I was lucky enough to have studied jazz at York University while Oscar Peterson was the school's chancellor. Even though our paths never crossed, his presence was almost palpable. I played in an ensemble under the tutelage of Don Thompson, a Canadian jazz giant in his our right, and every once in a while he'd make us put down our instruments and stop talking theory so we could listen to the masters. He'd play us records from his collection - Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Bill Evans - but more often than not we'd find ourselves listening to Oscar Peterson.