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The celebration of Oscar Peterson's 80th birthday Aug. 15 was a
pleasure to behold.

Not only is he a national cultural treasure but the resident of Mississauga for the last 23 years is one of the few remaining touchstones to the golden age of jazz.

Diana Krall was so visibly shaken at being in the presence of her hero that she "forgot how to play the piano" and appeared tongue-tied when she talked to reporters afterward.

But one major quibble with the event, which was centered around a new postage stamp issued featuring Peterson's likeness: why the horrible venue?

Sure HMV was one of the sponsors (along with Universal Music and Canada Post), but could there have been a worse location than the second floor of the downtown HMV?

Peterson had to get out of his wheelchair, ride the escalator up to the second floor, get back in his chair, and squeeze through a phalanx of gawkers (OK, media) just to get to the platform. No one had apparently thought that a ramp might be a good idea for the stage. So, once again his son had to help the jazz great out of his chair, lift it up onto the stage and then help his Dad get settled in. It was an uncomfortable moment that really wasn't necessary if someone had used some foresight.

Of course, nothing could spoil the magic once Peterson got on stage.

The lasting memory will be of the announcement that the event was over, followed by the mad jumble of activity and then the slow realization that the great man himself was determinedly making his way to the piano and would play.

It was a new piece called Elegy written for the many recently-departed jazzers. The brooding tribute wasn't the technical tour-de-force that casual fans usually associate with Peterson. It was instead, the work of the mature composer, reflecting on the rich past of the music and the losses it has suffered. As he played, one couldn't help but think, thank goodness this giant still remains among us.