Saturday, September 13, 2003
THE HOMECOMING
The date of September 10, 2003 became what undoubtedly has to be the most rewarding and memorable date of my career. With all due respects and thanks to all of the various sources and organizations that over the span of my career so far have honored me and presented me with various honorariums, this honor by the City of Mississauga (my home) has to be the most rewarding and unforgettable honor of my career. This is my home. This is the place that I have repeatedly returned to after various tours, recording sessions, festivals and award ceremonies throughout the years and the world. It is difficult to find suitable words to describe the sensation of being appreciated not only by my neighbors in the city, but also by my peers in the jazz world who chose to inconvenience themselves, unselfishly, to honor me on this unforgettable date in my life.
Our mayor in Mississauga is a lady who is revered, loved and respected by her constituents, and most certainly yours truly. Over time she has somehow managed to make Mississauga not just a wonderful city to live in, but also a place to be proud of and brag about throughout the world. She and members of her Council, along with Ron Duquette, collaborated on a tremendous day dedicated to showing me their pride and appreciation for my efforts in the Jazz world. The ceremonies opened with them presenting me with a plaque that read "Oscar Peterson Boulevard," confirming that they intended to name a street in Mississauga after me. This was done at City Hall by the mayor and her staff in the auditorium filled with very emotional and heartwarming people.
That evening they presented me with a beautiful trophy, making me the first inductee into the Mississauga Arts Hall of Fame. What a glorious evening it was indeed. It glittered with some unbelievable talents in the Jazz world. Dave Young, a bassist and friend, whose talents and friendship and love I have enjoyed over the years. Oliver Jones, who needs no introduction due to his numerous well-loved recordings and festival appearances throughout the years. Renee Rosnes, a gifted Jazz pianist in her own right, who stunned me once with her musical reading and revamping of one of my compositions at an affair hosted by the Royal Conservatory. That evening remains inscribed in my memory by her se
nsitive and harmonically diverse approach to playing my composition, Ballad to the East. I will never forget that young Jamaican pianistic giant, Monty Alexander, who stunned the Hall with a beautiful rendition of his composition, Sweet Lady, along with Johnny Mandel's great composition, Close Enough For Love (which only Monty could play), and closing his segment with a heartwarming reading of my Hymn to Freedom. Thank you, Monty. Benny Green and Russell Malone, two young talents in the Jazz world, who performed a beautiful duo tribute to me. Jeff Hamilton, a tremendously gifted Jazz percussionist, who earlier in the years graced the drum seat in my quartet, and on this night gave a brilliant performance of Duke Ellington's Caravan, playing his drums as melodic instruments in the front line of Duke's orchestra. The dancers from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto drew an overwhelming response from the audience with an unforgettable and beautifully performed dance routine. Phil Nimmons, a close and dear friend and gifted clarinetist and composer and teacher, offered a musical tribute and remembrance to his dear wife, Noreen, and my former bassist and best friend, Ray Brown. Thank you, Phil. Carol Welsman, who gave a breathtaking performance, lyrically and harmonically, to a now-rejuvenated ballad: A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Lastly, Clark Terry, a leviathan of the Jazz world, who demonstrated to an awed audience his musical genius and skills, not only on his instrument, but also demonstrated his complete knowledge and control of his instrument, whether it be in its normal position or turned upside-down. This served to bring on a wave of disbelief and awe from the audience.
These wonderful artists' performances were prefaced by a very sensitive and intelligently put together reprise of my beginnings and pathway through the world of Jazz. I have only praise and thanks to Ron Duquette. I also must say a very grateful thanks to John Donabie of CFRB Radio, for his meaningful handling of the Master of Ceremonies spot for the evening.
I have never had the feelings that I experienced on this unforgettable evening of musical prowess and love by some of my peers. From the tremendous waves of applause from the audience, I can only close this by saying thank you, Mayor McCallion; thank you all who gave so unselfishly to what has been the most unforgettable honor of my career. Mississauga, happily, is my home and shall remain so.
Our mayor in Mississauga is a lady who is revered, loved and respected by her constituents, and most certainly yours truly. Over time she has somehow managed to make Mississauga not just a wonderful city to live in, but also a place to be proud of and brag about throughout the world. She and members of her Council, along with Ron Duquette, collaborated on a tremendous day dedicated to showing me their pride and appreciation for my efforts in the Jazz world. The ceremonies opened with them presenting me with a plaque that read "Oscar Peterson Boulevard," confirming that they intended to name a street in Mississauga after me. This was done at City Hall by the mayor and her staff in the auditorium filled with very emotional and heartwarming people.
That evening they presented me with a beautiful trophy, making me the first inductee into the Mississauga Arts Hall of Fame. What a glorious evening it was indeed. It glittered with some unbelievable talents in the Jazz world. Dave Young, a bassist and friend, whose talents and friendship and love I have enjoyed over the years. Oliver Jones, who needs no introduction due to his numerous well-loved recordings and festival appearances throughout the years. Renee Rosnes, a gifted Jazz pianist in her own right, who stunned me once with her musical reading and revamping of one of my compositions at an affair hosted by the Royal Conservatory. That evening remains inscribed in my memory by her se
nsitive and harmonically diverse approach to playing my composition, Ballad to the East. I will never forget that young Jamaican pianistic giant, Monty Alexander, who stunned the Hall with a beautiful rendition of his composition, Sweet Lady, along with Johnny Mandel's great composition, Close Enough For Love (which only Monty could play), and closing his segment with a heartwarming reading of my Hymn to Freedom. Thank you, Monty. Benny Green and Russell Malone, two young talents in the Jazz world, who performed a beautiful duo tribute to me. Jeff Hamilton, a tremendously gifted Jazz percussionist, who earlier in the years graced the drum seat in my quartet, and on this night gave a brilliant performance of Duke Ellington's Caravan, playing his drums as melodic instruments in the front line of Duke's orchestra. The dancers from the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto drew an overwhelming response from the audience with an unforgettable and beautifully performed dance routine. Phil Nimmons, a close and dear friend and gifted clarinetist and composer and teacher, offered a musical tribute and remembrance to his dear wife, Noreen, and my former bassist and best friend, Ray Brown. Thank you, Phil. Carol Welsman, who gave a breathtaking performance, lyrically and harmonically, to a now-rejuvenated ballad: A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square. Lastly, Clark Terry, a leviathan of the Jazz world, who demonstrated to an awed audience his musical genius and skills, not only on his instrument, but also demonstrated his complete knowledge and control of his instrument, whether it be in its normal position or turned upside-down. This served to bring on a wave of disbelief and awe from the audience.These wonderful artists' performances were prefaced by a very sensitive and intelligently put together reprise of my beginnings and pathway through the world of Jazz. I have only praise and thanks to Ron Duquette. I also must say a very grateful thanks to John Donabie of CFRB Radio, for his meaningful handling of the Master of Ceremonies spot for the evening.
I have never had the feelings that I experienced on this unforgettable evening of musical prowess and love by some of my peers. From the tremendous waves of applause from the audience, I can only close this by saying thank you, Mayor McCallion; thank you all who gave so unselfishly to what has been the most unforgettable honor of my career. Mississauga, happily, is my home and shall remain so.
