2014 Bill Evans Bill Evans-style II-V-I lick . By all accounts, Peterson owes much of his later success to encouragement by his father, Daniel, a railroad worker, amateur musician and strict taskmaster. In fact, Oscar Peterson used this lick or slight variations of it throughout this solo. Ed Thigpen, an important element in the music of jazz luminaries including Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald, was known as “Mr. Oscar Peterson - Jazz Exercises, Minuets, Etudes & Pieces for Piano: Jazz Exercises, Minuets, Etudes and Pieces for Piano - Kindle edition by Peterson, Oscar. London House was the Peterson that finally made me a big appreciator. Get them delivered to your inbox. You'll learn beautiful jazz chords, fills, and more. The following lick uses A Mixolydian over an A7 chord. In the excerpts below, you’ll see how Oscar Peterson applied this scale in his solo over various chords. These sound great in a solo piano style. The first lick outlines a 4 chord (F) resolving to a 1 chord (C). Learn a breathtaking contemporary piano arrangement of the holiday favorite "O Holy Night" with a breakdown of contemporary piano techniques for all levels. Lessons are combined into courses. Peterson's first known public performance in Ottawa took place on Wednesday, December 5, 1945 at the Glebe Collegiate Auditorium at 8:30 p.m. To learn all about Altered Dominants, check out our courses on Piano Chord Alterations and Coloring Dominant Chords With Upper Structures. I’ll break down the Oscar Peterson chords for you. Essential Blues Piano Scales: Major & Minor Blues Scale. Mon 4 Jul 2005 06.54 EDT. Become a better piano player today. Read Full Biography. 2003 Oscar Peterson Oscar Peterson-style Arpeggios . In the linear notes for the Oscar Peterson Trio’s 1962 album, Night Train, jazz pianist Dick Katz wrote, “the blues is the lifeblood of every self-respecting jazzman. For almost 60 years Peterson enjoyed a sterling international reputation for his incredible jazz piano technique, ceaseless melodic invention and relentless rhythmic swing. He released over 200 recordings, won eight Grammy Awards, and received numerous other awards and honours. He mastered the balance between technique, hard blues grooving, and tenderness. lt is with this pr¡mary aspect in m¡nd that lhave conceived this set of beginner's exerc¡ses. Oscar Peterson Piano Scales We will also look at solo segments drawn from the Mixolydian Scale and the Dominant Bebop Scale. Every jazz pianist would soon know that Oscar was a master.” And 89-year-old Hank Jones, one of the few surviving be-bop piano greats, added in a statement to the Canadian Press, “He had a beautiful approach to ballads, which a lot of pianists forget.”, Marian McPartland, the fine British-born jazz pianist, whose remarkable National Public Radio show “Piano Jazz” has hosted virtually every significant jazz pianist over the past three decades, called Peterson “the finest technician that I have seen.” (The exceptional episode featuring Peterson is available in compact disc. Submit a video and get feedback from Jonny in the monthly Student Assessment. (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced). As you can see, this is synonymous with a C Major Scale beginning from the 5th tone (G). The G Mixolydian Scale would be the notes G A B C D E F♮. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, simply "O.P." A pianist with phenomenal technique on the level of his idol, Art Tatum, Peterson's speed, dexterity, and ability to swing at any tempo were amazing. It's a whole nuther animal than Monkian piano, and that's all to the good. A great way to make this your own is to experiment with different rhythmic variations. Oscar Peterson’s performing career lasted over six decades in which he won 8 Grammys and performed on over 200 recordings. On this program from 1998, Peterson demonstrates his deft touch and amazing technique. Peterson was himself somewhat critical of Powell, perhaps the most influential modern jazz pianist, calling his playing “uneven and unfinished.” Peterson was a perfectionist—there is not a mistake or bad measure in the thousands of hours he recorded—but at the same time there is a noticeable absence of those special moments that only someone willing to risk sounding “uneven” or “unfinished” can realize. You might be surprised to learn that large portions of this solo are derived from just two basic scales—the Minor Blues Scale and the Major Blues Scale (also known as “the Gospel Scale”). Peterson's virtuosity-his speed, articulation, and endurance-inspires and intimidates other pianists. In comparing Peterson to other piano giants of post-war jazz such as Powell, Thelonious Monk and Bill Evans, one can appreciate not only the differences in taste, but also the tension between satisfying or challenging the listener—the cutting edge of artistic expression. art tatum: king hell! The prices of admission was 90 cents, $1.20, and $1.50. Coloring Dominant Chords With Upper Structures. I consider him the major influence that formed my roots in jazz piano playing. Let’s begin with a C Minor Blues lick. Art Tatum and especially Nat King Cole were important influences on Peterson’s style.. Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was born on August 15, 1925, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This lick is very common in blues, boggie and gospel styles. Check it out. The next Oscar Peterson piano lick we’ll examine uses a bluesy harmonized turn which he repeats over 3 bars. Make sure to indicate your skill level! And, unlike Davis, during the lean years of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Peterson never attempted to pander to rock audiences or other popular tastes to achieve commercial success. Oscar Peterson Trio Newport Jazz Festival, Rhode Island, July 1959 Oscar Peterson had the greatest regard for the playing of Art Tatum and both pianist had many things in common one of them being an abundance of technique. therefore, an objective comparison of "technique" is impossible. was at his absolute best when performing unaccompanied solos. John Fordham. ... 2014 Erroll Garner Erroll Garner-style Right-hand Chord-Melody Technique . View guided learning tracks for all music styles and skill levels, Complete lessons and courses as you track your learning progress, Engage with other PWJ members in our member-only community forums. Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, CC CQ OOnt (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist, virtuoso and composer. For more great solo ideas, check out our popular 10-Lesson Blues Challenge (Level 2, Level 3) courses. I can't listen to Peterson for days, but I do like his playing and its swing and energy. Altered Dominants are Dominant 7th chord voicings that use chord extensions (9th, 11th, 13th) that have been altered (♭9, ♯9, ♯11, or♭13). As he told Doerschuk, “A jazz phrase to me can’t be a jazz phrase without some type of blues feeling to it.” Another of Peterson’s ties to tradition is the debt he owes earlier jazz pianists, especially Art Tatum. Peterson is among the handful of jazz greats who resided outside the United States throughout his career. Very effective in small groups, jam sessions, and in accompanying singers, O.P. Another way to understand the Mixolydian Scale is as a major scale with a ♭7. Although not generally thought of as a songwriter or arranger, he composed the score for Woody Allen’s 1972 film Play It Again, Sam. How about using both blues scales together? After his passing in 2007, a Los Angeles Times article recounted his vast musical contribution with acknowledgements from jazz pianists Herbie Hancock, fellow Canadian Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland and producer Quincy Jones. Fortunately, though, his technique enables him to vary infinitely the way he implements those assumptions. Therefore, a Mixolydian scale can be expressed as follows: 1-2-3-4-5-6-♭7. PWJ offers regular courses, workshops which include teacher interaction, and challenges which are divided into a 4 week learning format. (For an excellent youtube.com example of Peterson backing Nat King Cole with a JATP style group featuring Coleman Hawkins, introduced by Granz himself, click here.). He also, perhaps not coincidentally, avoided the substance abuse issues that afflicted so many bebop masters. by his friends, and informally in the jazz community as "the King of inside swing". We publish free piano lessons and tips. For a note-by-note guide on analyzing and constructing solo ideas, check out our courses on Breaking Down A Jazz Solo (Level 2, Level 3). Arrangements are through-composed pieces that are fully notated. Liszt-like technique: Peterson in 2004. It is constructed from the following tones of the Major Scale: 1-♭3-4-♯4-5-♭7. Peterson was particularly well known during the 1950s for his many trio albums, most of which featured the great bassist Ray Brown. In 1973, Times of London music critic John S. Wilson wrote, “For the last 20 years, Oscar Peterson has been one of the most dazzling exponents of the flying fingers school of piano playing. For though Peterson, who died in 2007 at age 82, was celebrated around the world for his quicksilver piano technique and deep-swing aesthetic, the … Daniel Peterson, a West-Indian born Canadian Pacific Railroad porter and amateur musician himself, insisted that each of … Photograph: Kazuyoshi Ehara/AP. I’ll be showing you exactly what techniques he used to improvise this solo, including: Oscar Peterson is one of the greatest piano technicians of all time. Oscar Peterson is one of the greatest piano technicians of all time. Peterson was not without detractors, including trumpeter Miles Davis, who—with typical hyperbole and viciousness—said Peterson “makes me sick because he copies everybody. Born with a naturally perfect pitch, he learned to play classical piano from his older sister Daisy, who also taught piano to Montreal pianist Oliver Jones. The Minor Blues scale is a 6-note scale consisting of the notes C Eb F F# G Bb. p¡ng to realize thal a jazz technique in many ways is a completely new form of technique when comoared with the classical. Select a specific music learning objective to work on. The Dominant Bebop Scale is an 8-note scale originating from the Mixolydian Scale with an added Major 7th. Accolades poured in after the Christmas Eve announcement of Oscar Peterson’s death on December 23 from kidney failure at his home in Mississauga, a suburb of Toronto, at the age of 82. recounted his vast musical contribution with acknowledgements from jazz pianists Herbie Hancock, fellow Canadian Diana Krall, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland and producer Quincy Jones. Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music. You’re doing great! A great way to create variety and build excitement in a solo is to use harmonized lines. This evaluation is borne out by his extensive recorded output, which shows that, unlike Brubeck, for example, Peterson never used technique for flashy crowd-pleasing effects. (For readers unfamiliar with Tatum, I highly recommend this youtube.com example of his piano mastery on the Jerome Kern standard “Yesterdays.” Peterson’s initial exposure to Tatum was supposedly so confidence shaking that the young man ceased playing entirely for a period of several months. How would it sound if you started it on beat 1? More information His technique is incredible and the fact that he puts all himself in every note he plays makes him my favorite pianist by far. In the video below I’m going to teach you how to play 3 Oscar Peterson chords for the left hand. In this Quick Tip, I am going to break down the Oscar Peterson piano solo played on “C Jam Blues” at his Live in Denmark concert of 1964. Yet, by focusing on the techniques in this Quick Tip, an Oscar Peterson piano sound will be within your grasp! If you don't want your video to be viewable to the public, please set it to Unlisted (not private). Our final scale example uses a sweet descending D Dominant Bebop scale fragment ending with an enclosure. Smartsheets use the Soundslice sheet music player to give students digital access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music. You may also enjoy our full course on Scales for Improv on 7th Chords. By his mid-teenage years, Peterson’s prodigious performances led to talent show awards and almost legendary status with bands and in venues around Montreal and Toronto. Learn how to play the classic Christmas song Winter Wonderland in a jazz piano style. © 2020 Piano With Jonny. A few words are fitting here about Oscar Peterson’s life (1925–2007) and legacy. We have one last solo ingredient remaining. He was a master of boogie, blues, ragtime, stride, swing, gospel and bebop. Now, let’s consider another example. Generally, you will use scale degree 1 (tonic) to harmonize above the Minor Blues Scale; you can also use the ♭7. Visit our support desk to search our knowledge base or contact us for support related inquiries. A native of Montreal, the Canadian pianist began performing professionally as a teenager, including an appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1949 at age 16. Learn how to play the classic Holiday song Chestnuts Roasting On an Open Fire in a jazz ballad piano style. Excellent! This is simply arpeggiating the chord. At age six, Peterson was already receiving formal training in classical music, but as he grew he wanted to play in the looser, more improvisational style of the great swing bands and their pianists, such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Teddy Wilson. Most dramatically, Peterson was spellbound by the blind pianist Art Tatum, who more than anyone else in jazz history combined virtuoso keyboard technique with artistic genius. Another common tool used by jazz pianists like Oscar Peterson is chord outlines. Oscar Peterson’s career actually started off radically different from where it eventually led, beginning firmly in the classics: Beethoven, Bach, and all those endless technical finger exercises, under the tutelage of Hungarian classical pianist Paul deMarky. Our next scale is closely related to the Mixolydian Scale. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Or, it could be compared to a G Major Scale with a ♭7 (F♮). Genuine artistic expression takes varied forms. Let us know! Although Peterson would later incorporate the more angular, aggressive and unpredictable motifs of modern jazz—then called bebop—into his improvised solos, this earlier isolation caused his style to remain significantly more traditional than virtually any other significant post-World War II jazz pianist. Peterson’s first JATP performance was at a 1949 Carnegie Hall concert, where—although added to the bill so late that he was not even advertised—he brought down the house with his amazing technique and energy. The performance called Hot Jazz, featured Oscar Peterson and his jazz trio: Peterson on the piano, Russ Dufort on drums, and George Murphy on bass. If these scales are less familiar to you, you can get a refresher in our Quick Tip entitled Essential Blues Piano Scales: Major & Minor Blues Scale. Yes, his auto-pilot is better than anybody else's, but if it's Oscar Peterson playing solo you want, you should avoid this disk and pick up Tracks, which is a dazzling tour-de-force of everything solo jazz piano could ever be -- and a lovely, intimate recording to boot. 2014 Miles Davis Flamenco Sketches . A fter the piano virtuoso Art Tatum died in 1956, Oscar Peterson - … . His dexterity also enlivens his style, for Oscar has never varied the premises he inherited during the early 1930's from Tatum and Powell. . Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007) Oscar Peterson, in my opinion, was the greatest jazz pianist of all time. A jazz pianist who possessed dazzling, fluid technique and always delivered the musical goods in a powerfully swinging style. Next we have an ascending G Augmented triad over a G7 chord. Oscar Peterson learned piano from his father, beginning a career in which he became world famous for his strong technique and powerful sense of … Decades later Peterson would pay homage to Cole—the piano great turned pop star—by recording a piano album featuring vocals that sound remarkably like Cole himself. You’re doing a great job. Oscar Peterson Biography by Scott Yanow + Follow Artist. The first example is a descending F Mixolydian scale over an F7 chord. If you like that sound, then you’ll definitely want to dig into our popular Bible of Blues Riffs (Level 2, Level 3) courses. Oscar Peterson was one of the greatest piano players of all time. I hope you enjoyed today’s lesson. Step 1: Record yourself playing; it is helpful if your recording highlights what you are struggling with. As you might have guessed, great improvisation is more than just playing scales. Yet, by focusing on the techniques in this Quick Tip, an Oscar Peterson piano sound will be within your grasp! 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Plan for full access to all arrangements and lesson sheet music player to give students digital access to arrangements..., an Oscar Peterson was one of the notes G a credits his father with first in. Beginner to Early Intermediate: you have never played piano or are just starting your learning journey is related! Infinitely the way he oscar peterson technique it should sound Dominant chords with Upper Structures Jonny students Oscar. The 1950s for his dazzling solo technique examine the other scales we ’ ll see how Oscar..
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