On the occasion of Oscar Peterson's centenary, Canada celebrates its jazz piano giant
Last week at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet and the National Arts Centre Orchestra presented Peterson's civil rights anthem Hymn to Freedom and the world premiere of a newly commissioned arrangement of Peterson's Trail of Dreams by bassist Mike Downes.
The concert kicked off a summer of shows − many in collaboration with the Peterson estate − that celebrate the great Canadian jazz pianist who was born in Montreal on Aug. 15, 1925, and died Dec. 23, 2007.
The Globe and Mail asked some of the musicians taking part in concerts, including Saturday's all-star gala at Toronto's Massey Hall, to talk about their favourite Peterson songs and albums.
National Arts Centre Orchestra bringing premieres, works by Oscar Peterson to Korea and Japan
My Foolish Heart (song from the 1963 studio album Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle, with orchestra arranged and conducted by Riddle): 'I grew up listening to Oscar Peterson, but years later I found the Oscar Peterson and Nelson Riddle album. It blew me away, especially the song My Foolish Heart. It made me want to record that song, on 2020's Surfboard. His restraint is beautiful − it's such a romantic soundscape. The use of space is breathtaking. When I heard it for the first time it made me fall in love with Oscar's music all over again." − Brandi Disterheft, bassist
Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite (2000 studio album, arranged by Michel Legrand): 'The compositions are beautiful and majestic, clearly outlining how Oscar felt about Canada. The suite was written after he suffered a stroke in 1993, and to my ears the compositions have a profound depth and meaning, perhaps in part due to this stage in his life, and the wisdom of a lifetime of performing and composing.' − Mike Downes, bassist
Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin (1954 studio album, with clarinetist DeFranco, bassist Ray Brown, guitarist Herb Ellis and drummer Bobby White): 'The orchestra, conducted by Russ Garcia, plays such beautifully lush arrangements. The relationship between the orchestra and the two soloists is never competitive, it's stunningly complimentary. I also appreciate the bridge between a somewhat classical sound of the orchestra playing Gershwin and the swingin' and virtuosic solos from Peterson and DeFranco. This album is a masterclass in emotive playing and invites the audience into such mastery without any sort of elitism.' − Caity Gyorgy, singer
Nigerian Marketplace (Peterson composition from the 1981 live album of the same name, with bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted and drummer Terry Clarke): 'It's an eight-minute song that goes through many moods. It has a contemporary feel initially, but it shifts into something soul-orientated and groove-orientated. And then his solo is everything you could ever want in an Oscar Peterson solo. It isn't dance music per se, but it's so exciting. The band is right there with him, ramping up, though never feeling gratuitous. Everything they do is in service of the song. Yes, there is showmanship, but never at the expense of artistry.' – Laila Biali, pianist
Canadiana Suite (1965 album, composed by Peterson, recorded by the Oscar Peterson Trio, with bassist Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen): 'Not only was Oscar the greatest jazz pianist in terms of his groove and his blazing technical skills and his use of harmony, he was also a master composer and a master arranger. We get all of this with Canadiana Suite. But beyond that, it is evocative. I can see the Rocky Mountains on Land of the Misty Giants. And March Past evokes a parade at the Calgary Stampede. It starts quite softly. Then, in the middle of the song, it's just burning. It's all about a parade coming toward you and then marching past." − Mark McLean, drummer
West Side Story (1962 album by the Oscar Peterson Trio, with bassist Brown and drummer Thigpen): 'It's a side of Oscar not represented as much as his virtuosic side. Here he is beautiful, melodic and accessible. What's interesting is the way he creates melodies with harmonies. He's using every finger he can to build the melodies − it's so rich. There are times with Oscar you forget that it's only one person playing.' − Thompson Egbo-Egbo, pianist
Oscar Peterson centenary concerts
Asterisk denotes official Oscar Peterson Centennial concert.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Juliette Powell, former Miss Canada and MuchMusic host turned tech critic, remembered for challenging biases
Juliette Powell, who once commanded attention as the host of MuchMusic's live dance party Electric Circus and later as a respected commentator on the societal risks of advanced technology, has died at 54. The former television host, author and New York University faculty member was found dead at home on June 3, said Art Kleiner, the co-author of her 2023 book The AI Dilemma. He said the cause of death was acute bacterial meningitis. It came as a shock to many friends who say Ms. Powell's energetic personality and drive to shatter barriers defined her life up until the end. 'She was obviously brilliant,' Mr. Kleiner said Wednesday in a phone interview. 'And she had a charismatic personality.' Many Canadians will remember Ms. Powell's radiance, captivating smile and towering figure best from her role as ringleader on Electric Circus, where she mingled with the show's fashionable dancers as they moved and grooved to the latest 1990s club hits. Her experience in the spotlight actually began years earlier after she moved from her birthplace in Manhattan to Montreal with her French-Canadian mother. As a young adult, she entered local beauty pageants in hopes that she could challenge racial biases that were prevalent in the industry. She placed second in the Miss Montreal Pageant and became the first Black woman to win Miss Canada in 1989. The recognition opened doors to TV opportunities and Ms. Powell was eager to walk through many of them. In 1992, she joined Montreal music video channel MusiquePlus as a video jockey and the bilingual host of its weekly dance show Bouge de là!. The station's founder, Moses Znaimer, said Wednesday in a post on X that he was struck by the young Ms. Powell's 'sass' and 'smarts,' though he couldn't recall if she challenged him for the job or he offered it to her first. Ms. Powell held onto her TV gig while studying finance and business at McGill University. Eventually, she moved to Toronto, where Mr. Znaimer handed her the reins of Electric Circus, which had been hosted for years by Monika Deol. Both women were beauties suited for television, and many former Much staffers acknowledge Ms. Powell had big shoes to fill. She did it with her own trademark style, frequently wrapping her long arms around people she interviewed as she floated through the open studio in downtown Toronto with her wireless microphone. 'Spirit of MuchMusic' still alive at documentary premiere in Toronto with former VJs in attendance 'You have to be warm, you have to give of yourself,' said Tony Young, also known as Much VJ Master T. 'She came in there and handled it famously.' When Nam Kiwanuka joined the MuchMusic team in 1999 as an intern on Rap City, Ms. Powell was already on a roll. Her weekly presence on Friday night TV, and the bilingual music video show French Kiss, had made her a household name. So Ms. Kiwanuka was surprised to learn that her office desk would be right next to Ms. Powell's at 299 Queen St. W., which made her a frequent observer of her mentor's enigmatic appeal. 'She was one of those people that when you spoke to her, you were the only person in the room,' Ms. Kiwanuka said. 'There was an energy about her; she was very confident. Whenever stars came in, they seemed to be more enamoured with her.' Powell signed off from Electric Circus in 2000 by popping a bottle of champagne on-air as the dancers surrounded her. Together, they rushed onto the streets outside the studio, everyone bobbing to the groove of a disco beat. 'I will never, ever forget this,' Ms. Powell said while clutching armfuls of bouquets and stuffed animals. She assured viewers she wasn't leaving TV entirely. Her next stop was as a business reporter at news channel CablePulse 24, now known as CP24, a role she insisted wasn't so different 'because money is very sexy, too.' However, Ms. Powell would eventually drift away from her role as a TV personality, and friends say she became accustomed to a more private life. She founded media consulting company Powell International Entertainment Inc. and took advisory roles at the United Nations, World Economic Forum and the World Bank. New documentary 299 Queen Street West tracks how MuchMusic became a star-making machine In 2009, she wrote her first book, 33 Million People in the Room: How to Create, Influence, and Run a Successful Business Using Social Networking. By then, she had already found a new calling in the fast-evolving world of technology, eventually becoming a voice for the societal risks of a world dominated by artificial intelligence. In 2014, she met Mr. Kleiner through a mutual friend who felt they could be fruitful collaborators on the ethics of tech. Mr. Kleiner said the intellectual spark between them happened quickly and he saw an opportunity to work together. 'She commands the room just in the way she shows up,' he said, pointing to YouTube videos of her conversations about unconscious biases in technology, data ownership and privacy. The pair published the 2023 book The AI Dilemma: 7 Principles for Responsible Technology, which explored the risks and misuses of machine learning. It expanded on her interests in the intersection of media, technology and ethics, a topic she taught as part of NYU's faculty in the interactive telecommunications program. Last year, they founded Kleiner Powell International, an AI consultancy firm for business clients, one of several projects he said Ms. Powell was working on up until her final days. 'Everyone that I talked to had some future thing they planned with Juliette.'
National Post
5 hours ago
- National Post
Capcom's Devil May Cry 5 Sales Top 10 Million Units!
Article content Article content OSAKA, Japan — Capcom Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:9697) today announced that worldwide cumulative sales of Devil May Cry 5 have surpassed 10 million units. Article content In Devil May Cry 5, players can enjoy thrilling, high-speed gameplay, stylish action, and beautiful graphics, depicted with intricate realism thanks to Capcom's proprietary RE ENGINE. The title has garnered strong support from users due to its exceptional gameplay experience, leading to expanded sales as a catalog title since its release. Capcom provided an even more advanced story and action elements in the game with the addition of a new playable character, and more recently, on April 3, 2025, the company released the new Devil May Cry animated series on Netflix, in line with the company's Single Content Multiple Usage strategy. The animated series has garnered critical acclaim from around the world, and with more than 5.3 million views it ranked fourth during its first week globally in the 'Shows | English' category, while also ranking in the top 10 for seven consecutive days in Japan. As a result of the game's exhilarating action, and due to efforts to enhance brand awareness by leveraging the title beyond the scope of videogames, including television adaptations, the title has now exceeded 10 million units in cumulative sales worldwide. Article content Capcom remains firmly committed to satisfying the expectations of all stakeholders by leveraging its industry-leading game development capabilities in order to create highly entertaining gameplay experiences. Article content About the Devil May Cry series: Article content The Devil May Cry series consists of stylish action games known for their unique characters and exhilarating gameplay. As one of Capcom's major brands, the games in this series have cumulatively sold more than 33 million* units since the first title was released in 2001. The popularity of the series has gone beyond videogames, with expansion into other media, including animation and merchandise. Article content *As of March 31, 2025 Article content ABOUT CAPCOM Article content Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including groundbreaking franchises Resident Evil™, Monster Hunter™, Street Fighter™, Mega Man™, Devil May Cry™ and Ace Attorney™. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Tokyo, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan. More information about Capcom can be found at Article content Article content Article content Article content
National Post
20 hours ago
- National Post
Canadian Grand Prix fans stuck paying turbocharged prices for accommodation
MONTREAL — Paula Wadden has been a huge Formula One fan ever since she got hooked on the Netflix show 'Drive to Survive' a few years ago. Article content But the Halifax-area health-care worker says watching the Grand Prix in Montreal this weekend comes with high-octane prices. Article content Article content The Montreal hotel where she's spending the first part of the week doubles in price for the weekend. Instead, she'll spend the weekend at a hotel outside the city, near the airport, for about $600 a night. Article content 'The tickets (prices) are OK, it's the accommodation and the means that are getting expensive,' she said Tuesday in Old Montreal. 'I don't know how the average Joe can afford it.' Article content Article content Wadden said the trip, which she's taking with her daughter and her daughter's partner, will cost $6,000 to $7,000. And that's despite the switch in hotels and the decision to save money by driving the 12 hours from Halifax rather than flying. Article content While looking up hotels online, she said she saw even more eye-watering hotel prices ranging between $1,200 to more than $2,000 a night, as well as $4,000-per night Airbnbs. The Grand Prix is Montreal's biggest tourist event, expected to attract some 350,000 visitors and generate $162 million for the city, according to the head of Tourisme Montreal. Yves Lalumiere estimates average hotel room prices on Grand Prix weekend at $600 to $800 per night — although some wealthy CEOs will pay $8,000 for a suite. Article content 'This year's prices will probably stabilize quite a bit, maybe a two to three per cent increase over the previous year,' he said in an interview. 'But the last five years I've seen an increase year after year, and a substantial increase as well.' Article content A ticket package for the three race days starts at $360, according to the Canadian Grand Prix website — though well-off fans can pay much more. Packages with perks such as VIP concierge service, reservations at popular restaurants and parties, and access to areas such as pit lanes and paddocks can run in the tens of thousands of dollars. Article content However, Lalumiere noted that the city also offers plenty of free entertainment, including a Grand Prix party on Crescent Street. And he said hotel room prices are still 'very competitive,' especially for those paying in U.S. dollars or euros. Article content Crowds, meanwhile, are not only growing but also becoming more diverse, he said. Article content 'I think F1 has done a great job in selling the sport over the media,' Lalumiere said. 'And, therefore, now you're attracting a lot more ladies, you're attracting a lot more young people as well to the race.' Article content Black-and-white checkered banners were already fluttering on St-Paul Street in Old Montreal on Tuesday, as tourists lined up to photograph a Formula One car on display outside Max Bitton's racing-themed store, Fanabox. Bitton said he brought in the car as a gift to fans after last year's Grand Prix, which was marred by mishaps on and off the track that left a bad taste in some fans' mouths.
