At my fathers burial, this was played as the coffin was carried to the car. He had been jazzing with the church-organplayer until he was too sick. He was a great Peterson-fan.
It's increadible how a song composed many years ago can still move people from different parts of the world! The way he plays is just unique. Amazing!!!
My Dad just loved Oscar Peterson and I never forget His passionate reaction when listening to this particular Oscar Peterson performance 🙏💖🎶 Being the hardworking, tough Man He was, this would bring Him to tears and laughter out of admiration for the profound Soul within it (same with Maria Callas) Strong felt child memories and - of cause - I came to love both through my entire Life 🥰
The greatest Jazz pianist in my opinion. Our family dog died yesterday and i listen to this song thinking of the amazing freedom he has now in Heaven. He was deaf while on this earth and now he hears heavenly music like this. Praise God, i love and miss you Chance.
I’m so sorry for you’re loss. I was blessed with 13 years with my border collie. I’m lucky enough to live in Ottawa where there is a statue of him at the piano where you can join him at the bench while a hidden speaker plays a random tune… Oscar; my dog couldn’t hold a tune to save his life. Lol feel better
Freedom certainly existed in Oscar Peterson's hands! And it's still our privilege to listen to his masterpiece, contemplate what freedom means, and craft visions in which freedom for the greatest number of people exists.
No matter the speed, this trio could make a graveyard groove. This has been an instant favorite of mine and kind of an epiphany, the first time I heard "Night Train".
Oscar Peters Peterson lives on in the minds of Jazz aficionados as the best piano player that ever scratched the white and black keys. The momentous impact of his musical compositions will be around for generations. What a gift to humanity.
In the early 60's, I used to see The Trio at Chicago's London House. One night, a table of ten right at the stage talked loudly through the whole performance...couldn't believe it. Forty years later, while flying for Northwest Airlines, I saw Ray at the ticket counter with his bass. I had to go over and thank him for those wonderful years at London House.
Wow, you saw the Trio live at the London House! That’s my favourite album. As Ramsey Lewis said….when these guys were hot it was like following Jesus Christ and the disciples
Ed Thigpen may be just one of the most underrated drummers ever. Man could that guy settle a groove in so sweet. I don't care what anyone says, maintaining a slow pulse is ALWAYS harder.
markwest1987 Ed Thigpen: underrated... for me: the musician that brought me to love drums as an instrument. His playing was so subtle, groovy and tasteful... oh man I love that!
@@michaeldoller1706 I'm a piano player so I get my humble pie in a great way every time I listen to Oscar, but I always respected and revered Ed for his amazing sound he created.
Oscar always chose the best guys for his groups: Thigpen, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, NHOP, Martin Drew, Joe Pass. Both Thigpen and Drew have never received the recognition for just how good they were, as good as anyone on the drums in a small group setting. I miss them all (think all of them have passed on to play with Oscar in heaven)
The way he harmonizes and plays at 5:00 is so big but refined, so inspired, you could almost hear the brass and violins of a whole orchestra. Like Bach, your music sounds like evidence, not just because of spiritualism, but because of deep understanding of humanism. I miss this guy.
You are so right. That is simply amazing. I have only heard that kind of a wall of sound one other time. Luca Sestak is a self-taught pianist and singer. His version of "Nobody Knows You (When Your Down and Out) is as incredible as this magnificent recording.
Full choir is good description. When I first listened to this piece I thought that Peterson had by some sort of magic turned his piano into an organ shortly after the 5:00 mark.
In my Pantheon. First heard him play this at Storyville in Boston, 1958, with Brown and Thigpen. We were about 15 feet from the stage, and when he began the rolling chords, the room shook, I was frozen, and reached to hold the hand of my date, to hold on as though to say, Good God! This was before the civil rights rides, sit-ins, and marches, before Brown v Board of Ed. Looking back, in Oscar's work you could hear it coming.
Not to diminish the power of the performance you heard, but Brown v. Board of Education was decided in 1954, in 1955 Emmett Till was murdered and Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, leading to a year-long bus boycott. In 1957 Congress passed a weak Civil Rights Act, and President Eisenhower had to send 1,000 troops from the 101st Airborne Division to ensure the safety of nine students integrating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The astonishing passion of Oscar Peterson's performance in 1958 wasn't predictive, but came from what had happened and was happening.
Every time I listen to these three, I end up crying, since they are no longer with us. I am sure that if God was not a jazz fan before, he is now. For my money, OP was the best piano player I have ever heard. Ray Brown is the reason why the bass was invented. Ed T fits in perfectly. Shortly before he died I had the great pleasure of meeting Ray Brown. He was as kind and gentlemanly as his playing was the best.
Each one plays to a different style of music and each one is great playing his style. Tatum would not be able to play Oscar's style and vice versa, for example.
Neither is superior or inferior!! Rawwwwrr! Hehehaha! Each possess a distinctive style and flava in their own right regardless the situation! What can one bring to the table!? Gotta play dem cards one way or another. Peterson is a slam dunkin’ beast of a playa anyway. Just like the other crewmates in the Jazz Realm. Also! Bringing god into da picture!? Get dat joint outta hereee!! God accepts all sorts of musical complexities! Ain’t dat right scarecrowman!? Hehehe
Only Art Tatum could probably qualify as "superior" to Oscar (though even that would be subjective). Oscar is surely among the top of the list of greatest jazz pianists.
Only came across this a couple of days ago (via BBC Radio 3) - simply fabulous in every respect; what a performer & artist! Touched my jazz music receptor neurons within the opening 3, 4 bars; definitely a piece for my 'final collection'! Many thanks Oscar, & dgbailey777.
@@steamsteam6607 , maybe you can suspend YOUR political agenda long enough to understand what Oscar Peterson actually wrote in his Hymn to Freedom. It's clear he intended that all people live together in peace, justice and harmony. That can never be achieved by insisting that "Blacks and Whites are different peoples" requiring "their own nations." Peterson's vision, like that of Rev. Dr. King, Jr, was one of people overcoming the divisions between them, despite the self-interests of leaders who championed segregation. We are one humanity -- it's about time we recognized that truth and started acting like it! Only then can we truly be free!
We Canadians are blessed with a magnificent national anthem, O Canada, but if we weren't so endowed the I would say that Mr. Peterson's (a Great Canadian) "Hymn to Freedom" would be more than a stand-in. Tears and a scratchy throat are accompaniments every time I hear this sacred music.
Heard this in a starbucks and was like.... wait... starbucks playing church hymns now? I shazamed it and found this gem. Love the vibe... reminds me of hearing old school gospel as a kid.
I THOUGHT I was a musician....WOW! Unbelievable what ONLY ONE man plays---it's SUPERHUMAN!! I feel SO blessed to be able to experience this joyous virtuosity once--- and now ANYTIME! THANK YOU,Oscar, and guys!
Reuben Stump ....and done so smoothly and nonchalantly....... I would have lost my place, hit 50 wrong notes, wet myself and fainted...... On the other hand, if that bead of sweat hit my eye, the same thing would have happened.......😉😉😉😉
Dire que j'aime Oscar Peterson est un faible mot....un grand du Jazz et cet hymne à la liberté une merveille ! Regardez ses mains sur le piano quelle délicatesse et quel talent !
And the piano was grateful to have been played with such passion, talent and art. Ceased to be part of the home furniture, and managed to touch the hearts of men. A piano that talks and sings with all his powers and makes something better inside people. Thanks for share Oscar.
I couldn't agree more. This song is pure musical genius! It makes me happy and sad at the same time. Peterson is playing like a full choir, and the drums are perfectly in the rhythm. I have listened to this like six million times I will keep on going.
If your heart skips a beat at the sound of the saxophone and piano overflow wave, if you're a fan of live music or you just want to relax and unwind, the jazz music just for you, my dear friends! Let life rushes in the world of magical sounds A friend, as before, waiting for you somewhere. May the joy of the rainbow shines again Stores hope, love saves, Let the infinite passion fly, Smiles, inspiration and happiness!
With friends not scary The storm and the storm. We are always together Could overcome adversity. It brings friendship We have the strength and courage, And we promise Store loyalty to friendship!
And jazz accompanies us everywhere .... Melody and light infinity. From this music all the senses heightened ... Under the sounds of jazz, that word are carried away into the distance, Sniffing languid evening air, It settles ridiculous sadness ..
Happy New Year Let delight you, Let your dream sunrise Hide all that was in vain! Let there be no regrets, No sorrow, no offense, And let a lot of impressions At the heart of joy revive!
It is music, all the prose in the world cannot restate the soul and emotion of the already perfectly articulated human emotional expression. Perhaps poetry could come close.
As good as it gets, as good as it ever got, as good as it will ever get again. Oscar, Ray and Ed, timeless master musicians, you will always be here with us through your music.
I've played this daily since Jan 1st 2019. I keep hearing something new! - Absolute perfection in feeling, soul & technicality. Each listen leaves me somehow refreshed and exhausted at the same time.
I'm listening to this piece of art in 2017, in a very particular way: I'm Venezuelan, I fight everyday against the dictatorship of Maduro and this "hymn to freedom" it's a big inspiration for me.
And my government, here in Brazil, has helped this disgusting pig - and many others. Hopefully things will change as soon as the next president assumes, on January of 2019.
I had the good fortune to hear this trio play this music in person several times in the 60s and broadcast it live. The Oscar Peterson Trio played at The Penthouse in Seattle and KING-FM had a broadcast line from the club to the studio. Those performances of Hymn to Freedom were some of the most moving music I've ever heard. I was very lucky to have been there.
Been listening to this for decades, not sure how many decades I have left to listen to it, but hope it's a few, because it's just so good to hear it, every time.
Had been aware of the name Oscar P for years,knew he was a piano player without listening to his stuff.This though ,is jaw droppingly brilliant.why is he not better known? This is about my hundredth listen in 2 days : )
@@MrSilverbirch Well if you are new to OP start with the Canadiana Suite. An album of original compositions. but I'm a Canadian so I might be biased (so was he).
This wonderful, uplifting, joyful and inspiring anthem, composed by OP, (and played at President Obama's inauguration ceremony) just has to be on anyone's shortlist for a world anthem - and played here by probably the world's finest ever jazz trio!
I didn't know they played that for Obama. That was a real good honor and great suggestion made on the part of music. It's well deserved to Obama. The free to be who he wants to be the first black president of the United state of America
Love your comment, didn’t remember or know that was played ay Obama inauguration, and also I’m “generally” into classical music, I heard of corse OP but don’t remember to have the reaction that I’m having now, it blows my mind, Having 10 versions of the clavier well tempered or lots of Bach , didn’t pay all the attention this deserve, this is music at its best Thank you
A tremendous "peace of music" that will tickle your soul and delight your heart. So beautiful it has Art Tatum in tears and Don Pullen saying"Oh my goodness". Phineas Newborn shaking his head in pure amazement. Shhh...the universe is dancing.
It's ridiculous how good Oscar Peterson was. I'm pretty gutted I never got to see him perform in person but I'm glad there's so many recordings. You can probably find a dozen or more recordings of him playing this piece. It's kinda crazy how many recordings there are but what's bonkers is that I've never heard a bad one.
GOAT was invented by egoistic hypocrite without any talent whatsoever. Forget about it. Its all about the ride. Tommorow we 'might' all end up dead... you see?
Back in the 80s as a young man in South Africa I heard this song play. It immediately struck me as expressing a longing for something beautiful. The kind of longing that makes one feel like they are almost touching this beauty, they can feel it, smell it . When I then saw the title of the song, it immediately dawned on me that great music comes from God. Less than a decade after that my country achieved its political freedom. We are now fighting for economic freedom for black people. I am in no doubt that the beautiful fingers of Mr. Oscar P will take us there.
Oscar Peterson and the two musical giants with him were the first and probably the most important reason I fell in love with jazz music so very many years ago. Every time I need to be refreshed and inspired, I still turn to them. They gave real and lasting meaning to the world of artistry in sound.
