Oscar Peterson: Black + White
A celebration of the life and work of legendary Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson

Very few musical artists have sustained reverential, lauded careers spanning over six decades while remaining at the forefront of their field. Jazz legend Oscar Peterson—known simply as “O.P.” to his friends—is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and greatest pianists of all time. Over the course of his storied career, he performed thousands of concerts around the globe and mentored generations of protégés.

Peterson earned nearly every major accolade in the jazz world, including eight Grammy Awards. He played alongside legends such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Charlie Parker, Roy Eldridge, Nat King Cole, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Duke Ellington dubbed him the “Maharaja of the keyboard.” Count Basie praised him, saying, “Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I’ve ever heard.” Conductor and pianist André Previn simply called him “the best” among jazz pianists. The New York Times’ Stephen Holden wrote: “Mr. Peterson’s rock-solid sense of swing, grounded in Count Basie, makes his extended runs seem to almost disappear into the sky.”

Set against the backdrop of civil rights struggles and racial discrimination, this “docu-concert” explores the extraordinary journey of a musical genius—from gifted child prodigy to global icon. It traces the arc of his seven-decade career: from the formation of his signature sound in trio recordings to electrifying collaborations with jazz greats, to the brilliance of his solo performances on world stages. At its heart is Peterson’s steadfast confrontation with racism and segregation during tours of the United States—experiences that ultimately inspired his landmark composition, Hymn to Freedom.

There was only one Oscar Peterson. As the man himself once said, “Ain’t but a few of us left.”