You know, maybe I'm taking this the wrong way, but Fran, you are from a pretty integrated city... Do YOU think that comparing Chas to some guy in blackface (even if he IS Gershwin I know times were different back then, but, for shame, George... for shame!) is showing any kind of contemporary racial sensitivity?

This could be taken horribly wrongly, you know...

Diki..I don't see it that way...The reference is to 1931..you do know Chas is an "old goat"..

And it is Chas's type of music!!!!

I don't care what color Chas is..or you for that matter...

I don't believe Chas will take it the wrong way...

Don't worry about it, Diki. I don't think Fran meant anything malicious. Just poking a little fun at me as I often do him. If I'm going to be compared to a black face, I'd rather it be this one.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02ogyvI5GM8&feature=related

Not my favorite version of this tune but if his technique doesn't make your sphincter constrict a little, then you are definitely jaded. The man had to be from another planet.

chas

[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 08-07-2009).]

I am not sure that Fran MEANT it that way, either, chas. I'm just glad it didn't offend you accidentally. I know their are some neighborhoods where he is from where something like this MIGHT have gotten a far more serious response A lot of people WON'T give you the benefit of the doubt about something so overtly racist, these days!

Just make sure I don't get the MS in your will, Fran, OK?!

BTW, The Oscar Peterson Show (on the BBC in England) was mandatory family entertainment in my house as a kid. Why is it so hard to imagine anything this classy being a regular network show any more?

Chas, in about 1983, Oscar came thru and played at the Singletary Arts Center at the University Of Kentucky. I took off that night. We were supplying sound and I really wanted to see that Bosendorfer he played, and loved the stories Ray Brown and Herb Ellis told me about their Oscar Peterson Trio days. Oscar laughed when I recalled some stories of my association with some of the Steve Allen band members; all acquaintences.


The afternoon of the concert, I was doing a studio session with a flaky little piano player nemed Bruce Martin (actually, he's one of the best in the area). He kept asking how long we would be because he needed to go see Oacar...kept asking where he was staying, etc.

That night, I got to the venue about 45 minutes early to check out the equipment. There was Bruce sitting on the end of the stage talking to Oscar. He introduced us. Turned out that Bruce had been his understudy in Canada, traveled with him and was his piano tuner for three or four years (Bruce forgot to mention that little fact in the afternoon).

I believe this was after his first stroke, but he still sounded fabulous. And, he let me play about three minutes on the Bosendorfer. The company moved one to every venue he played at the time.

Really nice, private guy, with a great smile and attitude. A monster piano...a monster player and a real part of jazz history.

It was an honor to have met him. And Bruce is carrying on the Peterson/Evans tradition.

Oscar would be proud!


Russ



[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 08-07-2009).]

BTW, let there be no doubt. If I had the choice of being able to play like Oscar or be the greatest entertainer in the world, it would be 'no contest'. I wouldn't have the riches or fame but I think I'd leave the world a far greater gift. RIP, my man. Just like Ali, you were the greatest.

chas

OP would have enjoyed any clip of Gershwin's playing as much as I do. And, yes, I am a certified American Black Man who knew OP on a personal level.

It may have been crappy and demeaning, but it is the truth of those times, everyone should learn to just deal with what WAS and appreciate what IS now without resorting to what amounts to even more of the division IMO.

However, I'm not so sure that this clip is actually "blackface" -- I think it is not. Perhaps a suntan or something, his nose is certainly rosing the film white. Anyway, it is NOT the contemporary blackface of America at that time, which was typically done with charcoal black, not an overall darkening that included the hands anyway. Beware always of those who throw down the racecard, from any direction. They are the ones with agenda. I'm just a musician who was born AFTER those trying times. As I'm sure are most of you. Thank God.

That's Gershwin.

As a pianist, I just listen and try to emulate.

There is still a lot to be learned from doing that, even with the Modern Jazz of today.

Of course, OP (and Nat, and everybody else) had Art Tatum as mentor and setter of the standard.

Nuff. Said.


--Mac

[This message has been edited by --Mac (edited 08-07-2009).]