This special concert, a highlight of the 2025 Montreal International Jazz Festival, marked the centenary and the unique legacy of the city’s very greatest jazz musician. It was in two parts:
Photo credit Victor Diaz Lamich/ FIJM
First was a small group playing some of Oscar P’s favourite originals and standards including “The Touch of Your Lips” (is Ray Noble having a moment?); Robi Botros on piano was exceptional; along with concert co-organiser and brilliant drummer Jim Doxas, the impeccable bassist Mike Downes and the very fine guitarist Jocelyn Gould whose up-tempo solo toward the end of the set was perfectly played – a young star who can make one optimistic about the future of this music. The Quartet was filled out with Chet Doxas on sax and Lex French on trumpet who were both stellar. This section brought me back to the jazz I heard growing up where Oscar’s influence was everywhere.
Photo credit Productions Novak/ FIJM
The big band section was the Canadiana Suite, a beautiful arrangement by John Clayton who conducted and played as well. This was literally an all-star lineup of Montreal’s finest including Christine Jensen, Jennifer Bell, Frank Lozano, Jocelyn Couture, Bill Mahar, Dave Mossing, Lex French, Dave Grott, Taylor Donaldson, Rachel Therrien, Muhammad Abdul Al-Khabyyr, Trevor Dix, Frank Lozano plus the quartet.
The suite moved us across the country from the east to the west, and brought to mind heady days of Expo 67. I especially enjoyed “Wheatland” and the exciting “March Past” where Robi Botros really brought it!
Photo credit Productions Novak/FIJM
The announced special guest was none other than Oliver Jones who presented his former bandmate Jim Doxas the Oscar Peterson Award ‘I love you Jimmy’ – a beautiful moment….
He ten said, ‘I heard Oscar from the age of 5 years old’ and proceeded to play a moving solo rendition of the beautiful “Hymn to Freedom”.
Brava to Oscar’s daughter Céline for organising the evening and all of the Centennial events, and especially this unforgettable concert.
