You probably know pianist Ebe Gilkes as one of Barbados’ jazz icons. His exceptional piano virtuosity has entertained audiences for over fifty years. You have heard Ebe at premier hotels in Barbados and jazz cafés, where he is often the pianist of choice for famous jazz artists visiting the island. You have read in the local press that the Ebe Gilkes Quartet played international jazz festivals back in the day, and that in 2010 Ebe released his first CD, Ebe Gilkes Trio, and received the Barbados Service Star for his outstanding contribution to jazz.

What you probably do not know about Ebe is that he shared a special friendship with eminent Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson.

Ebe, who’s now 82, speaks quietly about his time with Oscar, “just playing the piano for each other, and talking about the music and our experiences in life. Oscar Peterson was not your everyday person, and I never forgot that he was world renowned.”

For Ebe, it all began in 1976 Port of Spain, where Oscar was performing at Queen’s Hall with Canadian acoustic bassist Dave Young. Ebe, already a huge fan of Oscar’s, took the night off from his gig at the Barbados Holiday Inn and flew to Trinidad for the concert. Determined to meet Peterson, Ebe, along with some Bajan friends, crashed the after-concert party. Ebe got to speak with Oscar, only briefly and nothing of consequence. It would be twenty-four years later, in Barbados, before they resumed their conversation.

“I always admired Oscar Peterson. I have read much about him, and I know his music; I play many of his arrangements and original compositions. When I first met Oscar, I was in awe of him. However, when I met him again, I never felt star-struck.”

Both men were raised in strict West Indian homes.  Oscar’s mother was from St-Kitts-Nevis, his father was from the British Virgin Islands.  Ebe was born in Trinidad; he migrated to Barbados in 1957 when he was 27.  When they met again, Ebe was 69 and Oscar was 74, and they discovered they shared much in common as men and senior musicians of their generation, including the profound effects of racism on their careers. 

Touring North American cities in the early days, Oscar was forced to stay in third-rate hotels because of the colour of his skin.  For Ebe, the patronage of Coconut Creek Club (later Hotel) owner Jack Teller opened many doors that would have been firmly closed to him as a young black musician in Barbados. 

But, at this later stage in their lives, they had both come to terms with their craft.

“I had confidence in my playing, and my level of musicianship was an important element to our relationship,” recalls Ebe.  “We got along like old friends.”

The year was 1999—Ebe was playing a gig twice weekly at The Sandpiper, and the Peterson family was staying at the hotel during their first visit to Barbados.

“Oscar listened to me on Sundays from the pool deck and on Thursday evenings in the dining room. Years later, Oscar told me, ‘You know…I really enjoyed listening to you play those solos and with your trio.’”

Oh, my God, thought Ebe. Oscar Peterson was actually listening.  To me.

The Sandpiper sessions

The Peterson family returned to The Sandpiper in 2000.  

“It was a Sunday afternoon, and I noticed Oscar sitting by the swimming pool listening to me play,” says Ebe. “When I took a break, Oscar called me over to his table and said, ‘I want you to know I thoroughly enjoyed what you were doing there…you understand the musicthat instrument.’  We chatted about the music and before the afternoon was over Oscar, who always travelled with a keyboard, invited me to his suite for a piano session.”

Jazz music and the piano were the common threads of their friendship. Together, they had fun with the music, entertained each other with what Ebe calls harmonic demos and duos, and kibitzed about each other’s piano style.

“Oscar would say, ‘I do it like this,’ and then play a few bars, ‘and Ebe does it like this,’ and then he’d play a few more bars.  I’d say, ‘I do that?  Really?” And he’d say, ‘Yes, you do!’

“I was never inhibited by Oscar’s presence. I had enough confidence in my playing to say to Oscar, let me show you something, and then I would play a few bars for him. You would never think I would ask Oscar Peterson to get up from the piano so I could show him something. It took a few years, but that’s how comfortable our relationship had become.” 

Over the next seven years, Oscar and his family spent their winter holidays at The Sandpiper. In his 2002 autobiography, A Jazz Odyssey, Oscar refers to Barbados as “the perfect retreat.” Each year, Oscar invited some of Ebe’s contemporaries to join the sessions; acoustic bassist Clarence Green, drummer Tony Scrooge and saxophonist Andre Woodvine became regulars. The sessions were light, and Oscar always loved a good joke.

Scrooge recalls one lively session in particular.

“It was Oscar’s turn at the piano; he turned to everyone and said, ‘Most people play like this,’ and then he played a few notes, ‘and Ebe plays like this,’ and taps his hand on his head.”   

Oscar also wrote about the jazz musicians he met in Barbados: “I was intrigued and delighted to find how many of them were deeply involved in the jazz idiom: it re-endorsed my faith in the form to which I’ve dedicated my life.” 

 

His and Ebe’s friendship grew into one of mutual respect and admiration for each other’s piano skills and imagination for the music. They exchanged gifts—Ebe presented Oscar with local woodcarvings, and Oscar surprised Ebe with a Yamaha electric piano he had delivered to The Sandpiper. 

Their keen interest in classical music was also a common ground. They both studied classical piano in their youth and understood the music of important classical composers like Bach. As Ebe tells it, “I quickly realized that to understand Oscar Peterson’s approach to jazz it was important to know that he had first studied to be a classical pianist. You listen to jazz pianists if you want to play jazz, but you listen to classical players if you want to know the piano.”

Celebrating Oscar’s 80th

In August 2005, Ebe was a guest of the Peterson family at Oscar’s 80th birthday celebrations in Toronto. There was also a private gathering at the Peterson’s home in Mississauga.

“Diana Krall played a couple of tunes,” says Ebe, “Oscar played some, and then he turned to me. ‘OK, Ebe…it is your turn.’

“You think I have suicidal tendencies” was Ebe’s reply as he took his place at the Bösendorfer grand to play “Here’s that Rainy Day,” one of his friend’s favourites.

Oscar would later post to his website, “In my opinion the highlight of the evening was Ebe Gilkes.”  

“Oscar had a very relaxed attitude that made our relationship effortless. He made it easy for me to feel comfortable in his company and always included me in conversations he had with others. Together, we shared many spontaneous moments.”

More impromptu moments

One afternoon, Ebe, Oscar, and Russell Croney, The Sandiper’s general manager, were enjoying lunch together at the Waterfront Café. Following lunch, they made a stop at Ebe’s home, where Oscar played a brief session on his Yamaha grand. Ebe recalls Oscar saying, “This is a very nice piano, the action feels like a Steinway.” 

Oscar Peterson never played publicly in Barbados, so when he suggested to Ebe that they play an impromptu duo during Sunday lunch at The Sandpiper Ebe was flattered.

“You know I am unflappable, and when Oscar suggested that I invite a few friends, I knew he was serious.”

The gathering of close friends was thoroughly enchanted by the harmonic demos and duos. A most memorable moment was when Ebe very quietly moved Oscar, in his scooter, to the acoustic piano after he realized Oscar was uncomfortable with his position at the keyboard.

Oscar Peterson had a wonderful sense of humor and humility; much of this came from his deep love of and respect for jazz.  His trips to Barbados further showed him that the music had the ability to touch all kinds of people and bring them together. Oscar was a very famous person, but, Ebe says, “You forgot all that,” because he made it so easy to be comfortable with him.

Oscar and Ebe shared a special and enduring friendship that ended with Oscar’s passing in December 23, 2007.  He was 82.  

Susan Bain Bio to come:

His and Ebe