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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Penthouse Serenade: The Debonair Erroll Garner
Jazz - Released by Savoy on 9/08/2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Erroll Garner Plays Misty (Album of 1961)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 31/05/2021
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Erroll Garner / First Recordings, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by ISMCDigital on 10/01/1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Plays Misty (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1/01/1954
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Too Marvelous For Words - The Erroll Garner Collection
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1/01/1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Early Jazz (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Ornithology Rec. on 6/03/2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Essence Of...
Traditional Jazz & New Orleans - Released by Legacy - Columbia on 28/03/1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Erroll Garner / First Recordings, Vol. 2
Jazz - Released by ISMCDigital on 10/01/1966
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Solo Time! The Erroll Garner Collection Vols. 4 & 5
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1/01/1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Concert By The Sea
Jazz - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 13/10/1955
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mambo Moves Garner
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 28/05/2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Trio Recordings 1949
Pop - Released by ACROBAT on 8/05/2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Erroll Garner Collection Vol.2 - Dancing On The Ceiling
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1/01/1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Erroll Garner (Compilation 69 Hits)
Lounge - Released by Jazz Pleasure on 17/09/2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo