--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box…" description: "\"Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard.\" — Count Basie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png" --- # Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard. ![“Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard.” quote by Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png) > “Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard.” [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The performer delivers an exceptionally beautiful piano performance, surpassing all expectations. **In simple terms:** His piano playing is the best I've ever heard. Key Takeaway Appreciate and seek out high‑quality musical experiences. Themes music appreciation excellence artistic mastery jazz Mood admiring enthusiastic inspired Type musical critical When to use this quote - live concerts - listening sessions - music education - recording reviews Key Concepts performance technique emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - What makes a piano performance unforgettable for you? - How does this performance compare to others you've heard? A Different Perspective Subjectivity of taste may limit universal agreement on 'best'. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-ivory-5219850/) [Boxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxes/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Ivory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory/) [Ivory Box](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ivory-box-5219848/) [Oscar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscar-peterson-1809800/) [Oscars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oscars/) [Peterson Plays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peterson-plays-5219849/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Plays Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plays-best-964586/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [The best team does not always win, it's the team that plays the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/the-best-team-does-not-always-win-it-s-the-team-that-plays-the-best/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Sometimes in football, the best team does not necessarily win; it's the team that plays best on the day that prevails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-coleman/sometimes-in-football-the-best-team-does-not-necessarily-win-it-s-the/) [Chris Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-coleman/) > [I'm a big fan of every player plays in his best possible position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/i-m-a-big-fan-of-every-player-plays-in-his-best-possible-position/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [I've struggled with the U.S. Open setups. I'm going to need some stuff to align. I'll be frank. If Rory McIlroy or Dustin Johnson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-casey/i-ve-struggled-with-the-u-s-open-setups-i-m-going-to-need-some-stuff/) [Paul Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-casey/) > [Not everyone plays their best game every week.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/not-everyone-plays-their-best-game-every-week/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [Hearing Oscar Peterson was something that resonated within me. There are so many musicians I've been fortunate to play with. The people that inspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/hearing-oscar-peterson-was-something-that-resonated-within-me-there/) [Eldar Djangirov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldar-djangirov/) > [Oscar Peterson is my favorite all-around pianist. There are pianists I like because of one thing and pianists I like because of another. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-mcrae/oscar-peterson-is-my-favorite-all-around-pianist-there-are-pianists-i/) [Carmen McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-mcrae/) > [My dream as a child was to play with a bass player like Ray Brown, who played with the Oscar Peterson Trio. The feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-krall/my-dream-as-a-child-was-to-play-with-a-bass-player-like-ray-brown-who/) [Diana Krall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-krall/) > [As far as piano players are concerned, Oscar Peterson is my very favorite. I also like McCoy Tyner. I think that the big jazz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-simone/as-far-as-piano-players-are-concerned-oscar-peterson-is-my-very/) [Nina Simone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-simone/) > [I have believed for many years that Oscar Peterson is not only the greatest pianist in jazz today, but the greatest it has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-lees/i-have-believed-for-many-years-that-oscar-peterson-is-not-only-the/) [Gene Lees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-lees/) > [As a kid, I used to go see all the jazz players, Oscar Peterson, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Dizzy Gillespe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-coleman/as-a-kid-i-used-to-go-see-all-the-jazz-players-oscar-peterson-stan/) [Jim Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-coleman/) > [It has always been Oscar Peterson. He is my Rachmaninoff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-horn/it-has-always-been-oscar-peterson-he-is-my-rachmaninoff/) [Shirley Horn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-horn/) > [Oscar Peterson is the greatest living influence on jazz pianists today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-hancock/oscar-peterson-is-the-greatest-living-influence-on-jazz-pianists-today/) [Herbie Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-hancock/) > [Jazz doesn't have much to do with how I write songs, but I am a big fan. My favorites are Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/jazz-doesn-t-have-much-to-do-with-how-i-write-songs-but-i-am-a-big/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [There are a lot of people that impacted me. I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-that-impacted-me-i-remember-hearing-oscar/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## More by Count Basie > [I think the band can really swing when it swings easy, when it can just play along like you are cutting butter,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-think-the-band-can-really-swing-when-it-swings-easy-when-it-can/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I don't dig that two-beat jive the New Orleans cats play. My boys and I have to have four heavy beats to the bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-don-t-dig-that-two-beat-jive-the-new-orleans-cats-play-my-boys-and/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [Of course, there are a lot of ways you can treat the blues, but it will still be the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/of-course-there-are-a-lot-of-ways-you-can-treat-the-blues-but-it-will/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [All I wanted was to be big, to be in show business and to travel ... and that's what I've been doing all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/all-i-wanted-was-to-be-big-to-be-in-show-business-and-to-travel-and/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [Well, if you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/well-if-you-find-a-note-tonight-that-sounds-good-play-the-same-damn/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [ I'll always remember when I first heard Lester \[Young\]. I'd never heard anyone like him before. He was a stylist with a different sound.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-ll-always-remember-when-i-first-heard-lester-young-i-d-never-heard/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [It's the way you play that makes it . . . Play like you play. Play like you think, and then you got it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/it-s-the-way-you-play-that-makes-it-play-like-you-play-play-like-you/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [If you find a note tonight that sounds good, play the same damn note every night!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/if-you-find-a-note-tonight-that-sounds-good-play-the-same-damn-note/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [Keep on listening & tapping your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/keep-on-listening-tapping-your-feet/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I got everything I wanted. When I was young in Kansas City, I knew nothing about Frank Sinatra, Billy Eckstine, Ella Fitzgerald, of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-got-everything-i-wanted-when-i-was-young-in-kansas-city-i-knew/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [Freddie Green has been my right arm for thirty years. And if he leaves the band one day, I'll probably leave with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/freddie-green-has-been-my-right-arm-for-thirty-years-and-if-he-leaves/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I decided that I would be one of the biggest new names; and I actually had some little fancy business cards printed up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-decided-that-i-would-be-one-of-the-biggest-new-names-and-i-actually/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I never thought innovation as such was very important. Not when you have to think about it... If you're going to come up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-never-thought-innovation-as-such-was-very-important-not-when-you/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [If a guy is gonna to play good bop, he has to have a sort of a bop soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/if-a-guy-is-gonna-to-play-good-bop-he-has-to-have-a-sort-of-a-bop-soul/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) > [I just think swing is a matter of some good things put together that you can really pat your foot by. I can't define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/i-just-think-swing-is-a-matter-of-some-good-things-put-together-that/) [Count Basie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) [Explore all 22 Count Basie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/) ## More Boxes quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He decided then that he would love her forever no matter what came to pass. It was not so much a matter of deciding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guterson/he-decided-then-that-he-would-love-her-forever-no-matter-what-came-to/) [David Guterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guterson/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-have-nothing-but-praise-for-the-boy-he-is-easily-the-best-player-in/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) > [The recurrent laryngeal nerve - which runs from the head to the voice box - goes all the way down into the chest, loops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-recurrent-laryngeal-nerve-which-runs-from-the-head-to-the-voice/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [3 people get stranded on a remote Island A Banker, a Daily Mail reader & an Asylum seeker All they have to eat is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-brookmyre/3-people-get-stranded-on-a-remote-island-a-banker-a-daily-mail-reader/) [Christopher Brookmyre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-brookmyre/) > [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [I could party in a cardboard box with people who are funny and don't care. For me, it's really about who I surround myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kesha/i-could-party-in-a-cardboard-box-with-people-who-are-funny-and-don-t/) [Kesha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kesha/) > [The minister's brain is often the "poor-box" of the church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/the-minister-s-brain-is-often-the-poor-box-of-the-church/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [A token of love comes in a box because love itself cannot be contained.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/binnie-kirshenbaum/a-token-of-love-comes-in-a-box-because-love-itself-cannot-be-contained/) [Binnie Kirshenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/binnie-kirshenbaum/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) [Browse all 2,146 Boxes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Count Basie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box-i-ve-ever-heard/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Boxes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box-i-ve-ever-heard/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/caa/count-basie-25671_boxes_oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box_3075131.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I've ever heard.” — Count Basie", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Count Basie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/count-basie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box-i-ve-ever-heard/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/count-basie/oscar-peterson-plays-the-best-ivory-box-i-ve-ever-heard/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```