When Diana Krall was asked to sing and play for her hero, Oscar Peterson, at his 80th birthday party in August, she was beside herself with giddiness.
Playing piano for a guy who owns the instrument the way Peterson does is obviously one of the hardest things for a musician to do. Krall joked after she started playing at HMV downtown that she'd forgotten how to play altogether. She told reporters later that she was so nervous, she felt like a school girl in the presence of the man whose many albums she had devoured as a critical part of her jazz education.
It turns out that Peterson is a fan of hers, too, and she and husband Elvis Costello and others came back to Peterson's Mississauga home that night and had themselves a good old-fashioned jam. Krall played and sang several tunes. She and Peterson are both great admirers of the great Nat King Cole and both have dedicated tribute albums to him.
Peterson's album, called With Respect To Nat, was recorded shortly after Cole died and features vocals on all but one track. The man can sing, too. He probably stopped doing that, however, because his delivery and voice bear an absolutely uncanny resemblance to Cole's.
For Peterson's own account of the birthday celebration visit
www.oscarpeterson.com and click on the Oct. 15 journal.
A Krall/Peterson duo might have reached a larger, public stage later this month if Mississauga uber-producer Ron Duquette had his way.
He is organizing the upcoming Hazel's Hope fundraiser fighting the spread of HIV/AIDs in Tanzania.
"She (Krall) wanted to be part of it and we tried. We really tried but with their schedules, it was just too hard to do," said Duquette.
The concert was going to be held at LAC but it wasn't available for that night. Peterson and his new quartet will instead take to the stage Nov. 20 in the 2,600-seat Roy Thomson Hall downtown.
In case you're worried about the event turning into a talk-fest instead of a concert, forget it.
Duquette is going to show one of his intriguing little film vignettes from the archival material he has on Peterson, the Mayor will introduce the quartet and then they'll play.
"People are paying good money to see a concert and what we're going to give them is a really good concert," said Duquette. "With Oscar, that won't be any problem."
Tickets cost $15-$135. Call 416-872-4255.
Duquette still hopes someday to get Krall and Peterson on the same stage for a good cause in Mississauga eventually. Here's keeping our fingers crossed.