Customer Reviews

Jazz Icons: Erroll Garner Live in '63 & '64

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD presents two concerts Erroll Garner played, with his side men bassist Eddie Calhoun and drummer Kelly Martin, in Belgium in 1963 and Sweden 1964. It is filmed in black & white and in mono, but beautifully. Sound is terrific and the videography focuses hugely on Garner's beatific face and his amazing hands. It's like sitting right up front. Wonderful!

I needn't say anything that hasn't already been said about Garner's artistry. He was, for me, the most amazing jazz pianist I ever encountered. I spent a long time trying to imitate his style, with absolutely no success.

Amazon has not listed the program. It is:

Belgium:
Erroll's Theme
A Get a Kick Out of You
Fly Me to the Moon
It Might as Well Be Spring
Misty (Thank you, Mr Garner, for writing this tune!)
Where or When
Thanks for the Memories

Sweden:
Erroll's Theme
When Your Lover Has Gone
Fly Me to the Moon
Mambo Erroll
My Funny Valentine
One-Note Samba
Where or When
Thanks for the Memories
Erroll's Theme

Each concert lasts about thirty minutes for a total of 60 minutes. There is a nice 20-page booklet that contains extensive and very informative liner notes by John Murph, a center section of reproductions of photos and album covers and the like of Garner.

This DVD is self-recommending. If you like Garner, you'll want to own it.

Scott Morrison

Errol Garner, the pianist composer of the eternal "Misty", gets some serious spotlight on this terrific DVD, containing two concerts from his best years.

Garner can't keep his good humor inside, beaming as he casually rattles off stunningly complex jelly rolls, swing boogies, and baroque cascades. Listen close and you can hear his percussive growls as he cajoles the keyboard into startlingly dynamic sounds. It's a truly orchestral approach that turns each pop ditty into a spectral landscape. His legendary intros are so rich and inspired they become dazzling compositions in themselves. It's beyond belief that his vast palette was learned totally by ear, without learning any notation. Instead Garner vibes directly off the audience, taking his pleasure in reading their responses as he happily surveys the room. And happy is the operative word. Errol looks like he's having the time of his life playing for these folks, and you'll be glad you were there to see it, too.

Erroll is featured here in brilliant form in these two superb European concerts from the 1960's. The photography and sound quality are first rate, and the music is a joy from start to finish. Erroll's piano playing is truly astounding and confounding, and it's easy to see here how he inspired one English fan to say to him, breathlessly, after one of his London concerts, "Mr. Garner! Mr. Garner! What you're doing just can't be done!!!!" Highest recommendation.

I became an Erroll Garner fan in 1955 with the purchase of my first LP, "Lullaby of Birdland", and still have 20 of his LP's, many CD's, this and other DVD's, which I greatly treasure. I had the privilege of meeting him in 1956 when I was a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, and briefly sat and talked with him at the St. Louis Ramada Inn in the early 70's. I'm one of his greatest fans along with the late Dudley Moore and Clint Eastwood.