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Forty-five years after his death, pianist Erroll Garner remains an enigma in the history of 20th century popular music. With his dazzling style, he radically set himself apart from existing trends.
Garner was revered by his colleagues, who counted him among the purest and most spontaneous geniuses jazz has ever given us. The public saw him as a magician whose gift was to transform the suffering and humiliation of African American life into joy rather than anger and resentment. He remains unique and cannot be pinned down. Garner thrilled audiences on his world tours with virtuosic and rousing swing. In the mid-1950s, he transformed his trio into a quartet by hiring a percussionist who was passionate about Afro-Cuban rhythms and by experimenting with unusual orchestrations on records. Exemplary of this is the album "Up in Erroll's Room," recorded in November 1967.
Just a few weeks before recording this innovative album, Garner and his new group, consisting of Ike Isaaks on bass, Jimmy Smith on drums and Jose Mangual on bongos, were in a Berlin recording studio for a brief, inspired session that remains unreleased to this day. In a relaxed atmosphere, they play a repertoire of timeless standards ("Autumn Leaves," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Blue Moon" and "These Foolish Things") and two of his own themes, including his favorite composition, "Misty." Garner is superbly accompanied by his elegant, minimalist and lively rhythm section. Showing his talent for improvisation, the melodies are beguiling, the rhythms unbridled, and the baroque-like ornaments flow from his piano as from an inexhaustible cornucopia.
These tapes, rescued from oblivion and immortalizing Garner's towering talent, are an indispensable addition to any jazz lover's collection.
Erroll Garner (p), Jose Mangual (bo), Ike Isaacs (b), Jimmie Smith (dr) Recording: RBB, Hall III on 2.11.1967
Side A
1. Autumn Leaves
2. These Foolish Things
3. The Shadow of Your Smile
Side B
4. Like It Is
5. Misty
6. Blue Moon
7. Thanks for the Memory