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Showing posts with label David Gates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label David Gates. Show all posts
August 29, 2021
July 3, 2021
February 7, 2021
Joni Mitchell articles/mentions
photo by Jack Robinson
mentions:
Oscar Brand ~ A man of varied tastes
David Gates ~ First, Bread
Dave Greenslade ~ The Pentateuch of the Cosmogony
Prince ~ Purple Rain
January 12, 2021
Ray Conniff articles/mentions
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Don Cherry ~ Band of Gold
David Gates ~ First, Bread
Home for Xmas - Vol 1 November 20, 2020
The Monkees articles/mentions
mentions:
David Gates ~ First, Bread
Burgess Meredith ~ Everyman
The Monkees - September 15, 1966
photographer unknown
Clockwise from top left: Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones
MAIN MENU - Blog Articles
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May 8, 2020
Duane Eddy articles/mentions
Spinal Tap articles/mentions
Christmas With The Devil 45 RPM
mentions:
Crossroads ~ Robert Johnson David Gates ~ First, Bread
Spinal Tap
date & photographer unknown
September 27, 2018
Barbra Streisand articles/mentions
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mentions:
John Barry ~ King Kong & Jessica Lange
Fanny Brice ~ Baby Snooks & Daddy
David Gates ~ First, Bread
Julie London ~ Cry Me a River
Barbra Streisand - 1966
publicity photo.
January 10, 2018
January 3, 2018
December 30, 2017
Neil Diamond articles/mentions
Love at the Greek
Serenade
mentions:
Deep Purple ~ Purple Passeges
David Gates ~ First, Bread
The Hearst Greek Theater performances
Neil Diamond
photographer unknown
August 15, 2017
Oscar Peterson ~ Maharaja of the keyboard
- 1977
As a child, Peterson studied with Hungarian-born pianist Paul de Marky, a student of István Thomán. Thomán was a pupil of Franz Liszt,
so his training was predominantly based on classical piano. Meanwhile,
he was captivated by traditional jazz and learned several ragtime pieces and especially the boogie-woogie. At that time Peterson was called "the Brown Bomber of the Boogie-Woogie".
In 1940, at fourteen years of age, Peterson won the national music competition organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After that victory, he dropped out of school and became a professional pianist working for a weekly radio show, and playing at hotels and music halls.
Some of the artists who influenced Peterson's music during the earlier type of years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson and Art Tatum. Tatum and Peterson eventually became good friends, although Peterson was always shy about being compared with Tatum and rarely played the piano in Tatum's presence. Peterson absorbed Tatum's musical influences, notably from piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff's harmonizations, as well as direct quotations from his 2nd Piano Concerto, are thrown in here and there in many recordings by Peterson, including his work with the most familiar formulation of the Oscar Peterson Trio, with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.
An important step in Peterson's career was joining the impresario Norman Granz labels (especially Verve) (link below) and the Granz "Jazz at the Philharmonic" project (link Below). Granz discovered Peterson in a peculiar manner. As the impresario was being taken to Montreal airport by cab, the radio was playing a live broadcast of Peterson at a local night club. Granz was so smitten by what he heard that he ordered the driver to take him to the club so that he could meet the pianist. In 1949, Granz introduced Peterson at a Carnegie Hall Jazz at the Philharmonic show in New York City. Granz remained Peterson's manager for most of his career.
In 1940, at fourteen years of age, Peterson won the national music competition organized by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After that victory, he dropped out of school and became a professional pianist working for a weekly radio show, and playing at hotels and music halls.
Some of the artists who influenced Peterson's music during the earlier type of years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson and Art Tatum. Tatum and Peterson eventually became good friends, although Peterson was always shy about being compared with Tatum and rarely played the piano in Tatum's presence. Peterson absorbed Tatum's musical influences, notably from piano concertos by Sergei Rachmaninoff. Rachmaninoff's harmonizations, as well as direct quotations from his 2nd Piano Concerto, are thrown in here and there in many recordings by Peterson, including his work with the most familiar formulation of the Oscar Peterson Trio, with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis.
An important step in Peterson's career was joining the impresario Norman Granz labels (especially Verve) (link below) and the Granz "Jazz at the Philharmonic" project (link Below). Granz discovered Peterson in a peculiar manner. As the impresario was being taken to Montreal airport by cab, the radio was playing a live broadcast of Peterson at a local night club. Granz was so smitten by what he heard that he ordered the driver to take him to the club so that he could meet the pianist. In 1949, Granz introduced Peterson at a Carnegie Hall Jazz at the Philharmonic show in New York City. Granz remained Peterson's manager for most of his career.
(Jazz at the Philharmonic) 1957
Peterson made numerous duo performances and recordings with bassists Ray Brown, Sam Jones, and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, guitarists Joe Pass, Irving Ashby, Herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel, pianists Count Basie, Herbie Hancock, Benny Green, and Oliver Jones, trumpeters Clark Terry and Louis Armstrong, and many other important jazz players. His 1950s duo recordings with Ray Brown mark the formation of one of the longest lasting partnerships in the history of jazz.
According to pianist/educator Mark Eisenman, some of Peterson's best playing was as an understated accompanist to singer Ella Fitzgerald and trumpeter Roy Eldridge.
Peterson wrote pieces for piano, for trio, for quartet and for big band. He also wrote several songs, and made recordings as a singer. Probably his best-known compositions are Canadiana Suite and Hymn to Freedom, the latter composed in the 1960s and inspired by the civil rights movement in the United States (links below).
Herb Ellis with the Oscar Peterson Trio
Photo © Ted Williams/CORBIS
Peterson had arthritis since his youth, and in later years could hardly button his shirt. Never slender, his weight increased to 125 kg (276 lb), hindering his mobility. He had hip replacement surgery in the early 1990s. Although the surgery was successful, his mobility was still inhibited. Somewhat later, in 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. Also in 1993 incoming Prime Minister and longtime Peterson fan and friend Jean Chrétien offered Peterson the position of Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, but according to Chrétien he declined, citing the health problems from his recent stroke.
After the stroke, Peterson recuperated for about two years. He gradually regained mobility and some control of his left hand. However, his virtuosity was never restored to the original level, and his playing after his stroke relied principally on his right hand. In 1995 he returned to public performances on a limited basis, and also made several live and studio recordings for Telarc. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. Canadian politician, friend, and amateur pianist Bob Rae contends that "a one-handed Oscar was better than just about anyone with two hands".
In 2003, Peterson recorded the DVD A Night in Vienna for Verve, with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHØP), Ulf Wakenius and Martin Drew.
Peterson's health declined rapidly in 2007. He had to cancel his performance at the 2007 Toronto Jazz Festival
and his attendance at a June 8, 2007, Carnegie Hall all-star
performance in his honour, owing to illness. On December 23, 2007,
Peterson died of kidney failure at his home in Mississauga, Ontario.
Viewfinder links:
Oscar Peterson articles/mentions
Jazz at the Philharmonic series
Net links:
Oscar Peterson discography
CULT #MTL ~ Oscar Peterson’s Montreal (book review)
Viewfinder links:
Oscar Peterson articles/mentions
Jazz at the Philharmonic series
Net links:
Oscar Peterson discography
CULT #MTL ~ Oscar Peterson’s Montreal (book review)
LA Times ~ 'Oscar, With Love'
YouTube links: Oscar Peterson selections
Hymn To Freedom
Canadiana Suite
Jazz At The Philharmonic (9:32 minutes)
Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic (1956)
I play as I feel
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Styrous® ~ Thursday, August 15, 2017
August 3, 2017
Michael Jackson articles/mentions
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mentions:
David Gates ~ First, Bread
USA For Africa ~ We Are The World
The Wizard of Oz LaserDisc
Madonna ~ La Isla Bonita
vinyl LP album cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
August 1, 2017
Oscar Peterson articles/mentions
Maharaja of the keyboard
mentions:
Ella Fitzgerald ~ Queen of Jazz
Verve Records & Norman Granz
David Gates ~ First
Stan Getz ~ Another World
Oscar Peterson - ca. 1950
photographer unknown
July 22, 2017
Ella Fitzgerald articles/mentions
U. S. postage stamps ~ Musicals
mentions:
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Ella Fitzgerald - 1946
photo by William Paul Gottlieb
Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
Oscar Brand ~ Bawdy Songs & Ballads
David Gates ~ First, Bread
William P. Gottlieb: Jazz photographer
Al Jarreau ~ Breakin' Away & scat
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Julie London ~ Cry Me a River
Oscar Peterson ~ Maharaja of the keyboard
The Platters ~ My Prayer
The Platters ~ Only You (And You Alone)
Chuy Reyes ~ Rumba de Cuba
Carl Van Vechten & the Harlem Renaissance
Verve Records ~ the inner sleeve & Norman Granz
David Gates ~ First, Bread
William P. Gottlieb: Jazz photographer
Al Jarreau ~ Breakin' Away & scat
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Julie London ~ Cry Me a River
Oscar Peterson ~ Maharaja of the keyboard
The Platters ~ My Prayer
The Platters ~ Only You (And You Alone)
Chuy Reyes ~ Rumba de Cuba
Carl Van Vechten & the Harlem Renaissance
Verve Records ~ the inner sleeve & Norman Granz
The Rolling Stones articles/mentions
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Harlem Shuffle 12" 45 RPM
mentions:
The Beatles ~.
David Bowie ~ Aladdin Sane
David Gates ~ First, Bread
B. B. King ~ Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Arif Mardin ~ Glass Onion
Lou Reed ~ Transformer Gabor Szabó ~ Dreams
The Mothers Of Invention ~ Absolutely Free
Uriah Heep ~ Sweet Freedom
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