Honoring Oscar

At 4pm today Roy Thomson Hall will play host to Oscar Peterson - Simply the Best, a concert celebrating the life of the jazz legend who passed away on December 23^rd.

The concert is free, but it's on a first-come first-served basis with the doors opening at 3pm. Based on the performance lineup it's likely the physical lineup will be fantastically long, but still worth it if you can get inside. The other option of course is to listen live at home on CBC Radio One or Sirius 137, or to catch a rebroadcast at 8pm on CBC Radio Two or SRC Espace Musique.

A tribute of another kind was announced yesterday as well. Dalton McGuinty said an endowment from the province to York University will provide five $10,000 scholarships annually to music students from underprivileged backgrounds.

Free music and free education, all in the name of Oscar Peterson.

Fine and fitting tributes indeed.