[Dixielandjazz] Oscar Peterson on individuality

[Chris Tyle]

Mike C. wrote:

"I think that shows incredible musical maturity and humbleness on his 
part. A lot of people play someone else's solo on such and such a tune 
but you don't always hear people admit to that. I really like that. 
Charlie Parker was said to have known note for note Lester Young's 1936 
solo on Lady Be Good. I don 't know if Parker ever admitted to this in 
an interview or whatever but it truly shows that jazz is a giant 
mentoring program. We learn from others whether we admit to it or not."

It's my understanding that Parker spent a whole summer learning all of 
Lester's solos on the alto (I believe Jay McShann mentioned that in an 
interview). He had a great musical mind and I've heard all kinds of 
clever quotes in his playing. Not only stuff from other musicians but 
obscure pop tunes and even classical music. He often inserted "A Pretty 
Girl is Like a Melody" if an attractive woman walked in the room. Paul 
Desmond did similar things. Just goes to show that these great musicians 
were listening to all kinds of things. Desmond apparently knew thousands 
of obscure pop tunes, things that his Dad played.

IMO Bunny Berigan was one of the great players of jazz. A fabulous, 
inventive improvisor with superb technique. But he sure knew his 
Armstrong. I hear things from Louis all the time on his recordings, 
neatly fitted into what he was doing. I wouldn't be surprised if he 
spent time learning those things off the records. I know Tommy Dorsey 
was a big Armstrong fan and could play many of Louis' solos from memory 
on the trumpet. He quotes Armstrong's "King of The Zulu's" on Eddie 
Lang's recording of "Hot Heels." But then all the great players studied 
the playing of others who they admired and learned their solos. It's a 
well-documented fact.

Regards,
Chris Tyle