Ronnie Scott’s presents: Remembering Oscar Petersen

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club perform a very special concert in honour of legendary pianist Oscar Peterson. The music in the show is drawn from the Great American Songbook, alongside Oscar’s own compositions from the rarely heard Canadiana Suite and the aptly titled Hymn to Freedom. Alongside the music will be anecdotes about his life and some virtuosic demonstrations of how to play just like Oscar!

When the concert programme debuted at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Evening Standard declared 'Oscar would have relished it', and Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club are delighted to perform this very special one-off concert at Saffron Hall featuring a unique line-up of two pianists, drummer, guitarist, and two double-bassists!

So why two pianos? Ronnie Scott’s Artistic Director-James Pearson: “Sometimes it takes two jazz pianists to sound like one Oscar” It also gives the pianist’s a chance to recreate some of the 'cuttin' contests', which Oscar would frequently partake of ... and win! Joining on stage will be two double-basses, guitar and drums - representing Oscar’s two different trios.

Oscar's music has a wealth of colours. It is virtuosic, fun, dramatic and beautiful. His playing had a silken fluency and propulsive swing which has transcended jazz fashions for half a century. Oscar was also a supremely eloquent man and was able to explain some of the great piano techniques that he would use. His influence on all jazz pianists is very much heard in the in this concert – by the award winning jazz musicians and masters of the instrument.