Oscar Peterson 100th Anniversary Tribute

Dates

Length

2 hrs. 6 mins. (approx.)

Presented by

Media Sponsor

Edwin Outwater, conductor
Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet
Robi Botos, piano
Mike Downes, bass
Jocelyn Gould, guitar
Jim Doxas, drums

Experience music from Oscar Peterson’s remarkable seven-decade career at this WSO tribute concert!

In the first half of the concert, you’ll enjoy a stellar solo performance by the the Oscar Peterson Centennial Quartet (OPCQ) as they blend the swing, blues, and classical influences that defined Oscar’s unmistakable sound. The quartet features JUNO Award-winning Canadian musicians Robi Botos (piano), Jim Doxas (drums), and Winnipeg’s own Mike Downes (bass) and Jocelyn Gould (guitar), performing in an intimate small-ensemble setting reminiscent of those Oscar loved.

After the intermission, guest conductor Edwin Outwater leads your WSO, Winnipeg Sonora Voices, and the quartet for the Canadian premiere of the newly orchestrated Trail of Dreams: A Canadian Suite, Oscar’s ode to the people and places of Canada.

“He had such a personality in his music, and he had so much to offer,” pianist Robi Botos shared in an interview with The Canadian Press in June. “But there was also this ability to really connect with people. And if you go to the smallest village, when we talk about jazz piano, they all know who Oscar is and they’re going to call him the greatest.”

Considered among the most distinguished pianists and musicians of all time, Oscar released over 200 recordings and won eight GRAMMY™ Awards. He also received dozens of honorary degrees and accolades, including the prestigious Companion of the Order of Canada.

Photo: Al Gilbert, C.M., F.R.P.S.