Tribute to Oscar Peterson - Gold Coast Jazz

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Canada’s Top Jazz Pianist Pays Tribute to Oscar Peterson
Category: Music


Oliver Jones, Jazz Pianist featured in Tribute to Oscar Peterson

Fort Lauderdale, FL - To many, Oscar Peterson is the epitome of jazz piano. On January 14, one of Canada's foremost jazz pianists, Oliver Jones, will pay homage to the jazz legend in the jazz concert, Tribute to Oscar Peterson. Presented by the Gold Coast Jazz Society, the concert will take place at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The show begins at 7:45 pm. Single tickets are $35 and $40 and are on sale through the Broward Center's AutoNation Box Office at 954-462-0222 or online at www.goldcoastjazz.org or www.browardcenter.org. A pre-concert Jazz Riff jazz talk will be given by radio personality Stu Grant at 7:00pm in the theater before the show.

Pianist Oliver Jones is one of Canada's finest musicians. His career intertwines with the proud history of jazz in his native Montreal, the thriving city that in its heyday also produced Oscar Peterson, Oliver's lifelong friend and continuing inspiration. Oliver was born and raised in Saint Henri, a predominantly working class area of Montreal, several blocks from Peterson. Young Oliver would sit on the Peterson porch, listening to the older boy practice. Oscar's sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, became his first piano teacher, with lessons continuing for the next twelve years. These lessons solidified young Jones' skills, which were already considerable; Oliver was performing publicly at age five, and by the time he had his first nightclub appearance, he was nine.

Jones moved to Puerto Rico where for sixteen years he served as musical director and pianist for the Jamaican singer Kenny Hamilton. In 1980, Oliver Jones returned to Montreal, determined to pursue jazz professionally. After a long stint performing at the Montreal jazz club, Biddle's, Jones began recording for Justin Time Records. His association with Justin Time produced an impressive catalogue of recordings whose sidemen are among the very finest in jazz. Have Fingers, Will Travel (1997) featured bass legend Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton. From Lush to Lively (1995) demonstrated Jones' unrivalled position as one of Canada's greatest gifts to the piano.

Oliver Jones' inspiration is not confined to the artistic community. He's also the proud recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. award, celebrating his contributions to the Black Community in Canada and in his native Montreal. In 1993 he received the Order of Québec, the province's highest honour, and the next year he was awarded the Order of Canada, for "outstanding achievement in the arts." That same year, at the invitation of the Government of Canada, Jones toured several cities in China with bassist Dave Young and drummer Barry Elmes. For more information about the artist, go to www.justin-time.com/authors/oliverjones.

For more information about the Gold Coast Jazz Society go online to www.goldcoastjazz.org or call 954-524-0805. The Gold Coast Jazz Society is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of jazz music through a mainstage concert series, free community concerts, jazz education programs and other events. Season sponsors include HI Foundation, BankAtlantic, DeMeo Young McGrath, Miller Wiggin & Associates, Morgan Stanley, The PaperMill, WLRN FM and the Riverside Hotel.

Funding for this organization is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council, and by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and Funding Arts Broward.

Pam Dearden
Executive Director
Gold Coast Jazz Society
1350 E. Sunrise Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-524-0805
www.goldcoastjazz.org
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