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| Happy Damien. The Oscar Peterson Trio's "You Look Good To Me" is a remarkable piece of music. A friend introduced me to both the song and the Trio in the late '90's when I lived in Paris. For that reason alone, the song evokes many happy memories. I shared the song with my family not long before my brother was married. Everyone loved it. Trumpeter Aaron Flagg turned it into "their" song, serving up a terrific rendition at the wedding where he played Ray Brown's slow intro on the trumpet. Still today, the song makes an appearance every holiday season when our family comes together. Needless to say, I have always thought it would be a treat to hear the octogenarian live in concert and perhaps shake his hand. When I shared the song and the story with Amy at The Bottle Shop in July of '06, she insisted that I "just do it". "Find his agent and call him, there is no reason not to. Do it". Of course, she also loved the song As it turned out, Oscar was playing one of his few concerts of the year at Birdland in New York in August. Not only did he play two shows, but after the late show that I saw, he greeted every fan behind stage. The Birdland folks said he is the only performer to do so. I shook his hand and was able to tell him how much happiness he has given me, my family and my friends over the last decade. In the picture at right, he is holding a letter in which I tried to explain how he has opened the door to so much music and so many happy times. I also explained that he has done a better job of describing great wine than I ever could. When I told him of my family's connection to "You Look Good To Me" he said "Oh, I'm sorry you didn't tell me that before the show, I'd have played it for you". Me too. Thanks Oscar, thanks Amy. |
| Oscar Peterson backstage at Birdland in NYC, August 2006. |
A few links to "You Look Good To Me",
my favorite description of great wine.*
A place to buy the album online.
A live video with bassists Ray Brown
and Niels Pederson.
An interview with Oscar Peterson.
* Warning! If you have not heard the
song, do not follow these links. Get the
album and listen to it on a good stereo
first. Anything else would be like
drinking great wine from a Dixie cup.
PS - Many thanks to the gentleman who
was behind me in line at the concert
who took these pictures. Mine did not
come out well and though he was a
perfect stranger, he took the time to
email them to me a few days later.
my favorite description of great wine.*
A place to buy the album online.
A live video with bassists Ray Brown
and Niels Pederson.
An interview with Oscar Peterson.
* Warning! If you have not heard the
song, do not follow these links. Get the
album and listen to it on a good stereo
first. Anything else would be like
drinking great wine from a Dixie cup.
PS - Many thanks to the gentleman who
was behind me in line at the concert
who took these pictures. Mine did not
come out well and though he was a
perfect stranger, he took the time to
email them to me a few days later.
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