Herbie Hancock steps in for Oscar Peterson at jazz fest

Canadian jazz great Oscar Peterson has cancelled a June 26 appearance at the Toronto Jazz Festival because of illness.

The seven-time Grammy winner, who was to headline the Grandmasters series featuring legends of jazz, has been in poor health recently.

Peterson, 81, was to play with his quartet at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts.

Herbie Hancock, the American jazz pianist, will replace him, the Toronto Jazz Festival confirmed on Wednesday.

Hancock, 67,will play with Nathan East on bass, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Lionel Loubke on guitar.

Peterson, known for his rapid fingerwork and jazz improvisation on piano, suffered a stroke in 1993 that reduced movement in one of his hands.

He was able to rebuild his playing ability, however,and continued touring.

Recently, his daughter Celine accepted an award for him in Tokyo, where the theatre in the Canadian embassy was recently named for him.