This is an amazing recording of Caravan. Jazz doses not get any better. What a tingt group. They are are all listening all feeding of of each other. It doesn't get better than this.
Many of you will think that I am stupid or irrational, but I truly believe that Oscar Peterson was an alien. You know, a visitor from outer space given to us as a gift. I mean really, was the stuff he did humanly possible? Pianists out there...is it really possible for humans to play that well?
Like... yeah it's possible but he's clearly at the peak of human ability. The only people who could match this level of dexterity would be professional classical pianists and they're not improvising like Oscar is
There are MANY pianists now in the public eye on the internet (YOUNG ones too) that are virtuosic, doing things remarkable for their age and any age in general. I’ll concede this comment is over a decade old-prior to many since emerging from the shadows, now sunburned from all the light they’re absorbing. And for the record Keith Jarrett has always been the king of truly organic improvisation, in his own sense. And his virtuosic proficiency is right up there with anyones. He has over 50 years worth of recordings to prove it, if unfamiliar or interested.
I believe that Art Tatum was left at his parents front door by space aliens 👽 as a gift for us mere humans. No other explanation for his superhuman abilities at the piano 🎹.
The tune CARAVAN, was not written by Duke Ellington, it was written by Juan Tizol from Puerto Rico, who was a member of the Ellington band and played the valve trombone for many years. While the attribution to Ellington appears in many places it was not written by him. There is plenty of proof that Tizol was the composer of this tune.
it must be an incredible feeling to play the piano that way, or the bass, drums, sax, trumpet, trombone, guitar whatever. Cam a person reach the level of plying with the right of amount of practice and discipline? Genius!!
It's well known that Oscar spent many hours practicing, from an early age. I believe I was privileged to see him 4 times. The first time was 1963 in Belfast.
What I love about Oscar is that he has great technique and is musical aswell. The thing I miss at lot of modern players is exactly that. They have great technique, but their playing is more academical and technical than musical and changes a known song to "epic evolved masterpiece" which is usually not really listenable to me. This man has it all!
The most virtuoso playing I've ever heard from OP! And you wonder, as you often do with Oscar: How is it possible to be such a master of the keys? But, of course, in this particular tune the musicality goes down the drain, and you are left with just technicality, which is really a pity. The Duke will certainly rotate in his grave.
I think you are talking about OP in general, not about this particular piece. I'm certainly as great an admirer of OP as you are, and has been so all through from around 1960. To be general, OP is certainly the greatest of all times when it comes to technical mastery, timing and rhythmic drive. But I think (jazz) music have, or should have, more to it than mere virtuosity, and in that sense Oscar is overdoing things in this particular piece of music. But of course: one stands in awe about what this man could do on the keys. Interpretation-wise I'm not that impressed though.
Blacknight39, For the most versatile OP you could think of, I would recommend youtube "Oscar Peterson live in '63 '64 '65". I'm thinking especially of the '64 concert from Holbæk Jazzklub in Denmark. Go in from 17:30 and stay till 55:45, and you will get an experience for life. This is really Oscar at the peak of his power, and you couldn't think of anything better than this. This concert has really got it all. If you know about it already, just forget about my message! If not: Good listening!
Perhaps it has more to do with elevating the tune to a more extreme level of interpretation. Caravan is a well known tune, yet harmonically quite simple and I've heard it played to death by dozens of groups. No doubt it's a beautiful tune but after so many performances, even intermediate players start looking for ways to spruce it up. Maybe this is what OP heard in his head when he decided to play it and take it to another level....
