A Jazz Odyssey

Jazz pianist Oscar Peterson is, in the words of Quincy Jones, 'one of the greatest musicians on the planet.' Richard Palmer is a lifelong jazz fan and has been a staff writer for Jazz Journal since the late 1970s.

Part one: The key to Oscar: Canada; beginnings; early teachers; my dad - Daniel Peterson; the formative years; subcultures and bigotry; runs, chords, and girls; decisions, decisions; from sixteen to three ; Collie Ramsey - mystery piano player; departure and arrival - part 1; departure and arrival - part 2; America - the 50s; early American days; from duo to trio; Herbie's story; trio control and growth; membership flow in the trio; early trio life and dealing with the road; the dinner battles; a different kind of taping; the bus - part 1; the bus - part 2; kissing bandit; ice-cream Charlie does it again; the slasher; the return of the Dallas flash; five cameos; the knowledgeable media; the southern draft - Norman Granz; Norman Granz - reluctant genius; Norman the gourmand; lifetime achievement grammy - Jazz people; Coleman Hawkin - the enigma; meet the president - Lester Young; the legend is real - Lady Fitz; Billie Holiday - the mysterious Lady Day; the Lady Day sessions ; Buddy Rich; Roy (Speedy Gonzales) Eldridge; Harry Edison; Bill Harris; Stuff Smith; Stan and Zoot; Carmen McRae - the special one; the other Lady Day - Anita O'Day; a glance at my confreres in the piano world; Wynton Kelly - brimsha man; in the studio - the proving ground; the verve Charlie Parker jam session; the role of the accompanist. Part Two More keys: the 60s onwards; the percussive group - Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen; the Night Train album; membership flow in the trio - 60s and 70s; the long and the short of it; the MPS years; those unrelenting bassists; persuasive percussion; Joe Pass - guitar eternal; Porgy and Bess with Joe Pass ; hang out in Japan; the hands hassle; preparation for solo piano performance; Duke Ellington - monarch supreme; the trumpet kings; Clark Terry - unsung hero; Ronnie Scott - "The Rev"; Mr Pretty - Alan Claire; four vignettes - James Mason, Jonathan Winters, Clint Eastwood, back up friends; Paul De Marky's Chopin-like eggs; Benny Green - critic supreme; "Oscar's piano parties"; pianos - my lifelong friends; the electronic revolution; promoters and their ways; the royal wedding album; the new quartet; the order of Canada; the Glenn Gould prize; the Praemium Imperiale. Part three Matters political: bigotry starts early; Nigger!; my favourite politician; pitfalls of the profession; cultural politics - the betrayal of Jazz. Part four Matters personal: true moments of greatness - the outdoorsman; the great hotels of the world; the continual search for true friends; night child; marriage and fatherhood; surgery, resurgence, stroke!; the perfect retreat; the elusive control of emotion; the will to perfection.