It's a Blue World

Red Garland | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B0000296N1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #31,122 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Garland's Best Kept Secret, September 22, 2003

By 

Mark Bruce (Iowa City, IA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It's a Blue World (Audio CD)

This seems to be one of the lesser known Red Garland Trio efforts, and whether you already like Red or don't know his work yet, this recording is WELL worth getting to know. If you dig Miles and Trane, you may know Red without knowing his name, but you've probably remarked, quietly backing up the frontmen, a piano player with a distinctive touch that gives his piano an almost bell-like tone. That'd Red Garland. Red's piano is pure sugar, and very well complimented by Paul Chambers bass--often bowed so well that it begins to sound like a human voice singing. This in one of those records that'll become an old friend, taking up permanent residence in your CD player.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Belated stature . . ., May 25, 2008

By 

cvairag (Allan Hancock College) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: It's a Blue World (Audio CD)

When Red Garland was alive - it seems that we took him for granted. One of the greatest jazz pianists of any era, his innovative block chording has become foundational to modern jazz piano. 'It's a Blue World', only 38.33 minutes in playing time, is yet another shimmering jewel in a string of tiny masterpieces by magnificent Red Garland Trio. Paul Chambers' bowing is truly special on this very special recording.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect "Final" Set For An Evening, August 31, 2010

By 

Robert J. Ament "papacoolbreeze" (Ballwin, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: It's a Blue World (Audio CD)

I took the advice of Harry Abraham from the liner notes of November 1970 for the original LP and played the songs in the order he recommended, starting with "Crazy Rhythm" and following that sequence. He was right!

It has bothered me over the years that some jazz "critics" have classified the piano stylings of Red Garland as "cocktail music". If you have an excellent, actually one of the best, piano trios, with the exception of the recording studio, the only venues would be the intimacy of a jazz club or an onstage appearance at a jazz concert. Certainly the fact that these musicians played with Miles Davis in what I consider his prime years is testimony in itself!

The first pianist that was a favorite of mine at an early age was Erroll Garner, in no small part because of his distinctive style. Likewise the style of Red Garland has that distinctiveness. With his trademark block chords in the left hand coupled with octaves in the right hand, he was instantly identifiable.

This set shows the versatility of these musicians, not only Garland, but bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor as well. Listen to Paul Chambers bowing his instrument on the very fast paced "Crazy Rhythm" and "This Can't Be Love". There is certainly nothing lacking in the Art Taylor's drumming on the latter selection.

"It's a Blue World" is played at a faster tempo than I normally associate with it but seems appropriate. The remaining two numbers, "Teach Me Tonight" and "Since I Fell For You" are very relaxed. "Since I Fell For You" was a popular recording for Al Jareau as well as the theme for the TV series "Moonlighting" back in 1985(?). It's a perfect closer for the "final" late set.

If you like good piano trio, you can't go wrong with this one!