Erroll Garner
One of the most distinctive of all pianists, Erroll Garner proved that it was possible to be a sophisticated player without knowing how to read music, that a creative jazz musician can be very popular without watering down his music, and that it is possible to remain an enthusiastic player without changing one's style once it is formed. A brilliant virtuoso who sounded unlike anyone else, on medium tempo pieces, Erroll Garner often stated the beat with his left hand like a rhythm guitar while his right played chords slightly behind the beat, creating a memorable effect. His playful free-form introductions (which forced his sidemen to really listen), his ability to play stunning runs without once glancing at the keyboard, his grunting, and the pure joy that he displayed while performing were also part of the Erroll Garner magic.
Garner, whose older brother Linton was also a fine pianist, appeared on the radio with the Kan-D-Kids at the age of ten. After working locally in Pittsburgh, he moved to New York in 1944 and worked with Slam Stewart's trio during 1944-1945 before going out on his own. By 1946, Garner had his sound together, and when he backed Charlie Parker on his famous Cool Blues session of 1947, the pianist was already an obvious giant. His unclassifiable style had an orchestral approach straight from the swing era but was open to the innovations of bop. From the early '50s on, Garner's accessible style became very popular and he never seemed to have an off day up until his forced retirement (due to illness) in early 1975. His composition "Misty" became a standard. Garner, who had the ability to sit at the piano without prior planning and record three albums in one day (all colorful first takes), made many records throughout his career for such companies as Savoy, Mercury, RCA, Dial, Columbia, EmArcy, ABC-Paramount, MGM, Reprise, and his own Octave label.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Look Into The Future
Jazz - Released by Bella Donna on 15 Aug 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Little Mignonette
Jazz - Released by break down rec. a.g.a.i.n on 14 Apr 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Simply the Best (Digitally Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Blue Moon Recordings on 13 Apr 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Vintage Recordings
Jazz - Released by Vintage Recordings on 12 Oct 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Happy Easter
Jazz - Released by Archive & Catapulte on 4 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
That's Why The Moon Was Smiling
Jazz - Released by The Moon Was Smiling on 10 Jun 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gold Legends - Two Classic Artists
Erroll Garner, Freddy Gardener
Jazz - Released by Suburban Squire on 29 Apr 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Some Things Never Change
Jazz - Released by again eap 2000 on 10 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Jazz Legend: Erroll Garner, Vol. 7
Jazz - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 12 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Back To Black And White
Jazz - Released by btbaw sounds on 19 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sunrise Surprise
Jazz - Released by Sunrise Surprise rec. on 11 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Milestones of a Jazz Legend: Erroll Garner, Vol. 5
Jazz - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 12 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Afternoon of an Elf
Bebop - Released by Marathon Media International on 12 Sep 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Red Sails In The Sunset
Jazz - Released by CTS Digital on 24 Nov 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo