Erroll Garner (piano); Eddie Calhoun (bass); Kelly Martin (drums). July/August 1961.
On my recent visit to Hexham, as mentioned in previous posts, I returned home with enough vinyl to cover my living room floor although naturally If I was going to use it for that purpose I'd have bought some of Jim Reeves' records rather than these two albums by Erroll Garner.
Although that plodding four beat left hand of his can be irritating at times his right hand flights of fancy invariably make up for it. I recall being 'wowed' by Garner at Newcastle City Hall back in the 1960s then seeing Jacques Loussier the following night at the same venue and not even taking an eight count "know wot I mean 'arry?"
That night (the Garner concert) to me was up there with his classic Concert by the Sea recording.
In his own way, Garner's style was as individualistic as those of Monk or Tatum and it is heard at its best on Closeup in Swing.
As well as the standards there are also a couple of Garner originals, the rather beautiful Shadows and the samba/rumba based El Papa Grande.
The pianist's regular rhythm section, Calhoun and Martin don't get in the way and stay, generally in the background doing just enough.
Other tracks: You do Something to me; My Silent Love; All of Me; St. Louis Blues; Some of These Days; I'm in the Mood For Love; The Best Things in Life Are Free; Back in Your Own Backyard.
Erroll Garner (piano); Eddie Calhoun (bass); Kelly Martin (drums). March 27, 1958.
This one had two strikes against it even before I placed the disc on the turntable - on two of the tracks he plays harpsichord and the session was produced by Mitch Miller which says it all!
Nevertheless, ignoring the two tracks where Garner lays seige to what I immediately thought of as the ill-tempered clavier - they really are excruciating - the other six tracks are sublime. Three Parisian related standards and three by Garner make up for the harpsichord horrors which are also Garner compositions - maybe they'd sound better on a piano.
Still, as the two albums were only a quid each I'm not complaining! Lance
Theme Song From Moulin Rouge; I Love Paris; French Doll; Don't Look For me; Louise; Farewell to Paris; Left Bank Swing; Côte d'Azur
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