Mar 30, 2026 10:30 PM
Flea Finds His Jazz Thing
In the relatively small pantheon of certifiable rock stars venturing into the intersection of pop music and jazz, the…
On July 16, Verve will release A Jazz Odyssey, a new compilation featuring the music of legendary pianist Oscar Peterson. The CD is the musical companion to Peterson’s long-awaited autobiography of the same name, published by Continuum books.
The 18 songs on this set showcase two different sides of Peterson’s career. The first nine tracks display his keyboard prowess, featuring tracks from classic Peterson recordings like Night Train and The Oscar Peterson Trio Plays. Such songs as “The Honeydripper” and “My Romance” demonstrate the sheer talent that has established and maintained Peterson’s reputation over the past 50 years.
The second half of A Jazz Odyssey features a Who’s Who of jazz legends, as it highlights some of Peterson’s most memorable sessions as an accompanist. With performances ranging from Billie Holiday’s “I Only Have Eyes For You” to Lester Young’s “Pennies From Heaven,” this collection neatly attests to Peterson’s unmatched skill and versatility.
Peterson’s autobiography, entitled A Jazz Odyssey: The Life of Oscar Peterson, will be published by Continuum books on July 15.
“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”
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Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.
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