Oscar was simply one of the greatest to ever play the instrument.

Cavett was such a good interviewer. To think that we had this elevated musical conversation (with Peterson able to demonstrate on piano) on a tv show. You expect to find this on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz NPR show - but not on a talk show. (Perhaps Charlie Rose might have done it.) Peterson was just a Canadian national treasure, building upon the ideas of Art Tatum - and his ability to perform without even thinking about it is mind boggling.

I had my favorites until I heard Oscar Peterson playing one night in concert (recorded long ago) .... and HE BLEW MY MIND with incredible right and left hand magic ! So fast, so precise and just wicked energy and melody skills - Thee BEST !!! GBjj

This was freaking awesome!

Incredible !🤩

At Berklee some of the features of our arranging classes were learning the ability to arrange any piece for the specific band you were writing for: the rhythmic structure, chord structure, how their reeds, horns and any signature style would contribute to their easily identifiable sound. O.P. had the ability to do it on the fly w/ incredible accuracy.

What an absolute treat to hear one of the greatest musicians of all time (in my opinion anyway) being interviewed in such a competent and entertaining way. As a kid of 15 the world of jazz was opened-up to me by Oscar's "A Jazz Portrait if Frank Sinatra" album. For those who haven't been exposed to jazz I can highly recommend it. Nice, bite-sized chunks of easily digested music and a great lesson for bass players and drummers too. Thanks for this great clip!

Oh, that was Gold!! Loved it!🥰😃 Will check up on those Ken Burns documentary series about jazz - thank you for that as well, Jeff👍🏼🤗 - and thank you for this recommendation🤩🤗.

Oscar = all timer Needle Mover . As brilliant and virtuosic as he was a delightful human ...never tire of his improvisational clarity .

I listen to Oscar Peterson when I want to hear the unexpected and the beautiful. He can invent, and improvise, music that can be beautiful, and challenges my mind. If you look at a transcription of some of his improvisation, it is mind blowing. He sees, hears and plays music that grows out of the underlying framework, instantaneously, that fits and expands the framework while being fantastic to listen to. What an incredible talent!

This was pure joy ✨ Oscar Peterson what an angel ❤

I saw this video some time ago. I am so glad you are reacting to this. Not only is Oscar the best, he's such a sweet and personable man. Dick Cavett did his homework on this one.

To the Wayback Machine! My mother adored Erroll Garner and George Shearing and I love it all now too. My same reaction as you every time I hear any of them. I don't think I've ever seen a piano great do that besides Dudley Moore.

Thanks, Jeff. I watched that on TV back in 1979! Here's the full 20-minute interview: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y5lggsmHz67baWw.html I used to service Oscar's computers at his home in the 1990s. When the work was done we would sometimes chat in the kitchen over a glass of orange juice and he would tell me about his kids or ask me about my family, or talk about new technology. He loved to go fishing. He was a humble and gracious man, and I miss him.

Jeff, your facial reaction is one of your greatest... 😁😎

Rick Beato did a video about this same interview. He described this as one of the best interviews of a musician ever done.

I just realized, you let the credits roll to the end so you could hear what OP played when asked for a little cocktail jazz! I've not seen you do this before. He really hooks you in, doesn't he?

Well this was unexpected. Oscar Peterson is my favorite piano player, so I’ve enjoyed this video and others a lot! 😅 P.S too bad we don’t see stuff like this anymore on Talk shows. Imagine David Letterman sits down with Valeriy Stepanov to be shown some things 😂

Not relevant to this post...Don’t know if you’ve checked any of Valeriy’s Russian material. This one, you can find it on his play list, is not his composition but I find interesting as his drumming, even that long ago, is highlighted here and includes some fine guitar from, Roman Bulakhov, my translating app says, and with whom he’s played before many times and a quick hello from his cello friend Guzov. Lots of signature changes throughout. From 8 years ago Валерий Степанов - Летящей Походкой

Hate to be a downer here.....but how do you critique OP?