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Subscribe to theOctober 16, 2009
Oscar Peterson Sings, Revolutionary Jazz Cover Art, Time Travel
By David Brent Johnson
*Pianist Oscar Peterson recorded a slew of albums during his lifetime–and on a couple of occasions he sang. How did he sound? Surprisingly good, but also surprisingly similar to another pianist-turned-singer. Find out who (and decide for yourself what you think of OP as a vocalist) on this week’s Afterglow program, The Piano Player Sings: Oscar Peterson.
*Too cool for words: a new jazz book in the pipeline, Freedom, Rhythm and Sound: Revolutionary Jazz Cover Art 1960-1978.
*Speaking of books and cool–all the hip kids are reading the new Monk bio right now. I’m about a third of the way through, and so far it’s very, very good…Kelley has dug deep and given us a much clearer, more accurate portrait of a man and musician who’s been mythologized almost to the point of caricature.
*If you’re not already a fan of Night Lights on Facebook, drop by and tell me what artist, gig or venue you’d check out if you could get into the proverbial time machine and cruise through the annals of jazz history. Some great responses so far.
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