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The Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival (OPIJF) was established in 2018 by Kelly Peterson, Oscar Peterson's widow, and acclaimed jazz pianist Renee Rosnes. Their mission was to honor Oscar Peterson’s legacy by showcasing top-tier Canadian jazz talent alongside leading international artists. The festival took place in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, a picturesque town that provided an intimate setting for world-class performances. downbeat.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2wbgo.org+2
The inaugural festival in 2018 was dedicated to Norman Granz, the legendary jazz impresario who was a close collaborator of Oscar Peterson. The lineup featured artists such as Cécile McLorin Salvant, Christian McBride, and Bill Charlap, among others. In 2019, the festival continued with performances by the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra featuring Ingrid Jensen, and a quintet led by Kenny Barron, including Kirk MacDonald, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson, and Lewis Nash. en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2downbeat.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
In 2020, the festival presented a special concert featuring the world premiere of Oscar Peterson’s suite “Africa”, a composition he had spoken about but never performed in its entirety. This event occurred just before global shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. wbgo.org
The OPIJF also served as the venue for the Canadian Jazz Masters Awards, further emphasizing its commitment to celebrating and preserving Canada's rich jazz heritage. en.wikipedia.org
While the festival has not been held in recent years, its impact on the jazz community and its role in honoring Oscar Peterson's legacy remain significant.
The inaugural festival in 2018 was dedicated to Norman Granz, the legendary jazz impresario who was a close collaborator of Oscar Peterson. The lineup featured artists such as Cécile McLorin Salvant, Christian McBride, and Bill Charlap, among others. In 2019, the festival continued with performances by the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra featuring Ingrid Jensen, and a quintet led by Kenny Barron, including Kirk MacDonald, Reg Schwager, Neil Swainson, and Lewis Nash. en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2en.wikipedia.org+2downbeat.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
In 2020, the festival presented a special concert featuring the world premiere of Oscar Peterson’s suite “Africa”, a composition he had spoken about but never performed in its entirety. This event occurred just before global shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. wbgo.org
The OPIJF also served as the venue for the Canadian Jazz Masters Awards, further emphasizing its commitment to celebrating and preserving Canada's rich jazz heritage. en.wikipedia.org
While the festival has not been held in recent years, its impact on the jazz community and its role in honoring Oscar Peterson's legacy remain significant.
