First Play: Oscar Peterson, Various — Oscar, With Love

Oscar, With Love is a compilation featuring an all-star lineup of pianists who have come together to pay tribute to and honour the musical career of Oscar Peterson.

2015 marks 90 years after Petersons birth, and the aim of the compilation — executive produced by his widow, Kelly Peterson — is to preserve the Canadian jazz legends legacy as an artist and composer. The pianists played Oscars compositions in his home studio on his Bösendorfer piano. Some of those who participated in the recording will participate in Oscar @ 90, a sold-out concert taking place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015.

The musicians involved are an impressive lineup of artists who all had some kind of personal connection with Oscar. They include Chick Corea, Ramsey Lewis, Audrey Morris and Oliver Jones. Additionally, young pianists like Oscars protÃgÃs Benny Green (Cool Walk) and Robi Botos (Blues for Smedley) as well as Gerald Clayton (Hymn to Freedom) and Justin Kauflin (On Danish Shore) take part, underscoring the ongoing relevance of Oscars music for future generations.

Over 36 tracks, the music on Oscar, With Love features tracks familiar to Oscar Peterson adherents and some that have never been previously recorded. The CBC Music First Play, which you can listen to above, features 14 of the tracks on the three-CD set available at oscarwithlove.com.

The tracks not only include the frenetic, self-explanatory OPs Boogie played with verve by Lance Anderson and the hard-swinging Sushi by Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap, but also the comparatively sedate and stately reading of Oscars classical flourishes on the dedication to his daughter, CÃlines Waltz, played by Jones.

A fellow Montrealer, Jones also appears on Why Think About Tomorrow?, nimbly accompanied by Dave Young on bass, while Clayton brings a contemporary urgency to the jazz pianists standard Hymn to Freedom, representing the sonic breadth of Oscars artistry. In an interview with CBC Music about the project, Kelly said this was always the intention. 

Oscar’s compositions really do reflect his character, says Kelly. There’s so much depth. There are things that are humorous because he had a great sense of humour. There’s incredible beauty in the music that he wrote and a vast sense of harmony and melody. Rhythm, swing, all that, everything. His compositions embody his personality and I did want to show that.

Tracklist:

1. The Contessa (never previously recorded); piano: Makoto Ozone
2. Blues For Smedley; piano: Robi Botos
3. The Smudge; piano: Kenny Barron
4. CÃline’s Waltz (never previously recorded); piano: Oliver Jones 
5. Cool Walk; piano: Benny Green
6. OP’s Boogie; piano: Lance Anderson
7. Sushi; piano: Renee Rosnes/Bill Charlap
8. Harcourt Nights; piano: Michel Legrand
9. If I Love Again (never previously recorded); piano: Ramsey Lewis
10. On Danish Shore; piano: Justin Kauflin
11. Why Think About Tomorrow? ; piano Oliver Jones 
12. Hymn To Freedom; piano: Gerald Clayton
13. Tranquille; piano: Monty Alexander 
14. Take Me Home (never previously performed or recorded); piano: Hiromi

Oscar, With Love is available to be ordered at oscarwithlove.com.

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Related:

Oscar, With Love: Oliver Jones, Chick Corea and more pay tribute to Oscar Peterson

50 years on the Night Train – Celebrating Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson’s Night Train 50th anniversary concert videos

Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson and the maharaja of the keyboard

Giants of Jazz: Oscar Peterson in exclusive interview from CBCs Hot Air archive