Back when I were a lad you’d get jazz on the telly, especially Oscar Peterson. He’d have special guests including rock musicians such as Keith Emerson or Rick Wakeman as well as great jazz players such as Count Basie or Joe Pass. He was a great communicator and, given he was one of the best jazz pianist in the world, unfailingly humble and charming. And funny – see here when he also reveals his singing voice. This wonderful clip shows him explaining different jazz piano styles (all of which he can play superbly). His reverence for Art Tatum never left him, and he wouldn’t play in front of him – in fact he gave up playing for weeks after seeing Tatum live (probably the only player who could out shred him.
Marvellous.
Splendid!
Marvellous.
That’s lovely. I feel in the mood for some mulled wine.
I’ll post this while I’m here. In 1966, Duke Ellington visited Joan Miró at his home in Palma. His trio recorded a specially composed piece in tribute. They set up in his garden, surrounded by sculptures, as Miró pottered about. My dad loved art and Jazz. It left a deep impression on me. Some years ago, I visited the house, now a museum, dragging reluctant family up the hill some way out from the city centre, in baking hot sun, just to stand in the garden. There are still sculptures dotted about the place. I wondered what they had for tea and if Duke knew enough Spanish for a conversation.
Wonderful stuff. Thanks for positing Tiggerlion.
The Mrs and I were in Palma about 10 years ago and went to the Miro house, which had been turned into a museum with galleries of his paintings on display. All very inspiring.
Got me thinking about jazz on the telly. I always recall the Peddlers forever popping up on saturday night comedy shows. Maybe not jazz jazz but certainly jazzy,
And doesn’t the Durham Town hitmaker look young at the beginning?
Good stuff. I enjoyed that immensely.
Excellent stuff – well recall watching Oscar’s show and sadly he never seems to have ever been hip in the way so many other revered jazz players of the 60s’70s have become over the years. Also remember the Peddlers – such a strange band – and little stunned to hear their glorious version of “On a clear day” pop up in Breaking Bad.
Also – jazzy TV themes from the 60s – here’s John Dankworth.
It’s odd isn’t it, you’re right he was never revered by the critics anyway. Other musicians did of course. Mind you the critics didn’t like Dave Brubeck either so what do they know.
Awesome player. And those last few seconds as the credits rolled up? Boy, he was just getting warmed up – I could have listened to him making it up as he went along for the rest of the morning.
His Night Train and Porgy and Bess albums come highly recommended. A brilliant ambassador for jazz.
This is a really good one too, with Milt Jackson (and Ed Thigpen/Ray Brown).
An incredible album, found it on LP this year. John Brown’s Body a big favourite.
I bet it is, you mucky pup.
*THWACK*
(That was with a big sprig of mistletoe btw. Merry Christmas!)
Seem to have stumbled across a ton of “Oscar Plays…” type albums this year, mostly on CD. The My Fair Lady one in particular is great.