Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on November 4, 2025
In honor of Jazz legend Oscar Peterson’s centennial, Mack Avenue Music Group and Two Lions Records announced the upcoming release of Around The World out December 5th. Widely considered to be one of the greatest pianists of all time, the album celebrates Oscar’s profound artistry through a series of solo, duo and trio performances from 1969 to 1981 and features never-before-heard live concerts from Detroit, Michigan; Basel, Switzerland; Auckland, New Zealand; and his home of Toronto, Canada. Alongside the announcement, they have shared “Cute”, a burning number that puts Peterson’s immense virtuosity on display alongside a rare collaboration between Michel Donato (bass) and Louis Hayes (drums).
Pre-Save Around The World – Out 12/5
“I’ve wanted Oscar’s fans, dedicated and new, to experience all aspects of his artistry by releasing music previously unavailable to the public,” stated Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s wife and producer of Around The World. “It’s my hope this will inspire new generations of musicians and encourage all that love his music to celebrate his life and joy.”
Featuring a series of performances from 1969-1981, Mack Avenue/Two Lions Records’ first official centennial release kicks off with a dynamic compilation of live performances that display the immense artistry Oscar Peterson brought to every bandstand. The project also showcases the legendary pianist’s versatility, with Peterson shining in every musical setting, whether it was his solo ballad interpretation of “A Child Is Born” and “Here’s That Rainy Day”, performed together as a medley, or duo with Jazz guitar royalty Joe Pass on beloved standard “Stella By Starlight,” or even trio with Sam Jones and Bobby Durham on his own composition “L’impossible”.
Beyond the musical prowess, the performances showcase the profound sense of love and generosity at the core of his being. In each of these recordings the listener can feel the way to which Oscar’s playing uplifted the entire bandstand and initiated new explorative journeys. With every note packed with pure emotion and feeling, the album tells the story of over a decade of musical evolution, in which he pushed himself and the entire Jazz tradition to new heights.
The enormous and spirited response of the audiences when Oscar would step onto the stage vividly demonstrated far more than the enthusiasm of fans about to hear one of the music’s singular greats; it is the joyous and uplifted reception of greeting an old and cherished friend. In celebrating the “Maharaja Of the Keyboard”, Mack Avenue and Two Lions Records’ are helping to usher the next 100 years of his legacy with that same love.
Tracklist:
Tha Lamp Is Low
L’impossible
Reunion Blues
Place St. Henri
Stella By Starlight
A Child Is Born/Here’s That Rainy Day
Cute
About Oscar Peterson:
Dr. Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, CC CQ OOnt., is one of the most prolific jazz pianists of all time, lending his name and talents to more than 500 recordings and earning 8 GRAMMY Awards (including Lifetime Achievement). Born in Montréal’s Little Burgundy, his immense talent, fierce determination and profound love for the artform caught the attention of jazz music’s greatest impresario and founder of Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP), Norman Granz. After accepting an invitation to perform as a surprise guest at a JATP show at Carnegie Hall at just twenty-four years old, Peterson would continue to tour with the group, performing with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Roy Eldridge, Herb Ellis, Clark Terry, Lester Young, and Lionel Hampton.
Peterson’s global admiration and respect as both a musician and humanitarian would later be recognized in the form of various international honours including: Praemium Imperiale World Art Award, UNESCO Music Prize, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France), and sixteen honorary doctorates. For most of his near 7-decade career, Peterson remained on the road, performing for eager audiences around the world, and always proudly representing his home of Canada. Among his most cherished recognitions was being named a Companion of the Order of Canada, Chevalier of the Order of Québec and receiving the Order of Ontario. Posthumously, Peterson was inducted into both the Canadian Songwriters and Canadian Music Halls of Fame and today finds himself a permanent part of Canada’s history with a statue in the nation’s capital (created by Ruth Abernethy), a Canada Post stamp, murals, parks and streets bearing his name and in 2022, a Commemorative Circulation Coin was issued by the Royal Canadian Mint paying tribute to Peterson.
The Estate of Oscar Peterson, run by Kelly Peterson, proudly honours his life’s work and commitment to artistic excellence and in 2025 celebrates what would be his 100th birthday with a series of live concerts and exciting projects. It is through the invaluable contributions of the musicians whom Peterson has inspired that these initiatives are enriched.
