Another jazz legend is gone...

Just before Christmas, on 23rd December 2007, legendary pianist Oscar Peterson has passed away due to kidney failure at the age of 82.

Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, (15 August 1925 – 23 December 2007) was a Canadian jazz pianist, singer and composer. He was called the "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington, and was therefore a member of jazz royalty. He released over 200 recordings, won seven Grammy Awards, and received other numerous awards and honors over the course of his career. He is considered to have been one of the greatest pianists of all time, who played thousands of live concerts to audiences worldwide in a career lasting more than 65 years.

He began his career in small jazz clubs in Montreal, but thanks to his talent he was soon invited to perform in the biggest concert halls all over the world. During his career he played with the greatest jazz musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Count Bassie, Dizzy Gillespie and many more.

It is a great loss and we can say that the world will miss this incredible musician.

Find out more about Oscar Peterson on his official website:
www.oscarpeterson.com

and in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Peterson

Oscar - we will miss you and it's been a pleasure! :)

The New Year has begun!!!

Imagine that! We are now officially in the New Year - 2008! Seems to me this could be a cool year for new projects, ideas, inspirations and plenty of great music! I wish you all the best and hope you achieve all that you planned! I have entered the new year on stage, luckily and this means for me that I will probably have more successes. At least that's what I'm hoping for! You know that superstition that says how you enter the new year is symbolic for the year that is coming? I think there's something to it! I hope you had a great time!

Looking at our last poll I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of you didn't wish for anything this Christmas and you only hoped to spend it with the people you love. That's remarkable and I honestly hope that's how you did it! Although a little something as a token of appreciation under the tree would also be nice, no? Some of you wished to go on a trip to a special destination, some wanted to hear a good concert and some hoped to get a cool gadget for their instrument. Anyway, hope you've got what you wished for! :)

This year, I've got many things planned for you and I hope you will enjoy reading this year's posts. Keep on visiting and reading!

And thank for your support!