Dr. Oscar Peterson has more talent in his right arm than an army of clones of me could ever hope to acquire. Even with restricted use of his left hand, he’s still one of the best jazz pianists ever, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to see him and his NATO quartet
tonight. The crowd at the Festival Theatre in Stratford gave him no fewer than four standing ovations, the first before he performed a single note, and the last going on for close to five minutes and two curtain calls.
In the last seven days I’ve seen a jazz singer near the beginning of her career, Jennifer Thorpe; an incredible quartet fresh from their first major award, the Great Uncles of the Revolution, winners of the 2002 Grand Prix at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal; and one of the greats, Dr. Peterson.
It’s been a good week.
