Oscar Peterson : The Will to Swing

Oscar Peterson, the young man from Montreal's St. Antoine district, became an internationally known artist while still in his twenties. In this wide-ranging biography, critic and lyricist Gene Lees examines the life and motivation of one of the world's greatest jazz pianists -- a brooding genius who sought constantly to explore all the possibilities of his instrument and continued to do so until his death. Richly detailed, and written with an anecdotal exuberance that recalls the best jazz improvisation, Oscar Peterson: The Will to Swing is must reading -- for lovers of jazz, of course, but also for all those interested in the life and career of an exemplary Canadian. NOTE: This is the Third Edition of this book, published in Canada in 2008 after Peterson's death.