SINGLE-ISSUE ALBUM BY OSCAR PETERSON TO BE AUCTIONED IN LONDON

By Culturekiosque Staff

LONDON, 15 AUGUST 2015 — Today, marks the 90th anniversary of the birth of one of Jazz history’s greatest icons, the Canadian pianist, Oscar Peterson (15 August 1925, Montreal). In celebration, Sotheby’s and Warner Music Denmark have announced the sale of a unique, single-issue album "Take Me Home" by The Oscar Peterson Legacy Quartet. The album will be released in just a single copy that will be offered for sale at Sotheby’s London as part of the Rock & Pop auction on 29 September 2015 (est. £20,000-30,000).

Oscar Peterson, who died in 2007 aged 82, is considered one of the all-time great Jazz pianists, winning eight Grammy Awards during a career in which he released over 200 recordings. "Take Me Home" by The Oscar Peterson Legacy Quartet features previously unrecorded and unreleased original Oscar Peterson compositions made available by the Oscar Peterson Estate. The album of ten tracks is a swinging, sparkling gem, packed with fabulous melodies, soaring improvisations and vibrant musical interaction.

Mikkel Torsting, Managing Director of Warner Music Denmark: "In today’s age of digital reproduction, it is easy to take music for granted. Ultra-high and uncompromising standards are essential components of Oscar Peterson’s legacy. So to honour these values, we have decided to bypass the traditional mass market and only issue this masterpiece album in one single copy, just like a sculpture or painting".

Dr Philip Errington, Director of Sotheby’s Department of Printed Books and Manuscripts: "This sale presents an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire a unique slice of unheard, unrecorded musical history by one of the all-time jazz greats."

Alongside "Take me Home", Sotheby’s Rock & Pop auction on 29 September will include further exceptional Oscar Peterson memorabilia and manuscripts:

Oscar Peterson’s Dunhill Rollags 18K gold lighter, presented to him by Ella Fitzgerald on his birthday and engraved with his initials (est. £10,000-15,000). Since their first manufacture in the mid-1950s, Dunhill Rollagas lighters have achieved a legendary status. Former owners range from Elvis Presley to Harpo Marx and from Noel Coward to Ronnie Kray and James Bond.

Oscar Peterson’s favourite watch, a Gents 18K yellow gold Oysterquartz Rolex, model 19018 (est. £8,000-12,000). The legendary jazz pianist was a well-known watch collector, acquiring everything from Rolex to Swatch, and a client of Chronometrie Beyer in Zurich, Switzerland where he purchased this watch during the late 1970s.

Musical manuscript for "The Strut", recorded by The Oscar Peterson Trio in 1964, and released as the first track on the album, The Oscar Peterson Trio Plays (est. £2,000-3,000).

Oscar Peterson’s musical manuscript and handwritten lyrics for "If You Should Care", one of an exceptionally small number of songs for which Oscar Peterson wrote both music and lyric (est. £4,000-6,000). Kelly Peterson, the widow of the distinguished jazz pianist, notes that "this song was composed while Oscar Peterson was on a tour of Europe, written in his hotel room late at night, as he relaxed after his concert".

Related Culturekiosque Jazznet Archives

Oscar Peterson: 1925 - 2007

Essential Jazz Recordings of the 20th Century

Top Jazz Piano CDs

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