Jun 09, 2018
Herbst Theatre, War Memorial
PLEASE NOTE:
This page is an archive of a past production
Please visit our calendar for all upcoming SFJAZZ shows.
Original show description below.
Curated by pianist and Oscar Peterson protégé Benny Green, this historic gathering of jazz piano greats Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes, Gerald Clayton, and Justin Kauflin honors the Peterson’s legacy, backed by a superb rhythm section anchored by drummer and Peterson band alum Jeff Hamilton.
For the Berkeley-raised Green, who earned invaluable early experience in the trio of longtime Peterson trio bassist Ray Brown, the Canadian piano genius was a primary inspiration and mentor who in 1993 chose Green as the first recipient of the City of Toronto’s Glenn Gould International Protégé Prize in Music. The two virtuosos collaborated on the superb 1998 co-led Telarc session Oscar and Benny, and for this exclusive tribute show, Green gathers a number of today’s jazz piano vanguard to perform— all of whom count Peterson as a primary influence. Bill Charlap considers Peterson the earliest, most formative figure in his musical development, while former SFJAZZ Collective pianist Rosnes is the Artistic Director of the newly-formed Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival in Ontario, Canada. Clayton and Kauflin represent the younger generation who carry on the fiery, virtuosic tradition of Peterson, and Charlap, Rosnes, Clayton, and Kauflin are all featured on 2017’s Mack Avenue salute to Peterson, Oscar, With Love, which contains music Peterson composed, but never recorded. The pianists are joined by veteran drummer Jeff Hamilton, a Ray Brown trio bandmate with Green, who performed in Peterson’s trio and co-leads the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra with Gerald Clayton’s father, bassist John Clayton.
One of the greatest virtuosos in jazz.
The New York Times on Oscar Peterson
Green is a young classicist... he plays funky and hard, and breathes not only bebop but Oscar Peterson’s virtuosic effusions as well.
The New York Times
Green is a young classicist... he plays funky and hard, and breathes not only bebop but Oscar Peterson’s virtuosic effusions as well.
The New York Times
Personnel
Benny Green piano
Bill Charlap piano
Renee Rosnes piano
Gerald Clayton piano
Justin Kauflin piano
Anthony Wilson guitar
John Clayton bass
Jeff Hamilton drums
Oscar Peterson's dazzling keyboard technique, commanding sense of swing and mastery of different piano styles could leave even his most accomplished peers awe-struck.
Billboard
Personnel
Benny Green piano
Bill Charlap piano
Renee Rosnes piano
Gerald Clayton piano
Justin Kauflin piano
Anthony Wilson guitar
John Clayton bass
Jeff Hamilton drums
Oscar Peterson's dazzling keyboard technique, commanding sense of swing and mastery of different piano styles could leave even his most accomplished peers awe-struck.
Billboard
Watch & Listen
Oscar Peterson & Benny Green
Jitterbug Waltz
Renee Rosnes
Ballad to the East
Oscar Peterson & Benny Green
Jitterbug Waltz
Renee Rosnes
Ballad to the East
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EDDIE DANIELS & ANAT COHEN W/ GORDON GOODWIN'S BIG PHAT BAND
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