Royal Garden Blues: Oscar Peterson & Count Basie

Just to honor Oscar Peterson, who died last week, I thought I'd post a video clip with Oscar Peterson playing Royal Garden Blues together with Count Basie.



Wow. Two of the greatest jazz pianists together at the same time. They recorded together at a few occations and one favorite album of mine is Satch & Josh. I really like the first song on the album: "Buns Blues" which is very playful.

Royal Garden Blues is such a great song, composed by Clarence Williams and
Spencer Williams in 1919. Spencer Williams also (co-?)wrote the song "Everybody loves my baby".

What do you think of Oscar Peterson & Count Basie playing Royal Garden Blues? Tell me.

I remember Oscar

One of the greatest jazz pianists, Oscar Peterson, passed away Dec 23rd at age 82.

I will always remember him by his piano style which was light, airy and intricate. My favorite album by Oscar Peterson is Night Train.

Here is a news clip (CTV) talking about Oscar Peterson:



Read an obituary at CBC.

RIP, Oscar Peterson.

What are your memories of Oscar Peterson? Tell me.

Ella Fitzgerald sings In a Mellow Tone

Since I've written about Ella Fitzgerald in connection with Marilyn Monroe and Nikki Yanofsky lately it's only timely to show a video clip with her. Here is Ella Fitzgerald singing "In a Mellow Tone" with the Oscar Peterson Trio.



I love that light and airy piano playing by Oscar Peterson and you can't but dig those bass lines played by Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (NHØP), which is one of my favorite jazz bass players.

The song, In a Mellow Tone, was written in 1940 by Duke Ellington.

What do you think of Ella Fitzgerald singing "In a Mellow Tone"? Tell me.