[Dixielandjazz] Re: Oscar Peterson & OKOM

[Stephen Barbone]

>
> "Tito Martino" <tmartino at terra.com.br> rote (polite snip) Yes Norman,

> you're right, Peterson don't play OKOM regularly; but I would like to
> state firmly that he knows and likes and plays PERFECT OKOM piano,
> whenever he wants or is solicited to.
> I even think he only can do what he does (marvelously) because he can
> play OKOM.

Thanks for the insight Tito. Peterson does/did on many occasions played what most of us would call OKOM. His homage to
Nat King Cole on a 33 rpm album I used to have was testament to that. On it, Peterson played and SANG a batch of songs
associated with Cole.

To the casual listener, you'd have thought it was Nat King Cole both singing and playing. At one time I had a large
collection of Peterson records, have seen him numerous times, and had dinner with him once. He could and did play some
pretty impressive ballads in what I would call OKOM style.

Marvelous, player and a most marvelous human being. And like Tatum, OKOM when he felt like it.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone