Buy new:
$13.18
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Saturday, May 18 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 11 hrs 54 mins
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).
$$13.18 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.18
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
DVDs and BluRays in like new condition may have minor damage to the case or shelf wear. Discs look flawless. Slipcases may be missing and inserts or digital download certificates may be missing
FREE delivery Monday, May 20 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 16. Order within 11 hrs 54 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$13.18 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$13.18
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.

OSCAR PETERSON: Music in the Key of Oscar

Oscar Peterson (Actor), Dizzy Gillespie (Actor), WM Cunningham (Director), Rated:
NR
Format: DVD
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
$13.18
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE Returns
Additional DVD options Edition Discs
Price
New from Used from
DVD
June 2, 2006 		—
1
$13.18
$13.18 $7.63
DVD
April 1, 2006 		—
1
$34.40
$34.40 —
DVD
September 7, 2010 		—
1
—
— —
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$13.18","priceAmount":13.18,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"13","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"18","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"abR9NRqK%2BuokddYGMwzlqQwxq4aEMbdOY0Uf8h24A4RIfi0Sw8a%2FVlhMmLU5aB7UZGr4ZY%2FtSRUACXpWFAlBTIQBdI69KNVbOxJT8awtoJvLv8rLLP2QoYX%2FJL2hmsflUEWv%2FzGj4H0%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$11.86","priceAmount":11.86,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"11","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"86","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"abR9NRqK%2BuokddYGMwzlqQwxq4aEMbdO58K8EosLENzBXwMullfmcBlmSe3pisR4016wkckG3BAEj6VtsnwhHCecK8vuvWjKca4vu7t6crUFr2Uc63j5rKSWDX%2BM1GpmMN3nHhGn0ohYbEfW9VNeon4p4rKPHZgyDUsYTvR4gOQFBlJ6qiqRsN6yZuUBDHzW","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Frequently bought together

OSCAR PETERSON: Music in the Key of Oscar
$13.18
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 18
Only 10 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Classic Verve Albums Collection
$14.99
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 18
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Product Description

Product Description

This riveting music documentary traces the history of the legendary pianist Peterson, from his early days as Montreal's teenage boogie-woogie sensation through his meteoric rise to international celebrity.

Review

The sort of high-quality, thought-provoking video portrait of an artist rarely seen… More than just a good concert film or collection of interesting vintage footage, this bio-vid reveals Peterson as a complex, articulate man with a passion for perfection and profound anger and pain over the racism he has encountered… His commentary is a first hand account of the American brand of apartheid --Owen McNally, The Hartford Courant

An elaborately produced documentary… Anyone who admires Oscar Peterson will thoroughly enjoy this video… especially when he begins singing along impishly as if his pianistic exuberance were overflowing into song. --Krin Gabbard, Cadence Magazine

An expansive overview, there is ample performance footage by this Herculean pianist… is replete with many intimate, personal observations and anecdotes, showing the viewers his many other faces… a true-to-life sense of this prodigious musician. --The Palm Beach Post

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.5 x 7.5 inches; 0.01 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ 0033909235198
  • Director ‏ : ‎ WM Cunningham, Sylvia Sweeney
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Closed-captioned, NTSC, Dolby, Color, HiFi Sound, Full Screen
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 46 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ June 2, 2006
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Norman Granz, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis
  • Language ‏ : ‎ Unqualified (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (DD)
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ View Video
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0002OQRD8
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Stu Nichols
5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest music DVD ever!!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2010
Verified Purchase
Oscar Peterson was the greatest jazz pianist ever, and Music in the key of Oscar is
fantastic.
I saw him twice in my life, and was so sad at his passing.
I know that he and his trio are playing somewhere up there.
Stu Nichols
Aspen, CO.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Gregory Eason
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Video and a wonderful piece of history for all ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
A Great Video and a wonderful piece of history for all videophiles to invest in. Oscar Peterson was a great jazz musician and an exceptional keyboard professional.
Helpful
 Report
Joseph B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
Great stuff. Just what I wanted. jbs
Helpful
 Report
W.Bukowski
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
Purchased in Jan. 2021, disappointed because it WILL NOT PLAY in any of my 5 blue ray/dvd players. None of them!! I even have 2 DVD players that play all regions, but this DVD will not play in any of them.
Helpful
 Report
sphhps
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2014
Verified Purchase
Have always love OP.
Helpful
 Report
Jeff Dershin
4.0 out of 5 stars In addition to hearing lots of great Oscar clips
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
In addition to hearing lots of great Oscar clips, we get to meet Ray Brown and Herb Ellis, his "trio-mates." We learn about all the racism that jazz musicians of this era had to face (endless, awful and ever-present). And we meet Norman Granz, the courageous producer of Jazz at the Philharmonic who championed his musicians, and stood up the threats of racist violence. Wow!
Helpful
 Report
Shuman
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting DVD
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2004
Verified Purchase
As an avid fan of Oscar Peterson, this is a disc that you should buy.

The musical setting is at a nightclub in Chicago and is first class, A+++.

However, the detracting part of the program is the frequently interruption to the flow of the music by commentary on his life.

If you want to know about the life of an artist, buy the book!
11 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Samuel
5.0 out of 5 stars It holds up even better upon a 2nd viewing.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2010
[After a 2nd viewing, I'm raising my rating and retracting any complaints about the visuals or content. The audio quality suffers, as stated below, because of a slightly muffled quality and limited treble response-sounding like the 2nd generation of a mediocre master tape. But Oscar's musicianship and his eloquence as a spokesperson for the music simply can't be denied. The film effectively communicates the spirit, the character, the camaraderie of musicians from an era of music preceding the rise and eventual dominance of rock and C&W music in American pop culture beginning in the 1960s. The film presents an equal mix of humor and tragedy--demonstrating the early challenges of racism and, later, the difficulties of reaching a large audience proportionate to the enormous talents responsible for creating music emphasizing, above all, "swing," the jazz tradition (Louis, Duke, Bird, Tatum, Basie, Nat), and "the Great American Songbook." Oscar is always congenial and approachable but also complex, expressing great love toward his musicians and even other piano players, whom he loves and feels no compulsion to "show up"--unless, he parenthetically adds, "they get in my way." Above all, viewers should take seriously Oscar's lavish praise on Norman Granz as the promoter who fearlessly and tirelessly put the music and his musicians first. Jazz, Oscar states, could never have gotten as far as it has without Granz, to whom Oscar gives credit for his own success as well as any enjoyed by the music. (In recent years the "Blue Note story" has grown from a version of jazz history favored by a cultish to an overblown myth overshadowing the authentic story. If jazz was built on the talents of Louis, Duke, Basie, Hawk, Lester, Bird and Dizzy, Ella and Sarah, Oscar and Ray Brown--none of them Blue Note artists or represented on Van Gelder recordings--then Blue Note must be considered no more than a single chapter, possibly a "footnote," in the story of jazz as an American art form, its significance extending far beyond any "hard bop" recording of "Song for My Father" or "The Sidewinder."]

If you're already an Oscar Peterson fan, pick up "Oscar Peterson in Berlin" ahead of this. That's an uninterrupted, well-recorded concert, with all of the emphasis on the phenomenal musician and the music itself. By contrast, "Music in the Key of Oscar" is more "produced" (arguably "over-produced"). It begins with a shot of someone listening to their car radio (a reference to Oscar's discovery in Canada by Jazz at the Philharmonic / Verve Records impresario Norman Granz). We then get some of those "he's the greatest," "he's unreal" testimonials from the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Quincy Jones, and then we go to a club for an extended work-out on "Caravan." Here's where the movie falters a bit. The backgrounds are not flattering to the musicians (drummer Jeff Hamilton in front of venetian blinds), the camera seems to have little interest in Oscar's fingers, instead giving us head shots of musicians who appear curiously unengaged, and with excessive emphasis on the close-up (practically anatomizing each of them, including Ray Brown and Herb Ellis).

Interviews follow, with the musicians giving testimonies to each other, Oscar especially intent on singling out his first, drummerless trio as "the greatest of all time." Then back to the music--a waltz.

By now, it's clear what the problem with the film is: the audio frequencies are fairly wide, permitting the listener to hear Brown's bass and Hamilton's drums along with Oscar's piano. But the sound is somewhat muffled and "dead," especially disappointing for a recording from circa 1990--and a musical documentary at that!

I only wish there was a video of Oscar at the chateau of Hans Brunner Schwer, where Oscar made some scintillating recordings in the 1960s, with Bobby Durham, the little man of steel, on drums. This documentary might be recommended for the classroom or for the Oscar fan who might be fascinated by some of the early photos of him dating back to the 1940s (and earlier)--the days when Oscar was an enfant terrible and Canadian hepcat. It also takes on the neglected subject of Oscar and race, allowing him to explain his feelings about the patronizing language used to describe him in the early days.

In terms of jazz and race, the film (and Oscar) gives Norman Granz the credit that he so richly deserves (even though I once saw Norman in person--in a rumpled suit, standing next to an inebriated Lester Young--I never had a true idea of his enormous importance to the dissemination of this great American music until many, many years later). It's almost criminal that the music's struggle to gain respect has led to the neglect of indispensable activists such as Granz or, for that matter, Leonard Feather. Oscar says in no uncertain terms that Norman Granz was one of jazz' true heroes, deserving more acclaim than practically anyone.

Other insights and highlights: Miles' and Bill Evans' groups never rehearsed; Ray Brown relates that Oscar rehearsed the trio all the time.

Oscar praising Chief Justice Earl Warren as a civil rights champion (besides, of course, Norman Granz). Dizzy's comments about the struggles of being black. Herb Ellis relating that he chose to stay in the black hotels with Oscar and Ray. Herb then admitting that booze had caused him to go AWOL with Oscar.

Highlights: In the recommended "Oscar in Berlin," it's the first encore taken at blazing speed; in this video it's the mounting tension of a slow blues in G and Oscar's playing the bass line while Ray becomes primary soloist. Norman Granz introducing Nat Cole as the first pianist at JATP in 1944 (I wish he'd mentioned Les Paul at the same time).

The 2nd part of the film focuses primarily on racial-social issues, including jazz and drugs--and, of course, booze.

This movie ultimately is an elegy and a eulogy. It catches a number of legends (if only the public knew as much) at the tail end of their careers and lives, reflecting on the glory that was. The juxtapositions of past and present are, admittedly, occasionally disturbing, reminding us of the passage of time and its disregard of those whose music defies its passage, yet at the same time the journey is wondrous: count yourself one of the lucky ones if you were around to catch any of these giants who once strode the earth, whether early or late.

Now if someone could only fix the audio before any more transfers of this disc are released (also it could profit from minor editing, though eventually the lengthy 2nd half brings the film full circle). My guess is that the distributors lacked the master film footage and were forced to copy a VHS tape onto DVD. Never a good idea, and never worth much than the most minimal charge (unless it's a rare disc--a Caruso recital, for example).

Last but not least, the film's biggest (but forgivable) "lie": Oscar is caught stating that getting old isn't that bad and that if the fingers get a bit stiff or arthritis sets in, he'll "walk away." Not long after the making of this film, Oscar suffered a partially disabling stroke.

He never walked away--at least not from the piano.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Walter Knaus
5.0 out of 5 stars Les interviews avec Oscar Peterson sur la musique du Jazz
Reviewed in France on February 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
Les Interviews avec Oscar Peterson sont très intéressants et révèle ses idées sur le Jazz, montrant ses très haus idéals et standards vers les autres comme vers lui-même! Ensuite la partie biographique et les examples de concerts. Ce DVD est fortement recommendable. Il reste un document sur un, sur le plus grand pianiste du Jazz à toujours. WK
Report
S J Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars Great documentary
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 25, 2013
Verified Purchase
For historical reasons alone this is an essential documentary for Jazz fans as it contains interviews with some of the greatest Jazz artists in the history of the music (Ella/Dizzy etc). Even more so in the context of Oscar Peterson, as it contains substantial footage of the last tour he undertook before a stroke took away most of the use of his left hand for the rest of his career. You get full length versions of "Caravan" and "Kelly's Blues" (wrongly titled as "Bag's Groove" on the DVD menu) featuring Oscar, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Jeff Hamilton.

The biographical side of Oscar Peterson's life is covered in detail and includes interviews with him, Norman Granz, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Dudley Moore, Cleo Laine as well as brief historic audio and video footage of Oscar playing at various stages of his career. The documentary runs to 106mins and is in 4:3 ratio and was undoubtedly originally made for TV.

The extras are sadly insubstantial and only consist of a lot of text based information, which these days you can read on-line. Overall though its the best documentary on Oscar Peterson available.
One person found this helpful
 Report