Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-08-29
Continuing the celebration of Oscar Peterson’s centennial, Mack Avenue Music Group and Two Lions Records have released their most expansive collection of work from the renowned pianist, titled World Tour.
Celebrating the “Maharaja of the Keyboard,” the collection features five never-before-heard live performances and a TV studio recording spanning nearly three decades. It is accompanied by a 48-page hardcover book featuring never-before-seen archival material, including Peterson’s own photography, poetry, and personal remembrances from family, friends, and fellow musicians.
The release is also available as a 4-CD set paired with a 20-page booklet featuring notes from Kelly Peterson and Celine Peterson, along with tributes from his peers.
In a conversation with Track Star, Kelly Peterson and Christian McBride debuted the first look at the box set, celebrating the breadth of Oscar Peterson’s career and offering a preview of the never-before-seen archival material included in the collection.
Watch the full interview HERE.
Order World Tour [Limited Edition Box Set].
Reflecting on the release, Kelly Peterson said, “I have been looking forward to this day for months! Waiting for you to see this book, A Tour of Oscar’s World, which opens a door into who Oscar was away from the stage. As you listen to the music from different decades, with different musicians in the trios and quartet, and as you read Oscar’s own words in excerpts from his memoir, his previously unpublished poems, and see his photos, it is my hope that you will feel the joy and the passion that permeated everything he did.”
She continued, “As we celebrate the significant occasion of Oscar’s centennial birthday, and begin the next century of Oscar Peterson, it brings me tremendous joy to share this music and this personal glimpse of Oscar with you.”
Celebrating Peterson’s enduring impact since 1925, World Tour offers an intimate and revealing portrait of the legendary pianist, from his vulnerabilities and passions to his dedication, family life, and musical evolution.
The set features previously unheard live concerts from Detroit, Michigan; Basel, Switzerland; Auckland, New Zealand; São Paulo, Brazil; and his home city of Toronto, Canada. The performances are paired with Peterson’s photography, poetry, and personal remembrances from family, friends, and fellow musicians, brought together in the 48-page hardcover book and abridged 20-page CD booklet.
Beyond the brilliance of the music, these performances reflect the generosity and spirit that shaped Peterson’s character. Across the recordings, whether he was playing solo, with jazz guitar great Joe Pass, or in legendary ensembles featuring musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown, Mary Lou Williams, and Louis Hayes, Peterson’s playing consistently elevated the musicians around him and opened new paths of exploration.
With every performance rooted in emotion and feeling, World Tour traces nearly four decades of musical evolution, documenting the ways Peterson continually pushed himself and the jazz tradition forward.
The spirited response of audiences whenever Peterson stepped onto the stage reflected more than simple admiration for one of jazz’s greatest musicians. It carried the warmth and affection of listeners welcoming back an old and cherished friend.
In celebrating Peterson’s music, Mack Avenue Music Group and Two Lions Records are helping usher in the next century of his legacy with that same sense of admiration and love.
WORLD TOUR TRACKLIST
1. Old Folks (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
2. Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
3. Place St. Henri (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
4. Blues of the Prairies (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
5. Goodbye (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
6. (Back Home Again In) Indiana (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
7. City Lights (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
8. Reunion Blues (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
9. Medley: Body & Soul / Take the A Train / Mood Indigo / Rockin’ in Rhythm / C-Jam Blues / Things Ain’t What They Used To Be / Satin Doll / Caravan (Live at the Detroit Montreux Festival – August 30, 1980)
10. Kelly’s Blues (Live in São Paulo, Brazil – April 23, 1996)
11. Sushi (Live in São Paulo, Brazil – April 23, 1996)
12. The Lamp Is Low (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
13. Triste (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
14. I Concentrate On You (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
15. Tristeza (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
16. L’il Darlin’ (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
17. By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
18. My Romance (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
19. Down Here On The Ground (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
20. L’Impossible (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
21. Let’s Fall In Love (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
22. You Look Good To Me (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
23. Billie’s Bounce (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
24. Fly Me To The Moon (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
25. Squeaky’s Blues (Live in Basel, Switzerland – November 8, 1969)
26. Soft Winds (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
27. On A Clear Day (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
28. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
29. Noreen’s Nocturne (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
30. A Child Is Born / Here’s That Rainy Day (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
31. People (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
32. Cute (Live in New Zealand – April 12, 1972)
33. Mean To Me (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
34. L’il Darlin’ (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
35. Stella By Starlight (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
36. Benny’s Bugle (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
37. Sweet Georgia Brown (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
38. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
39. It’s A Grand Night For Swinging (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
40. Willow Weep For Me (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
41. Groovin’ High (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
42. My Man (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
43. Salute to Duke Ellington: Take The A Train / Things Ain’t What They Used To Be / Lush Life / Satin Doll / Caravan (Live in Toronto, Canada – September 1980)
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 eight GRAMMY Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Montréal’s Little Burgundy, his immense talent, fierce determination, and profound love for the art form caught the attention of jazz impresario and Jazz at the Philharmonic founder Norman Granz. After accepting an invitation to perform as a surprise guest at a JATP show at Carnegie Hall at just 24 years old, Peterson continued to tour with the group, performing with artists including 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 were later recognized through numerous international honors, including the Praemium Imperiale World Art Award, UNESCO Music Prize, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France, and sixteen honorary doctorates.
For most of his nearly seven-decade career, Peterson remained on the road, performing for audiences around the world while proudly representing his home country of Canada. Among his most cherished recognitions were 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 Hall of Fame and Canadian Music Hall of Fame. His place in Canadian history has also been recognized with a statue in the nation’s capital created by Ruth Abernethy, a Canada Post stamp, murals, parks and streets bearing his name, and a 2022 commemorative circulation coin issued by the Royal Canadian Mint.
The Estate of Oscar Peterson, run by Kelly Peterson, proudly honors his life’s work and commitment to artistic excellence and celebrates his centennial through a series of live concerts and projects. These initiatives are enriched by the invaluable contributions of musicians Peterson inspired throughout his career.
