What is this thing called love - Erroll Garner in 1964
Erroll Louis Garner ( 1921 - 1977) was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads.
His best-known composition, the ballad Misty, has become a jazz standard. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ,
Erroll began playing piano at the age of 3. He attended George Westinghouse High School, as did fellow pianists Billy Strayhorn and Ahmad Jamal.
Garner was self-taught and remained an "ear player" all his life he never learned to read music. .
At age 14 in 1937 he joined local saxophonist Leroy Brown. He played locally in the shadow of his older pianist brother Linton Garner and moved to New York in 1944. He briefly worked with the bassist Slam Stewart, and though not a bebop musician per se, in 1947 played with Charlie Parker on the famous "Cool Blues" session. Although his admission to the Pittsburgh music union was initially refused because of his inability to read music, they eventually relented in 1956 and made him an honorary member.
Garner is credited with having a superb memory of music. After attending a concert by the Russian pianist Emil Gilels, Garner returned to his apartment and was able to play a large portion of the performed music by recall. He was also known for his occasional vocalizations while playing, which can be heard on many of his recordings.
He helped to bridge the gap for jazz musicians between nightclubs and the concert hall. Until his death on January 2, 1977, he made many tours both at home and abroad, and produced a large volume of recorded work.
In this recording he is accompanied by Eddie Calhoen on bass and Kelly Martin on drums.