Chick Corea, Renee Rosnes, Bill Charlap, Gerald Clayton, Monty Alexander, and Many More Record Peterson's Compositions at His Home on Prized Personal Bösendorfer Piano
In 2015, a special 3-CD set, Oscar, With Love, was released
to observe the 90th birthday of jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson (1925-2007).
To honor her late husband, Kelly Peterson assembled some of the most celebrated
jazz artists in the world to perform and record on the luminary's prized
personal piano, then released the recordings as a deluxe collector's edition,
featuring an extensive 100+ page commemorative book, and as a standard 3-CD
digipak package. Mack Avenue Records is set to re-release this project on
November 17, 2017, shortly before the 10-year-anniversary of Peterson's
passing. A new deluxe limited edition 5-LP vinyl set is also due for release in
2018.
Oscar, With Love not only features compositions previously
unreleased by Peterson, but all are performed in Peterson's home studio on his
Bösendorfer Imperial piano. Never has there been such a recording, various
artists performing on the personal instrument of a jazz legend. "Oscar
cherished his piano," said Kelly Peterson, executive producer of the new
recording. "It is one of the finest and most unusual instruments in the
world. Oscar handpicked it at the Bösendorfer factory in Vienna in 1981. It has
never been heard publicly." Tremendous care was taken to fully capture the
outstanding performances of these great artists and the magnificent sound of
Peterson's Bösendorfer Imperial.
The set showcases Oscar Peterson as a composer and includes
the world premiere of several pieces he wrote but never recorded; the
compositions were retrieved from Peterson's library for the project. Most of
the music on the recording was written by Peterson, or for him by some of his
closest musical friends. It is these friends and colleagues who performed on
the recording. Together, these musicians have won 30+ Grammy® Awards, Latin
Grammys, Oscars, Golden Globes, British Academy of Film and Television Arts
(BAFTA), and several Juno awards.
The list of participating artists includes some of the
greatest jazz players in the world: Chick Corea, Monty Alexander, Ramsey Lewis,
Kenny Barron, Benny Green, Oliver Jones, Makoto Ozone, Renee Rosnes and Bill
Charlap. In fact, Corea wrote and performed a new composition (called "One
For Oscar") specifically for the project. Additionally, the remarkable
composer/arranger and dear friend of Peterson, Michel Legrand, contributed two
performances to the recording.
Other notable contributors include pianist and vocalist
Audrey Morris and pianist/producer and good friend Lance Anderson. Morris, a
long-time close friend of Peterson's, has been a renowned member of the Chicago
music community for sixty-plus years. Anderson's performance of the blues tune
written for him by Peterson is among the compositions premiered on the
recording.
Peterson was known for his encouragement and support of
young, gifted players. Oscar, With Love has continued this tradition by
showcasing some exceptional young players -- Gerald Clayton, Hiromi, Justin
Kauflin, and Robi Botos.
Although primarily a solo piano recording, some performances
are accompanied by Peterson's long-time associate and friend, bassist Dave
Young.
Internationally respected Swiss engineer Blaise Favre
recorded and mixed Oscar, With Love. The recording sessions were co-produced by
Kelly Peterson and Juno Award-winning producer Lance Anderson, with Anderson
taking the lead role as music producer.
"All of the artists and contributors travelled to
Oscar's home studio to be part of the project," said Kelly Peterson.
"I was overwhelmed by their respect for Oscar. Each of them expressed how
humbled and honored they were to be present on 'hallowed ground' in Oscar's
studio."
As executive producer of this unique project, Kelly Peterson
explained her intent is to honor not only her late husband's legacy, but also
the legacy of his dearest friend, manager, impresario, and record producer,
Norman Granz. Oscar, With Love was originally released on her own label, Two
Lions Records, in honor of these two jazz giants.
Various Artists · Oscar, With Love
Mack Avenue Records · Release Date: November 17, 2017
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