mrb
Established
If you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely check out LuminousLandscape's video interview with recently decesaed piano genius and talented amateur photograher Oscar Peterson. The best part is where he talks about developing color film in a hotel room. Here's the link:
HTML:
http://luminous-landscape.com/whatsnew/
Pablito
coco frío
Thanks for posting this. Oscar was a real virtuoso.
leica M2 fan
Veteran
His sessions with Ray Brown and Herb Ellis are timeless. Just beautiful jazz.
jlw
Rangefinder camera pedant
If you're ever lucky enough to stumble across a copy of Jeff Lowenthal's excellent 1965 book Stage and Theater Photography (still the only really good book ever written on this subject, in my opinion) one great part of it is a chapter titled "A Portrait of the Artist as a Human Being," which is a long interview with Peterson on the subject of how he feels about being photographed as a performer and how he would approach the task as a photographer.
Just as an example of the interesting quotes in this chapter, in which Peterson is talking about the importance of timing shots to avoid breaking the rapport that the performer has built up with the audience:
"I think that the photographer should be a listener at the same moment he's doing his job. He photographs a gun battle at the right moment to avoid getting shot, and I think this is the same kind of thing."
Hard to put it more simply or clearly than that!
Just as an example of the interesting quotes in this chapter, in which Peterson is talking about the importance of timing shots to avoid breaking the rapport that the performer has built up with the audience:
"I think that the photographer should be a listener at the same moment he's doing his job. He photographs a gun battle at the right moment to avoid getting shot, and I think this is the same kind of thing."
Hard to put it more simply or clearly than that!
IGMeanwell
Well-known
Night Train is still one of my favorite albums of all time
His philosophy behind photography is very refreshing, he is a great mix of the old and the new; I guess the same could be argued about much of his music.
I found it surprising that one of his favorite cameras on the digital side was the Fuji S2 ... not that it is a bad camera; just not a camera that you expect to be launched out there with the likes of Leica and Hasselblad
His philosophy behind photography is very refreshing, he is a great mix of the old and the new; I guess the same could be argued about much of his music.
I found it surprising that one of his favorite cameras on the digital side was the Fuji S2 ... not that it is a bad camera; just not a camera that you expect to be launched out there with the likes of Leica and Hasselblad
BigSteveG
Well-known
I love "Oscar plays Count Basie"
Glad to have seen this post. I heard the news driving around to Christmas events.
For those interested there are a few copies of Jeff Lowenthal's book mentioned by jlw at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Stage-theater-photography-Jeff-Lowenthal/dp/B0006BMX9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198753643&sr=8-1
For those interested there are a few copies of Jeff Lowenthal's book mentioned by jlw at Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Stage-theater-photography-Jeff-Lowenthal/dp/B0006BMX9E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198753643&sr=8-1
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Indeed it is sad to see Oscar go ... one of my wishes was to see him live, though I never did. The last time he was in Rochester I was out of work and a ticket was out of the question. ($75 for the best seats, and for Oscar I would have only wanted to be up close. That's just me.)
Naturally, there is some good material on CBC's website ... http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/12/24/obit-peterson-oscar.html?ref=rss
I too find Night Train one of my favourite Peterson recordings. Simply brilliant.
Earl
Naturally, there is some good material on CBC's website ... http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/12/24/obit-peterson-oscar.html?ref=rss
I too find Night Train one of my favourite Peterson recordings. Simply brilliant.
Earl
charjohncarter
Veteran
If you want to get 'out there' listen to Oscar with Itsak Perlman.
peterc
Heretic
Never saw him play live (wish I had). However, I did meet him about 6 to 8 months ago at a camera store in Toronto where he was picking up supplies.
wsriii
Newbie
As a weekend jazz drummer and sometime photography hobbyist, the news of his passing really took a bit of the holiday twinkle away. I had to pull out some old vinyl of Oscar Peterson and Ed Thigpen. Man! What a trio those guys had!
Bill
Bill