Pianist Bobby Peterson was not only a legendary figure in Twin Cities jazz, he was a mentor to many and is missed as much for his personal warmth as his incredible talent. Paying tribute to Bobby (born February 16, 1950) are some of the friends, fans and relatives who were touched by his genius. Bobby passed away on July 8, 2002 from a heart condition (a player until the end, he finished a gig and was packing up when he was stricken). Bobby’s powerhouse, swinging style and cro! wd-thrilling improvisations earned him a long-term engagement in the Buddy Rich Orchestra starting at age 21. After returning to the Twin Cities, he was a regular performer (and a fan favorite) at the AQ. Taking the piano bench to salute this musical giant over the weekend are Peter Schimke, Chris Lomheim, and Tanner Taylor,on Friday night and Laura Caviani, Phil Aaron, and Mikkel Romstad on Saturday.