Saturday, January 12, 2008

Oscar Peterson Tribute Concert

CBC Radio celebrates the life of Oscar Peterson with special tribute concert titled Simply the Best which will be broadcast live by CBC Radio. Multi-Grammy Award winner and consummate song stylist Nancy Wilson will perform at Oscar Peterson – Simply the Best, a memorial concert tribute to the great musician Saturday, January 12 at 4:00pm at Roy Thomson Hall.

Quincy Jones and Phil Nimmons will share their memories of Mr. Peterson as will Celine Peterson, Oscar’s 16 year-old daughter. Mr. Jones is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist (76 nominations, 26 awards) Emmy Award recipient, and seven-time Oscar nominee. Phil Nimmons won the inaugural Juno Award for best jazz album (The Atlantic Suite,1977), received the inaugural Toronto Arts Award in the music category (1986). He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and National Jazz Awards in the clarinettist of the year category in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Mr. Nimmons was Oscar’s friend and collaborator for over 50 years.

The 90-minute celebration of Mr. Peterson’s life is free to the public and is NOT a ticketed event. The doors of Roy Thomson Hall will open at 3:00pm and the audience will be seated on a first come-first serve basis. The line-up will be directed along King Street West. As there is limited parking, it is advisable to use the TTC.

Previously announced speakers are Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaƫlle Jean, Governor General of Canada and avid pianist Bob Rae.

Oscar Peterson - Simply the Best will be broadcast live at 4:05pm – 6:00pm by CBC Radio One and Sirius 137 at 4:05pm ET - 6:00pm. The broadcast will be repeated at 8:05pm – 10:00pm by CBC Radio Two and by SRC Espace Musique 8:05pm - 10:00pm

Quebec pianist/singer/composer/conductor/radio host Gregory Charles, whose one man show Noir et Blanc has delighted audiences in Canada, the United States and Europe, has joined the list of outstanding performers for Oscar Peterson – Simply the Best.

Magnificent soprano Measha Brueggergosman will join the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, the University of Toronto Gospel Choir and the Sharon Riley and Faith Chorale, under the musical direction of multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, producer, director, composer and broadcaster of Andrew Craig, to perform one of Mr. Peterson’s best- loved compositions Hymn to Freedom.

The band for the afternoon is composed of musicians who, for decades, were colleagues and friends of Mr. Peterson: Jeff Hamilton on drums; Dave Young on bass; guitarist Ulf Wakenius and Monty Alexander on piano.

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