[Dixielandjazz] Oscar Peterson on individuality

[Chris Tyle]

Mike C. wrote:

"I think that shows incredible musicial 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. 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. Paul Desmond did the same 
thing. 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 
records, 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