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Red Garland

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Red Garland
Garland at Keystone Korner jazz club, San Francisco, California, May 1978
Garland at Keystone Korner jazz club, San Francisco, California, May 1978
Background information
Birth nameWilliam McKinley Garland, Jr.
Born(1923-05-13)May 13, 1923
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 23, 1984(1984-04-23) (aged 60)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
GenresJazz, straight-ahead jazz, bebop, hard bop
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1940s–1984
LabelsPrestige

William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984)[1] was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in jazz piano.[2][3]

Early life

William "Red" Garland was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas. He began his musical studies on the clarinet and alto saxophone, having studied with saxophonist Buster “Prof” Smith, who had been an early mentor of alto saxophonist Charlie Parker in Kansas City. He joined the United States Army in 1941 and was stationed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. While there, Garland began to learn the piano with Army pianists John Lewis (not to be confused with John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet) and Lee Barnes. At this time, he was also an amateur boxer, having fought Sugar Ray Robinson but losing the match. After being discharged from the military in 1944, Garland played locally around Texas until 1946 when he joined the trumpet player Hot Lips Page’s band, playing with him until a tour ended in New York in March 1946. Garland decided to stay in New York and soon found work there and also in Philadelphia. While in New York, Garland was recommended to singer Billy Eckstine, who hired him for several weeks.[4]

Later life and career

1955–1958: the first great Miles Davis Quintet

Garland became famous in 1954 when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet, featuring John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers. Davis was a fan of boxing and was impressed that Garland had boxed earlier in his life. Together, the group recorded their famous Prestige albums, Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet (1954), Workin, Steamin', Cookin', and Relaxin'. Garland's style is prominent in these seminal recordings—evident in his distinctive chord voicings, his sophisticated accompaniment, and his musical references to Ahmad Jamal's style. Some observers dismissed Garland as a "cocktail" pianist,[5] but Miles was pleased with his style, having urged Garland to absorb some of Jamal's lightness of touch and harmonics within his own approach.[6]

Garland played on the first of Davis's many Columbia recordings, 'Round About Midnight (1957). Their relationship was already beginning to deteriorate, but he continued playing with Miles. By 1958, Garland and Jones had started to become more erratic in turning up for recordings and shows. He was eventually fired by Miles, but later returned to play on another jazz classic, Milestones. Davis was displeased when Garland quoted Davis's much earlier, and by then famous, solo from "Now's The Time" in block chords during the slower take of "Straight, No Chaser". Garland walked out of one of the sessions for Milestones; on the track "Sid's Ahead", Davis comped behind the saxophone solos in his absence.

1958–1984: Red Garland Trio and later life

In 1958, Garland formed his own trio. Among the musicians the trio recorded with are Pepper Adams, Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Kenny Burrell, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Jimmy Heath, Harold Land, Philly Joe Jones, Blue Mitchell, Ira Sullivan, and Leroy Vinnegar. The trio also recorded as a quintet with John Coltrane and Donald Byrd.[7] Altogether, Garland led 19 recording sessions while at Prestige Records and 25 sessions for Fantasy Records. He stopped playing professionally for a number of years in the 1960s when the popularity of rock music coincided with a substantial drop in the popularity of jazz.

Garland eventually returned to his native Texas in the 1970s to care for his aged mother. He led a recording in 1977, named Crossings, which reunited him with Philly Joe Jones, and he teamed up with bassist Ron Carter. His later work tended to sound more modern and less polished than his better known recordings. He continued recording until his death from a heart attack on April 23, 1984, at the age of 60.[8]

Discography

As leader

Recording date Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes
1956-08 A Garland of Red Prestige 1957 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1956-12,
1957-03 		Red Garland's Piano Prestige 1957 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1957-05 Red Garland Revisited! Prestige 1969 Most tracks trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added
1956-05,
1957-03,
1957-08 		The P.C. Blues Prestige 1970 Most tracks trio with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); one track trio with Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)
1956-12,
1957-05,
1957-08 		Groovy Prestige 1957 Trio with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1957-11 All Mornin' Long Prestige 1958 Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1957-11 Soul Junction Prestige 1960 Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1957-11,
1957-12 		High Pressure Prestige 1961 Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1957-03,
1957-12,
1958-02 		Dig It! Prestige 1962 One track trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); two tracks quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Taylor (drums); one track quartet, without Byrd
1958-02 It's a Blue World Prestige 1970 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1958-04 Manteca Prestige 1958 Quartet, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums), Ray Barretto (congas)
1958-06 Can't See for Lookin' Prestige 1963 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1958-08 Rojo Prestige 1961 Quartet, with George Joyner (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), Ray Barretto (congas)
1958-11 The Red Garland Trio Moodsville 1960 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1958-11 All Kinds of Weather Prestige 1959 Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1959-04 Red in Blues-ville Prestige 1959 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1959-08,
1959-10 		Satin Doll Prestige 1971 Most tracks trio with Doug Watkins (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); some tracks trio with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Taylor (drums)
1959-10 Red Garland at the Prelude Prestige 1971 Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert
1959-10 Lil' Darlin' Status/Prestige 1965 Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert
1959-10 Red Garland Live! New Jazz/Prestige 1965 Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert
1959-12 The Red Garland Trio + Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Moodsville 1960 Most tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); some tracks quartet, with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax) added
1960-04 Red Alone Moodsville 1960 Solo piano
1960-04 Alone with the Blues Moodsville 1960 Solo piano
1960-07 Halleloo-Y'-All Prestige 1964 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); Garland plays organ on one track
1960-07,
1961-03 		Soul Burnin' Prestige 1964 Three tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); two tracks quintet, with Oliver Nelson (tenor sax, alto sax), Richard Williams (trumpet), Peck Morrison (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)
1961-07 Bright and Breezy Jazzland 1961 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)
1961-11 The Nearness of You Jazzland 1962 One track solo piano; most tracks trio, with Larry Ridley (bass), Frank Gant (drums)
1962-01 Solar Jazzland 1962 Most tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Frank Gant (drums); some tracks quartet, with Les Spann (guitar, flute) added
1962-03 Red's Good Groove Jazzland 1962 Quintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Pepper Adams (baritone sax), Sam Jones (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)
1962-10 When There Are Grey Skies Prestige 1963 Trio, with Wendell Marshall (bass), Charlie Persip (drums)
1971-05 The Quota MPS 1973 Quartet, with Jimmy Heath (tenor sax, soprano sax), Peck Morrison (bass), Lenny McBrowne (drums)
1971-05 Auf Wiedersehen MPS 1975 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Roy Brooks (drums)
1974-03 Groovin' Live Alfa Jazz 1991 [2CD] Trio, with James Leary (bass), Eddie Marshall (drums); in concert
1974-03 Groovin' Live II Alfa Jazz 1991 Trio, with James Leary (bass), Eddie Marshall (drums); in concert
1977-05 Keystones! Xanadu 1977 Trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums); in concert
1977-05 Groovin' Red Keystone 1995? Trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums); in concert
1977-12 Red Alert Galaxy 1978 Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Frank Butler (drums); one track quartet, with Nat Adderley (cornet) added; two tracks sextet, with Harold Land and Ira Sullivan (tenor sax) added; one track quartet, with Sullivan, Carter, Butler
1977-12 Crossings Galaxy 1978 Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)
1978-05 Feelin' Red Muse 1979 Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1978-05 I Left My Heart... Muse 1985 Some tracks trio, with Chris Amberger (bass), Eddie Moore (drums); some tracks quartet, with Leo Wright (alto sax) added; in concert
1978-08 Equinox Galaxy 1979 Trio, with Richard Davis (bass), Roy Haynes (drums)
1979-07 Stepping Out Galaxy 1981 Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added
1979-07 So Long Blues Galaxy 1984 Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); two tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added; some tracks quintet, with Julian Priester (trombone), George Coleman (tenor sax) added
1979-07 Strike Up the Band Galaxy 1982 One track quartet with Julian Priester (trombone), Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); one track quartet with George Coleman (tenor sax), Carter (bass), Riley (drums); three tracks quintet, with all listed
1982-04 Misty Red Sony Music Entertainment 1982 Trio, with Jamil Nasser (bass), Frank Gant (drums)

Compilations

  • Rediscovered Masters (Prestige, 1977) – rec. 1958–61
  • At the Prelude, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1994) – rec. 1959. compilation of Red Garland at the Prelude + Red Garland Live!.
  • Blues in the Night (Prestige, 1997) – rec. 1960. compilation of Halleloo-Y'-All + Soul Burnin'.
  • Red's Blues (Prestige, 1998) – rec. 1956–62.
  • Stretching Out (Prestige, 2002) – rec. 1959. compilation of Satin Doll + Lil' Darlin'.
  • The Best of the Red Garland Quintets (Prestige, 2004)
  • The Best of the Red Garland Trios (Prestige, 2004)

As sideman

References

  1. ^ Dobbins, Bill; Kernfeld, Barry (2002). "Garland, Red". In Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, vol. 2 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 14. ISBN 1561592846.
  2. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Red Garland Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. ^ Simpson, Joel. "Red Garland Profile". All About Jazz. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  4. ^ Seeing Red. Texas Monthly. 1977-03-01.
  5. ^ Giddins, Garry (April 3, 1978). "Red Garland's Texas Cocktail". The Village Voice. p. 49.
  6. ^ Mathieson, Kenny (2012). Giant Steps: Bebop And The Creators Of Modern Jazz, 1945-65. Canongate Books. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-85786-617-2.
  7. ^ "Discogs.com". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  8. ^ Pareles, John (26 April 1984). "Red Garland, a Pianist in Miles Davis Quintet". The New York Times.
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