Oscar Peterson on the Dick Cavett Show (1979)

Full interview. Hopefully it doesn't get taken down since it's not available anywhere. I don't own any rights

[@Meridian-lk2fo]

Does anyone what the George Shearing tune at 15:18 is called?

[@danifeldmann3254]

Roses of Picardy

[@julianjustin3455]

beautiful isn't it. but I couldn't find any version as beautiful as these few seconds of oscar peterson

[@Faz99Master]

. @RickBeato has an excellent breakdown of this interview. Check it out.

[@artisan002]

@@julianjustin3455 Well, there is at least this. Missing a lot of tone and dynamic range. But, it's all I can find offhand. kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5OpoaWvgaebeas

[@modestoney1577]

@@Faz99Master The interview itself is excellent, Beato merely points out that the interview is great.

[@Sean_Farmer]

I just watched Rick Beato's video discussing how Dick did such a masterful job of interviewing Oscar. That led me to here to watch the full interview. Thanks for sharing this!

[@__Andrew_]

Rick's video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4bPq4yfirpseLs ----

[@slipperynoodle20]

Me, too. Time well spent.

[@mrcego1309]

Same :)

[@ds2jim]

me, too!

[@lasentinal]

I came here as well because of Rick Beato.

[@jampoles]

If you are a jazz enthusiast and a good talk show host appreciator this has to be a number one youtube video on your list.

[@Jordan-hu6hd]

I often come back to this clip. Oscar Peterson is such a fantastic and charismatic pianist

[@tamcocar]

I could listen to him both play &/or talk forever. What a warm, beautiful genius

[@NICUofficial]

Rick Beato sent me here, Dick and Oscar kept me here :)

[@sowen3192]

Same 👍🏻

[@bored1ca]

Yeah I just finished watching Rick's video - just add me to the list of people who was blown away by this!

[@Geraint3000]

Such eloquent, intelligent, yet unpretentious chat.

[@artysanmobile]

Dick Cavett had a very clear-eyed understanding of what it meant to be a musician. He didn’t worship the greats, he did much better by respecting them as human beings. I can’t think of a better example than how he spoke with Jimi Hendrix, a difficult interviewee. Cavett understood his dreamy wonder about music was actually real, and Jimi’s visit showed that. Few interviewers are willing to accept a new language when they are busy burnishing their own image. I never saw Cavett behave that way. Giant respect for the man.

[@lacasa3514]

The Dick Cavett show never ceases to surprise me with the dream-list calibre of guests they had on.

[@guildguitars6349]

Oscar was the best, and I doubt there will ever be another like him.

[@skierpage]

You missed 3:44 "Art Tatum as we both know was is and still is in my view the best jazz pianist around." Oscar Peterson is more relaxed and has a better blues feel, but Art Tatum is a level above both in technique and brilliant harmonic invention.

[@meetontheledge1380]

Coltrain said ''There must be love on the bandstand''. There was a whole lotta love here, and it really moved me. Made me sad, too, because I'm old enough to remember when this level of discourse (well, maybe not, THIS, level!) was standard, and it is utterly gone today from the mainstream.

[@huron531]

Dick had guests who you rarely (if, ever) saw anywhere else. Satcho, Miles, Marlon, Bette, Oscar, Groucho, etc. These tapes need to be saved at all costs for future generations.

[@user-pp4ve6qo1b]

It's Satchmo, NOT Satcho...

[@michaelk584]

Thank you so much for posting the full interview! It's so rare to have an intelligent interviewer and a thoughtful master, Oscar Peterson.

[@charlesmcknight7637]

Peterson was always a great pianist. I never heard a bad performance from him. His responses and comments to Cavett are also very intelligent, honest, and naturally humorous, something that I admired him for.

[@kweitsuabraham6021]

Oscar my all time favorite 🔥🐐🔥

[@MrLiamHenderson]

A gentleman and a scholar

[@Conn30Mtenor]

I love Art Tatum but Oscar is the GOAT. Minor detail but his younger brother was a combat infantryman with the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders in WW2.

[@skierpage]

3:44 "Art Tatum as we both know was is and still is in my view the best jazz pianist around." Oscar Peterson is more relaxed and has a better blues feel, but Art Tatum is a level above both in technique and brilliant harmonic invention.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

@@skierpage thanks for that- I'm with you on Tatum's technique but he's in his own universe. Jazz is a collective exercise. Tatum couldn't really collaborate, because he was so "out there" on his own.

[@etiennedelaunois1737]

"Was he black or white?" And they just talk about it so naturally. No offense here, no agressivity, just two men talking about music. Ask yhay question today and your career is done!😂 That's a great show! Such a high quality content where tv doesn't believe that the audience is dumb. Oscar Peterson was a real talented man! Everything was mysic with him. We think thay his virtuosity was his goal but his goal was expression and freedom, and from that virtuosity was coming. A lot of musician copying him only gets the playing fast and loud. Same when he talks about Art tatum, he is talking about him in a musical way. Not the speed or the virtuosity. Oscar was a true musician! Respect man!

[@Argonaut121]

I learned more about jazz in 20 minutes than I did in my entire college jazz appreciation course. What an encyclopaedic knowledge.

[@Robert63675]

Спасибо, что ты жил, Великий Мастер

[@thesaint2700]

Thank you so much for posting the full interview 🙏🏽 Oscar E. Peterson - the gentleman genius

[@wny1162]

It's great to see the whole thing. I have watched the excerpt of the interview at the piano but this new longer version is great. Is also great to hear Peterson "play the show out" playing the blues which he didn't do so often

[@jasonjansen9831]

Uh Peterson played blues all the time

[@gazjaz2010]

hilarious comment 😂

[@YARCHLRL]

Oscar always puts me in a great place. His love of music makes his skill of sharing it so natural and smooth. It sounds odd saying his complexity was so simple but, that is what genius looks like.

[@skierpage]

I don't hear it as simple, rather Oscar's playing is relaxed. That's why his playing is sometimes put down as "cocktail piano" (as Dick Cavett says at the end). Art Tatum is harder on the listener.

[@naomiandalex]

An unbelievable interview!

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

What a delightful man. Thanks, Rick, for turning me on to this interview.

[@eky]

The intro tune is called "Old Folks"

[@OrcaTrumpet]

Great song 🐬

[@dubchile]

Absolutely! A master-class from Peterson. Thanks Rick, for the pointer. Please, never stop inspiring us! ✌😎

[@mollybell5779]

GoodNESS, that was awesome. Rick Biato discussed this interview so I had to see it.

[@dmstewart66]

Most people I've seen with perfect pitch still need to think about it for a second. Oscar pegged that feedback for an E so fast! That's just crazy! Shows how quick witted you have to be to play Jazz by ear. Fantastic interview! Thank you for posting!

[@dragorn3212]

If they need to think they don't really have it.

[@keithb_3]

@@dragorn3212true. you can learn RELATIVE pitch but perfect pitch is pretty much unteachable

[@timotheuspeter734]

I love Peterson, but to be fair: it’s more of an E-flat; or maybe the sound of the video is off.

[@michaelmercado5065]

This quality, class & timelessness....a musical treasure

[@robertfraser485]

Thank you!!!! It's so wonderful to see and hear the entire segment.

[@MadMatty72]

Wow! What beautiful human beings, and what talent!

[@user-pp4ve6qo1b]

Yet another great Canadian!

[@patrickgallagher1161]

Thank you for posting this!!!

[@slapmyfunkybass]

Thanks for the upload.

[@grindersrb]

Thank you for sharing

[@tarnopol]

Monster upload-thanks!

[@B_Broad14]

thanks!

[@MiLaDoB]

Thx immediately subscribed ...this is a jewel

[@jazzpianoman01]

What gem thanks for uploading

[@anim8torfiddler871]

Thank you for POSTING THIS.

[@organjkt7601]

THANKS!!! ❤️🎹❤️

[@svrfan]

amazing in so many aspects!

[@algebra737]

I hear two artists talking all the way through ♥. humility on both sides expressed by artistry.

[@troncor1]

I miss him so much. Truly inspiring

[@musical_lolu4811]

Finally, the whole video.

[@RivaG]

This was truly wonderful and an education

[@jeffreyking279]

Both were masters at their craft. Thanks for posting.

[@meleecritical]

A record of highlight and achievement, that’s the true value of YT. Beautiful post. (Thanks for the signal Rick!)

[@stuartmenziesfarrant]

Great pianist, great man.

[@carlstawicki1915]

That was a very intelligent and engrossing interview. 👍

[@tubaphonium]

Wow what a find! Dick Cavett was always the premier interviewer and often had great guests (as in this case). I am so glad you posted this! ❤

[@TheRealDannAlexander]

One of the greatest interviews ever. Right here.

[@DihelsonMendonca]

Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson are two of my great influences. Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea another boys. 🎉❤

[@tumbokwaboffa]

Glad to see you posting again :) are you ever going to make videos with the Rhodes again? I really enjoyed them

[@c3dmf4s]

Brilliant 👏

[@BREN248]

YES

[@c.arphiencey.4689]

true master

[@unsinpilt]

what a harmonic machines

[@irishstew2133]

This dude is so intense. I love it.

[@evertvanderhik5774]

Like a lot of greats a humble man. Not an ego but the best in his area.

[@neaituppi7306]

The unique thing about Dick Cavett over other talk shows of any time, is it was not just about the comedy, he was kind of like how Mr. Rogers was, it was also about education.

[@moseyalong1]

Master class in brilliant mind demonstrating what is possible .

[@nerome619]

what a masterful musician - great respect for him

[@rahard]

rick beato brought me here. he is right, this is one of the BEST music(al) intreviews.

[@__Andrew_]

Rick's video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4bPq4yfirpseLs ----

[@88pynogrl]

👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💥CLASS ACT ALL THE WAY!!

[@brianchatton4205]

I've been lucky enough to have played with what us cheeseboard players call the best. Only one can be that. Oscar Peterson is perfection.

[@batlin]

18:11 still blows my mind years later. Reminds me of some of Dave Brubeck's playing.

[@superfuntime469]

omg that piano

[@mquartarone]

Just superb sublime playing

[@flaviomartins6394]

What a player...wow

[@mikescudder4621]

What a legend!

[@marcustulliuscicero237]

Thanks so much for this. Being a listener but hardly a musician I learned so much from the "master class." Also ... I assume that the vocalist he was compared to was Nat King Cole, right? Start at 15:55

[@thesaint2700]

Absolutely! Oscar Peterson decided to leave the singing to NKC and stick to the piano only. However, the album With Respect to Nat, OP’s tribute to Nat King Cole the year he passed away, is a gem with Oscar Peterson singing

[@chevick]

Incredible how absolutely sharp this guy was. I bet he had a high IQ.

[@Bogart1899]

My Dad used to shoot the odd game of pool against Oscar in Montreal in DeCarlo's (sp) Pool Room and would usually beat him. They grew up not far from one another and were the same age.

[@bugsan]

pure class

[@caveman726]

Rick B! Brought me here 😊

[@anim8torfiddler871]

Hearing Mr. Peterson's ideas flow out in a gentle firehose torrent, so eloquent and rich and easy on the ears... this is why when I'm around musicians, I tells 'em I'm an Animator, lest they find out what a fraudulent hacker I am as a fiddler. I keep thinking We only need another few centuries exploring our instruments to achieve something like the grace and eloquent abundance of Mr. Peterson. I'm going back to hear that intro again. Try and stop me.

[@ntandoscrayonbox]

At the same time im enjoying this, this made me miss Mulgrew Miller.. OP was such a great Influence

[@OrsmanOntiago]

Can anyone tell me what he’s playing at 13.15 when he demonstrates stride?

[@clivelange7879]

oh man simply magical

[@belindadrake5487]

OSCAR IS GOD! NUFF SAID. 🎹👊🏾😈✨

[@artsolomon202]

Beato got me Peterson!

[@pabloruizserra9828]

One of the "segment producers" were the freaking Thomas O'Malley (the alley cat?) LOL! Jokes apart, great interview.

[@user-ze7sj4qy6q]

came here cuz i just found out he was from Montreal and i wanted to see if he had a french Canadian accent. stayed cuz this is just a really well done interview and he's really interesting to listen to. not sure if I'm glad or disappointed about the accent.

[@Argonaut121]

He grew up speaking English in Montreal. Not sure what you were expecting - French? He sounds like an English Montrealer from the middle of the century.

[@robertcronin6603]

Rick Beato brought me here ❤

[@blaney1014]

13:15 does anybody know what song he’s playing? I’ve never heard a sound like that befofe

[@bd1845]

It’s just an improvised phrase I think describing stride.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Shortest round of applause ever after a DC interview …no small wonder given the fact that the audience would of rather listened to OP play than applaud.

[@HM-2011]

Would of?

[@Esperluet]

No audience at all, fake applause.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

@@Esperluet Guess again

[@skierpage]

​@@HM-2011 *would have. Should *have paid more attention in class and read more.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

@@skierpage yes!!!

[@thejazzmonastery9541]

I love Oscar. Whenever I encounter hard line race dividing mindsets online, I use this vid as an example of a beautiful person with a delightful personality.

[@franklee1550]

Oscar is channeling Tatum!

[@BlakedaBull]

SEE HUMANITY IS WORTH IT

[@tvariuness]

mehhhh

[@meetontheledge1380]

Aprox. @9:16, I wonder if he was referring to Ornette Coleman? Forget the critics, Coleman had to deal with big name Jazz performers attacking him by name.

[@switchynz2597]

13:12 can anyone tell me if this is a real song? its so epic

[@artisan002]

Oscar Peterson... I wish like hell I could have met the man. He always seemed so nice. And he is a grossly underrated musician. An absolute virtuoso.

[@calito44]

Underrated? One of best, perhaps the greatest jazz pianists? By Who?

[@artisan002]

@@calito44 Weirdly, a lot of people who say they're into jazz piano don't even think to mention the man. Some music KZbinr dude even claimed he wasn't being taught in jazz classes when he was at (I think) UC Berkely. Certainly, only my best friend knows to mention Peterson.

[@wadecottingham]

Just realized that what most commenters mean by "underrated" is "I like him". "Grossly underrated" means "I really like him".

[@blonieamw2998]

😳

[@chillin88STYLE]

What a fucking intro

[@joaov33r]

3:09 Eb

[@Esperluet]

3:10 God is ringing

[@OrcaTrumpet]

Old folks 🐬

[@joewag88]

*feedback hum* Cavett *pointing* : What note is that Peterson: E Dudes are riffing right from jump

[@batlin]

It was just below E flat, maybe the analog recording was digitised slightly below the recording tape speed?

[@charlespender5978]

@3:11 that’s an Eb

[@clayton229]

The recording quality may have changed it. Although, I'm not sure if Peterson had perfect pitch or not. If he didn't, then he would've been guessing the pitch based on relative pitch and pitch memory, which would've made the mistake pretty understandable for him to make on the spot like thag

[@thesaint2700]

@@clayton229 He definitely had (pitch) perfect pitch