The year 2025 marks the centennial of Dr. Oscar Peterson, one of the great pianists in jazz history and a Canadian national treasure. In addition to winning eight GRAMMY Awards, he has received Canada’s highest honours, including Officer of the Order of Canada and Companion of the Order of Canada. He is certainly one of our country’s most precious treasures.
Mr. Peterson is considered one of the most prolific pianists in jazz history and it is fitting that his life and great career be celebrated with a musical retrospective featuring some of Canada’s most important jazz musicians.
For the occasion, the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet was formed and will consist of pianist Robi Botos, bassist Mike Downes and drummer Jim Doxas. It is important to note that these musicians have won top honours at the Juno Awards over the past few decades.
For this exceptional celebration, a distinguished guest will join the group. In this case, the virtuoso Swedish guitarist, Ulf Wakenius, who was the last guitarist of the Oscar Peterson Quartet. He certainly held one of the most prestigious tasks entrusted to a guitarist, that of accompanying Mr. Peterson from 1997 until the death of the great pianist in 2007.
This unique concert will highlight Mr. Peterson's most famous and appreciated compositions, such as Place St-Henri, Hymn to Freedom and Cakewalk. Of course, great jazz standards will be intertwined with Oscar's works.
As a prelude to the concert, there will be a multimedia presentation. Additionally, during the evening, Oscar Peterson’s youngest daughter, Céline Peterson, will join the quartet to offer the audience an intimate, anecdote-filled look into her father’s exceptional life and career.
Ms. Peterson and the Oscar Peterson Quartet are proud to join forces in 2025 to celebrate Oscar Peterson’s centennial and to introduce to the general public one of the most important musical figures in Canadian history.
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Cette année marque le centenaire de la naissance d’Oscar Peterson, l’un des plus grands pianistes de jazz de l’histoire et véritable trésor national canadien. Lauréat de huit prix GRAMMY, le pianiste a été fait Officier de l’Ordre du Canada et Compagnon de l’Ordre du Canada, deux des plus hautes distinctions de notre pays.
Spécialement formé pour l’occasion, l’Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet retracera en musique la vie et la prolifique carrière du pianiste de jazz.
À la tête du groupe, on retrouve trois célèbres musiciens canadiens couronnés aux prix JUNO : Robi Botos (piano), Mike Downes (contrebasse) et Jim Doxas (batterie).
Le trio sera rejoint pour l’occasion par un invité de marque : le suédois Ulf Wakenius, dernier guitariste du quatuor d’Oscar Peterson. Le guitariste virtuose a eu l’honneur d’accompagner Oscar Peterson pendant 10 ans, jusqu’au décès du grand pianiste en 2007.
Au cours de ce concert unique, seront interprétées quelques-unes des compositions phares du Canadien, notamment Place St-Henri, Hymn to Freedom et Cakewalk. Et bien évidemment, de grands classiques du jazz se mêleront aux œuvres de Peterson.
En prélude au concert, le public assistera à une présentation multimédia. Puis, plus tard dans la soirée, Céline Peterson, la plus jeune fille du musicien, se joindra au groupe pour livrer quelques tendres anecdotes sur la vie et la carrière exceptionnelles de son père.
Ensemble, ils sont fiers de célébrer le centième anniversaire d’Oscar Peterson et de faire connaître au grand public l’une des figures les plus marquantes de la musique au Canada.
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