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.

The best things happen while you're dancing

Here is a video clip with Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen dancing and singing the song "The best things happen while you're dancing" from the film White Christmas from 1954.



I'll take a short break for a couple of days during Christmas. In the mean time, why don't you tell me what your favorite blog post of this year has been or what you like to see next year.

I wish you a Merry Christmas!

What do you think of this video clip from White Christmas? Tell me.

Firehouse Five Plus Two plays Jingle Bells

Firehouse Five Plus Two plays a great dixieland jazz version of Jingle Bells in this video clip from the Disney tv show: One Hour in Wonderland from 1950.



"One Hour in Wonderland" is said to be the first tv program that the Disney studios produced.

The band Firehouse Five Plus Two consisted of animators from the studio: Danny Alguire, cornet, Harper Goff, banjo, Ward Kimball, trombone, Clarke Mallery, clarinet, Monte Mountjoy, drums, Ed Penner, tuba and Frank Thomas, piano.

(Yeah, I know, I broke an unwritten dj rule, that is, not to play the same song twice in a row, but sometimes you got to break the rules, especially when it's such a happy and joyful version.)

What do think of Firehouse Five Plus Two playing Jingle Bells? Tell me.

Ondrej Havelka sings Jingle Bells

If you want to get into the Christmas mood then watch this terrific video clip with Ondřej Havelka and His Melody Makers singing "Jingle Bells". There are lots of funny sequences. Enjoy.



If you missed Ondřej Havelka and His Melody Makers in my previous post where they performed Beat me, daddy eight to the bar, then watch it right away.

What do you think of Ondřej Havelka singing Jingle Bells? Tell me.

Diana Krall: Live in Paris: I Love Being Here With You

In this video clip from a live concert from Paris, Diana Krall swings like mad when she plays "I Love Being Here With You".



Wow. Feel the energy coming from Diana Krall and the band. The playing is so tight. I wish I could play piano like that.

Besides swinging like mad, I also like the more mellow part in the middle of the song where it's interesting to study (and enjoy) how the other players drops in some smalls notes to support the other musician who is doing the solo. It really takes a great deal of timing and musicality to do that right.

The Diana Krall concert from Paris is available on DVD.

What do you think of the video clip with Diana Krall playing "I Love Being Here With You" from her jazz concert in Paris? Tell me.

Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society: "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"

After last nights concert with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra featuring Antti Sarpila I thought I would show you a clip where you can hear Antti Sarpila play clarinet (more about the UUJO concert later.)

Here is a video clip where Antti Sarpila plays the song "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" together with Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society.



Find out more about Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society.

What do you think about the video clip with Antti Sarpila playing "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone"? Tell me.

Swinging Christmas with Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra

Tomorrow (Tuesday) you can hear Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra at Missionskyrkan in Uppsala when they perform their show: Swinging Christmas.

Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra will perform swinging arrangements of American Christmas songs. They will also play the songs composed by band leader Ulf Johansson Werre.

The band will feature the great clarinet player Antti Sarpila. Antti Sarpila is the best clarinet player I know.

Where: Missionskyrkan, St. Olofsgatan, Uppsala. When: Tuesday Dec 18th at 19:30. Cost: 120 kr (80 kr for students).

The photo is taken by me at a concert with Swedish Swing Society and may not be published elsewhere without my permission. Contact me if you want to license it.

Are you going to the concert with swingin' Christmas songs performed by Uppsala University Jazz Orchestra (UUJO)? Tell me.