Oscar Peterson : Black + White

Born in the working-class Little Burgundy area of Montreal in 1925, Oscar Peterson catapulted to the top of the jazz world in the late 1940s, remaining there until his death in 2007. He founded one of the greatest jazz quartets in the genre’s history, worked with many of the world’s greatest jazz artists — Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Sonny Stitt, and Stan Getz — and toured with Ella Fitzgerald. The film charts Peterson’s rise to prominence, beginning in Montreal, and his legendary proficiency, but touches on how his constant touring profoundly impacted his personal life. The film also stresses Peterson’s interest in social justice, especially how he applied his musical gifts to the fight for equal rights for Blacks. One of his most celebrated compositions is “Hymn to Freedom.” The director terms this film a "docu-concert" that blends archival footage and clips of previous Peterson performances with live recordings of contemporary musicians interpreting Peterson's work.

Bell Media

2021

Documentary

83 min.

en