February 15, 2008: Remembering Oscar Peterson
The titan of jazz piano, Oscar Peterson, passed away in December of 2007. Today we’ll listen to music from his long career, beginning with his early days as a virtuoso in the late 40s and early 50s. Peterson put his unique stamp on the jazz piano trio format and influenced countless musicians with his technical skill and deep sense of swing. He was playing up until his death, despite a stroke that crippled his left hand in 1993. We’ll pay tribute to his legacy on today’s Friday Riff.