Show would have made Oscar Peterson proud
By
Jack Massarik
18 Mar 2008
"When I'm dead I'll be famous," is a favourite complaint of Martin Drew, Oscar Peterson's drummer for 25 years. He's right, of course.
Martin's crisp playing and candid reminiscences lend authenticity to this loving tribute to a great pianist whose departure, last Christmas Eve aged 82, leaves an immense void.
Oscar's silken fluency and propulsive swing transcended jazz fashions for half a century, and as Londoner Martin recalled, he was a giant in every sense. "He once asked me to lose weight. A bit rich, I felt, from someone only a couple or sizes smaller than Europe."
As presenter James Pearson and fellow pianist David Newton duetted on Tiger Rag (for Art Tatum, Oscar's earliest hero) and stirring Peterson originals Hymn to Freedom and L'Impossible, it was clear how much Peterson had shaped their styles. This was less true of Gwilym Simcock, who joined Drew and bassist Sam Burgess for stylish versions of Tenderly and East of the Sun.
But the swing-trio ambience of Nat King Cole, another formative influence on Peterson, was writ large when guitarist Colin Oxley and bassist Len Skeat joined the party. Oscar would have relished it.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Tonight:
5°c








