Peterson, Oscar (1925-2007), was one of the great pianists in the history of jazz. He became known for his brilliant technique and his creative extended solos. He was also a composer and created the expansive composition Canadiana Suite (1964).
Peterson was born on Aug. 15, 1925, in Montreal, Canada. He was trained in classical piano from the age of 6. In 1949, Peterson appeared in a “Jazz at the Philharmonic” concert at Carnegie Hall. He quickly achieved fame worldwide. From 1951 to 1966, the Oscar Peterson Trio featured Peterson on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and a third musician on guitar or drums. Most notable were Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and Joe Pass on guitar and Ed Thigpen on drums. Peterson worked with many leading jazz musicians and performed as guest soloist with several symphony orchestras. He wrote an autobiography, A Jazz Odyssey: The Life of Oscar Peterson (2002). He died on Dec. 23, 2007.
