Random Access

The impact of Oscar Peterson's music on people around the globe cannot be measured. But every media, music and jazz outlet in the world seems to be giving it the old college try.
The sheer number of tributes, and their deeply heartfelt nature, is astounding. And what people often remember most about Dr. Peterson is not just his prodigious talent, but his gentle personality.
If there are any stories of Oscar brushing off fans, I haven't heard of them. Of course, some of the obituaries dug up the old guff from the early critics who complained about his technique overwhelming his talent. And the derogatory comments made long ago by trumpeter Miles Davis.
Rob Vanstone, a reporter at the Regina Leader-Post and a huge Oscar fan, couldn't resist providing the defence argument. You can read it here:
www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/columnists/story.html?id=00ddb128-cb4f-43ea-a460-0bd45a5f327f
You can also read Rob's earlier column, in the wake of OP's death, about his personal experiences as a fan: www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/go/story.html?id=3fea1509-d810-457b-b499-773da61282af&p=2.
The side stories about Peterson's generosity and the devotion of fans are legendary. Mayor Hazel McCallion said last week, after her good friend died, when the mayor of Kariya, Japan, came to Mississauga last summer, there was only one thing he was really interested in doing — meeting our jazz legend. Unfortunately, Oscar wasn't available.
It is hard for us, on this side of the pond, to imagine how much of an idol Peterson was in jazz-mad Japan.
In another incident a few years ago, Oscar was visiting a hospital in Toronto just before his 80th birthday when he was approached by a Scarborough resident, also 80, who was absolutely infatuated with him. She told him that a large group of people who were all about to celebrate their 80th were coming from across Canada to the Japanese Cultural Centre in Scarborough. She asked Oscar if he’d come and perform. He said maybe. Never was anybody ever happier with a maybe.
What other superstar would have even considered it?
By the way, the Peterson tribute concert being put on next Saturday afternoon at Roy Thomson Hall, where the pianist gave his Hazel's Hope concert Nov. 20, 2005, is being broadcast on radio, in case you are unwilling, or unable, to line up for the 2,300 rush seats.
It will be carried live at 4 p.m. on CBC Radio One (99.1) and 8 p.m. the same evening on Radio Two (94.1)
One of the featured performers will be Measha Brueggergosman, who lived in Mississauga while studying at the University of Toronto. She is one of the few people who have the pipes to do justice to Peterson's homage to civil rights and Dr. Nelson Mandela titled Hymn To Freedom. Let's hope she sings it. (Jackie Richardson does a wonderful version.)
It was interesting to see Toronto Star entertainment writer Martin Knelman, a long-time Oscar watcher, call for a sculpture to be erected, perhaps outside Massey Hall, in honour of Peterson. Something quirky, perhaps, like the Glenn Gould bench outside the CBC, Knelman suggested.
Good idea, wrong venue. Since we are embarking on a placemaking exercise to enliven our too-often moribund city centre, how about a beautiful commissioned Oscar statue to stand brighten up the concrete square wasteland in front of the Mississauga Civic Centre?
Or more appropriately yet, in front of the Living Arts Centre where the extraordinary tribute concert to Peterson, with him providing the musical coup de grâce with his old buddy Clark Terry, was held place Sept. 10, 2003.