP also experienced several tragedies in his personal life. He outlived one of his daughters as well as Norman Gantz, one of his best friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Heritage Minute: Oscar Peterson\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7cdXEhR9dd4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;You have to almost be cold,&#8221; he says of the loneliness he experiences on tour. &#8220;You have to try and put it aside . . . because it can block your improvisational ideas.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oscar also struggled with his health. He suffered from arthritis from a young age, and in 1993, experienced a stroke during a performance. This would create a lasting impact on the left side of his body, affecting his playing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet despite these personal setbacks, OP played music until his death in 2007 at the age of 82. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/103575175\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:76.59933% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/103575175?et=qVG35qwCS8BiPtLNx_gPxw&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=okIpcqbJkAJbGxa_OQJX9Lv_m6834R5fqYU5zvY3GCE=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"455\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"getty embed image\" style=\"background-color:#fff;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;color:#a7a7a7;font-size:11px;width:100%;max-width:594px;\"><div style=\"padding:0;margin:0;text-align:left;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/104048445\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div><div style=\"overflow:hidden;position:relative;height:0;padding:65.31986% 0 0 0;width:100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/embed.gettyimages.com\/embed\/104048445?et=doQQMayhQlVNnOXdqfKXaw&amp;tld=ca&amp;sig=SaLbS0J1PZh4OITe-7vN7IWvCBhfehH9Ldhqpjvf_4I=&amp;caption=true&amp;ver=1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" width=\"594\" height=\"388\" style=\"display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Left: OP recording in 1955. Top: OP mixing in his home studio in 1991.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On Music Education<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>At one point, Oscar operated the Advanced School of Contemporary Music, but the school closed after three years because Oscar&#8217;s performing schedule was too demanding. OP would contribute to musical education in other ways with academic posts such as becoming a professor and then a chancellor at York University. He also wrote four volumes of jazz instruction, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3CCrKSP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Jazz Exercises and Pieces for the Young Jazz Pianist<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether through his recordings, writings, or interviews, OP&#8217;s tenacity, virtuosity, and creativity continue to inspire pianists everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>*<em>Note: This article contains affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission from the product seller if you make a purchase. For more info, check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/privacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">privacy page.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Sources and Further Reading<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oscarpeterson.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oscar Peterson&#8217;s homepage<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\/en\/article\/oscar-peterson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Oscar Peterson&#8221; by Betty Nygaard King, <em>The Canadian Encyclopedia<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cshf.ca\/song\/hymn-to-freedom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Hymn to Freedom&#8221; (Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cshf.ca\/song\/canadiana-suite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Canadiana Suite&#8221; (Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/seamus.npr.org\/programs\/jazzprofiles\/archive\/peterson.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8220;Oscar Peterson&#8221; &#8211; Jazz Profiles by NPR by David Tarnow<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/ioPW72tG0AI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oscar Peterson: Keeping the Groove Alive &#8211; Documentary (Encore+)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Cover photo by Tom Marcello Webster (license: <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a>) via Wikimedia Commons<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oscar Peterson is one of the most respected pianists of all time. Learn about the jazz legend&#8217;s life, work, and enduring legacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":4594,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-4593","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-musicianship","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4593"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10386,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4593\/revisions\/10386"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4594"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4593"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4593"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4593"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}