Jazzaldia Donostia / San Sebastian
Oscar Peterson Centennial with Sullivan Fortner, John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton

Friday 27 July 2025
5:30 PM, Kursaal

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, a pianist and composer of Canadian origin and West Indian descent and one of the most important Jazz musicians for more than 60 years. Peterson, who performed at the Jazzaldia in 1975, died at the age of 82 in 2007, leaving behind an incomparable legacy that is as eternal as Jazz itself.

Peterson’s legacy lives on with his music being taught in schools around the world. Thanks to the efforts of Kelly Peterson (representing the estate of Oscar Peterson), several recording projects have been launched, including three previously unreleased archival concerts, the dynamic solo piano project, Oscar, With Love, with 16 internationally renowned pianists performing his compositions at his home on his beloved Bösendorfer Imperial piano, and the world premiere of the Africa Suite, originally arranged by John Clayton, as well as several concerts in Canada and beyond. In 2025, he will celebrate what would have been his 100th birthday with a series of live concerts and exciting projects in the US and around the globe. These initiatives are enriched by the contributions of artists who Peterson inspired, including John Clayton, Jeff Hamilton and Sullivan Fortner, the three great musicians who will be performing at the Kursaal in a tribute to him.