My all time favourite jazz pianist and the biggest inspiration for my own jazz piano playing too. Such a creative genius. He composed around 200 tunes as well, Misty being the most famous. But some of the others are brilliant too eg Dreamstreet, No More Shadows, Dreamy, Fashion Interlude, Paris Mist, A New Kind Of Love (All Yours), Eldorado, The Loving Touch, Passing Through, Mambo Erroll, Mambo Carmel, Octave 103, El Papa Grande, Gemini, Mood Island, Paisley Eyes, Nervous Waltz, Afinidad, She Walked On and many more. Erroll never married although he did have a daughter called Kim, not sure if she was musical like her father. He'd started playing at just three years of age, having watched the action of the player piano at home and being able to learn which keys were going down to create which tunes and chords. He had a twin brother, an older brother and three sisters. Older brother Linton was also a professional jazz pianist. Erroll Garner first performed on the radio at just seven years old and was playing piano on river boats at the age of twelve. He never learned to read music and famously said " no one can hear you read music". Concert By The Sea, recorded in California in September 1955 is the highest-selling piano jazz album ever. I listen to Erroll's music most days, guaranteed to cure depression and you will hear something new every time. I also loved the way he could play several different variants of the same tune eg his version of Sweet and Lovely here in 1963 is quite a bit different from the version he played in Concert By The Sea in 1955. He really could play in any tempo in any key. Pure genius.
Errol's joy in playing is really contagious! Since I bought an lp back in the 70s I heard and saw this video from Brussels 63 l think it's one's of his best, there is a concert in Stockholm 62 where he plays one note samba and others tunes ❤❤
Proud to live in Brussels, where this unique pianist passed so many years ago, when I wasn't even there, but later on, he passed away too soon, indeed :-(
Wow, I don't think I've ever heard, or seen, Errol play so precisely and skilfully. This must have been at the peak of his career. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in Sheffield in the mid-60s and bought many of his albums, but this is something extra special. Was there any more recorded at this concert?
most privileged to have heard his groups currently, on the many NYC radio stations, from 4/17/47 til we relocated to Dallas on ( or about ) July, 1950 - so , " I was weaned on these tunes " , as is said ... in my opinion, his covers have always been true to th originals , and of course his own compositions are enduring thru the AGES .
