Peterson, Oscar

Peterson, Oscar (Emmanuel)

(born Aug. 15, 1925, Montreal, Que., Can.—died Dec. 23, 2007, Mississauga, Ont.) Canadian jazz pianist and composer. Peterson grew up in Montreal and studied classical piano. His jazz playing, influenced by Art Tatum and Nat King Cole, was characterized by cascades of notes and an effervescent swing. After his Carnegie Hall debut in 1949 he became one of the busiest pianists in jazz, in demand as an accompanist, solo pianist, and leader of his own trio. An outstanding, extroverted improviser and sensitive accompanist, Peterson demonstrated in his performance his roots in swing as well as bebop.

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Peterson, Oscar (Emmanuel) (1925–  ) jazz musician; born in Montreal, Canada. A virtuoso pianist, he won immediate acclaim upon his U.S. debut at Carnegie Hall in 1949. He was then a regular attraction of "Jazz at the Philharmonic" as well as a prolific recording artist and accompanist to other mainstream jazz figures.