Born in Montreal, Canada, Peterson began learning trumpet and piano from his father at the age of five, but by the age of seven, after a bout of tuberculosis, he concentrated on the piano. Some of the artists who influenced Peterson during the early years were Teddy Wilson, Nat "King" Cole, James P. Johnson, and the legendary Art Tatum, to whom many have tried to compare Peterson in later years. In fact, one of his first exposures to the musical talents of Art Tatum came early in his teen years when his father played an Art Tatum record to him and Peterson was so intimidated by what he heard that he didn't touch the piano for over a week.
He soon developed a reputation as a technically brilliant and melodically inventive jazz pianist, and became a regular on Canadian radio. His United States introduction was at Carnegie Hall, New York City in 1949 by Norman Granz; owing to union restrictions his appearance could not be billed.
Some of his musical associates have included Lester Young, Ray Brown, Ben Webster, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Louis Armstrong, Stéphane Grappelli, Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Joe Pass, Count Basie, and Stan Getz. An important step in his career was joining impresario Norman Granz's labels (especially Verve records) and Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic package, with which he was able to play with the major jazz artists of the time. Granz was also his manager for most of Peterson's career. Some cognoscenti assert that Peterson's best recordings were made for the MPS label in the late 'sixties and early 'seventies. For some years subsequently he recorded for Granz's Pablo Records after the label was founded in 1973 and in more recent years for the Telarc label.
In 1993, Peterson suffered a serious stroke that weakened his left side and sidelined him for two years. However he overcame this setback and went back to touring, recording, and composing on a limited basis. In 1997 he received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement and an International Jazz Hall of Fame Award. He died on December 24th, 2007 of kidney failure.
Indiana
Oscar Peterson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it seems that I can see
The gleamin' candlelight,
Still shinin' bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
From the fields I used to roam.
Then I long for my Indiana home.
Oh, I have always been a wanderer
Over land and sea,
Yet a moonbeam on the water
Casts a spell o'er me;
A vision fair I see,
Again I long to be;
Back home again in Indiana,
And it seems that I can see
The gleamin' candlelight,
Still shinin' bright,
Through the sycamores for me.
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
From the fields I used to roam.
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
Then I long for my Indiana home,
Indiana home.
The song "Indiana" is a nostalgic tribute to the state of Indiana, written by Ballard MacDonald and James F. Hanley in 1917. The song has since become a classic and has been recorded by various artists over the years, including jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. The lyrics speak of the singer's longing for his home state and the memories that it holds for him.
The first stanza of the song sets the scene, with the singer back home in Indiana and reminiscing about the past. He describes the gleaming candlelight shining through the sycamores, a clear visual of the warm and inviting atmosphere he remembers. The second stanza conjures up the smells of the fields he used to roam, with the fragrance of new mown hay in the air. The mention of the moonlight on the Wabash adds a touch of romance, as the singer is transported back in time to cherished memories of his youth.
The final stanza speaks of the singer's wanderlust, as he describes himself as a traveler who has always been drawn to the moonlight on the water. Despite this, he still longs to be back home in Indiana, where he can see the gleaming candlelight and smell the fragrance of the fields he used to roam. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the singer's longing for his Indiana home.
Overall, the lyrics to "Indiana" describe a deep sense of nostalgia and a longing for the simplicity of home. The song has become a beloved classic, with its feelings of longing and remembrance resonating with audiences through the years.
Line by Line Meaning
Back home again in Indiana,
I am back in my hometown Indiana
And it seems that I can see
I am filled with memories and I can visualize my surroundings
The gleamin' candlelight,
Bright candles shining through the sycamore trees
Still shinin' bright,
The candles are still glowing brightly
Through the sycamores for me.
The sycamore trees are specifically meant for me to marvel at
The new mown hay sends all its fragrance
The sweet smell of newly cut hay is in the air
From the fields I used to roam.
These are fields that I used to wander around in
When I dream about the moonlight on the Wabash,
When I imagine the moonlight on the Wabash River
Then I long for my Indiana home.
I recall the beauty and comfort of my hometown Indiana and yearn to go back
Oh, I have always been a wanderer
I enjoy traveling across various lands and seas
Over land and sea,
I like to explore both rural and urban regions across the world
Yet a moonbeam on the water
The sight of a moonbeam reflected on the water
Casts a spell o'er me;
Has a magical effect on me
A vision fair I see,
A picturesque sight appears before me
Again I long to be;
I desire to return to this mesmerizing sight
Indiana home.
I miss my beloved hometown Indiana
Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: MCDONALD HANLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MrShortygeorge
Loved the playing of Oscar Peterson. In a private concert in Chicago, we sat about 8-10 feet from him playing the 9'6" Bosendorfer. What an amazing man.
Bogdan Paul
Extra tonal relationship just perfect...
korgtritonextreme100
I too stood a mere few feet behind Oscar Peterson on stage at my college during a concert. This was Oscar a little later in life when some of his speed and dynamic technique had fallen off a little. Still a great performer.
Vanguard
as a guitarist i spend more time studying oscar peterson than other guitar players. he can make his instrument shred dance sing cry and fly what a pianist.
Tippi Bobeaux
it baffles me how, even going so crazy fast, he can still stress some notes over others
DeepDive
I can't even think of notes in my head that fast. At this point it's like his hands has minds of their own
Lolo Forge
I haven’t seen anything like this ever. The speed and the swing combined! And to see how happy he was playing. He was like a kid. Look at min 2:55. It’s just unmatched!
Dominick
GEEEEEEEEEEZUS! The reason I always rate him highest of all jazz pianists is his accuracy. Sure others had similar speed but they hit a lotta clunkers. Oscar was near perfect every time. Hell even after a massive stroke he could still jam.
Jason Mikolajewski
@Jacob Lesterfield Art was the best of all time by a mile. It is a function of video and higher-quality recordings I think, as I am not sure how you can listen to both of them and come to the conclusion that Oscar was better.
Mr Quick
@Jason MikolajewskiHe came to that conclusion because it’s the truth