Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette Blogs

By JASON CRANE • Special to the Guide

Oscar Peterson — the name is legendary among jazz pianists and jazz fans (Duke Ellington called him “the Maharaja of the keyboard”).

The Canadian pianist became one of the acknowledged masters of America’s art form. And he is the subject of a special tribute by pianist Kevin Bales and his trio on today and Saturday at The Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island.
Peterson was a piano prodigy from an early age. His first major exposure came when he was 24 and was featured in the “Jazz at the Philharmonic” concerts put on by impresario (and Verve records founder) Norman Granz. “JATP,” as the series was known, put together all-star casts of the great musicians of the day, including, to name a very few, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat “King” Cole.

I was quite pleased that my blog entry last week about the media’s need for objectivity elicited so many comments, both on this site and on my Facebook page, where an RSS feed from Inside Pages is directed into my notes section.

Jeremy West has been champing at the bit for another chance, another season.

That time arrives today for the Bluffton High School football coach, as public schools are slated to begin practice in South Carolina. And West and his team are taking in every ounce possible.

Like the rest of the Beaufort County high schools, the Bobcats have scheduled an afternoon practice. Their initial meeting will come at 5 p.m. this afternoon.

I remember clearly the day my Reporting 102 class provided my hour of grand disillusionment. Some details of the session — such as the name and job title of the day’s guest speaker — have faded. However, the sense of uneasiness about the business into which I was to fling myself lingers fresh.

Three distressing things happened on the same day in that class. I will list them in ascending order of concern: