Customer Reviews

Move! The Guitar Artistry of Hank Garland

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....like someone who successfully crosses over to another genre after he has been thoroughly pigeonholed by experts in a previous one. Such was Hank Garland, Nashville's busiest country guitar picker who, with little warning, made a superb jazz album in mid-career and seemed headed for jazz stardom until an auto accident left him unable to perform. As a jazz performer, Garland had a fertile melodic and harmonic imagination and a sound that had apparently honed to the gospel of tone and attack according to Charlie Christian - with some Les Paul mixed in and more than a touch of Bud Powell's influence as well. But even on his country records (check out Red Foley's sublime "Midnight" and "Hearts of Stone"), Garland's urbane jazz and blues sensibilities can be felt.

Cowpens is a rural suburb of Spartanburg, SC, and while growing up there, Garland absorbed country music from Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and Mother Maybelle Carter on the radio, eventually switching from banjo to guitar. He joined the Grand Ole Opry at 15 in 1945, signed with Decca in 1949 as a solo artist, and appeared on innumerable Nashville recording sessions while jamming privately in local clubs. In July 1960, Garland came forward as a jazz musician, organizing a combo that was scheduled to play the Newport Jazz Festival but found itself on the sidelines after riots closed the festival.

The following year, Garland's jazz debut on record, Jazz Winds From a New Direction, astonished both jazz and country circles, and a follow-up album, The Unforgettable Guitar of Hank Garland, was issued. But in September 1961, a near fatal auto accident robbed Garland of a good deal of his coordination and memory.He eventually returned to playing, but never regained the renown of his early 60s heyday. Hank Garland passed away on December 27, 2004 at the age of 74.

I thought it would be worthwhile to tell Garland fans (count me in that group) that there are at least four albums involved in this set. "Unforgettable" and "Move" are two that are easy to follow (as far as track information is concerned). The following tracks are from two very obscure and totally out of print albums:

Jazz In New York (1979)
HG-1001-LPS

cherokee
secret love
like someone in love
it maight as well be spring
a foggy day in london town (213KB)
ed's place
blame it on my youth


Velvet Guitar - The Guitar Artistry of Hank Garland (1961)
Columbia HS 11028

secret love
scarlet ribbons
greensleeves
tammy
polka dots and moonbeams
autumn leaves (146KB)
like someone in love
ain't nothing wrong with that baby
ed's place
blame it on my youth

Note that not all of the tracks from these two albums are included on the CDs.

Garland was -not- a 'steel' guitarist, (as the editorial review states), but a great session guitarist. He played whatever was asked for on hundreds of hits, usually country or country-tinged pop and rock, but he was one of the greatest jazz guitarists that has ever lived. In spite of his amazing dexterity, he never let a riff take away from the music as a whole, and always had the most beautiful tone. The band, featuring the debut of then-teenaged Gary Burton on vibes, is perfect.

Hank Garland was one of Nashville's best session guitarists of the 50s. He wrote the instrumental "Sugarfoot Rag" when he was only 16, and went on to play with many of country's notables. He became interested in jazz, which was not appreciated by the C&W community. He was seriously injured in a mysterious late-night auto accident - his car apparently had several bullet holes in it. He suffered brain damage, and had to relearn how to walk, talk, and play guitar. He never recovered his former health and skill, and died in December 2006. There are several articles about him on the Internet.

Garland made a good living playing country, but his jazz records where as far removed from country music as any could be. His playing is similar to Farlow's or Kessel's, but is very unique. If you like jazz guitar, or want to be a jazz guitarist, you have to have this CD. The playing is incredible.

This is in response to another review found here:There are three Hank Garland albums found on this two disc set.Velvet Guitar,Jazz Winds From A New Direction and The Unforgettable Guitar Of Hank Garland.Jazz in New York is not included.There are a few out takes from the albums I mentioned.Those were his only major label Jazz albums.I wish Jazz in New York was there.Very difficult to find.

This is a great CD! His tone and his "licks" are terrific. This was well worth the wait. The second CD has a bunch of tunes with just guitar bass and drums. I particularly love that combo. He pulls it off well. Highly recommended.

after viewing the movie "Crazy," i had to find out more about this fantastic artist. at first i was reminded of the artistry and skill of Danny Gatton and others like him. much of what can be said about Mr. Garland's music and story is already here for the reading; there is little for me to add except for a strong recommendation to catch and enjoy anything Garland-ish.

A compilation of three albums. "Jazz Winds..." featuring Gary Burton, Joe Benjamin and Joe Morello, is some of the most incandescent jazz that you'll ever hear. "Velvet Guitar" featuring uncredited musicians, is a plodding effort apparently aimed at the easy listening market. Although there are a few superior standards included, the best cut is actually "Greensleeves," probably because the other musicians don't play. (Chances are that they are good musicians but the producer just told them to play like that.) "Unforgettable Guitar" with Burton, Bill Pursell, Bob Moore and Doug Kirkham, is somewhere in between jazz and easy listening. There are some nice moments on all three albums, but "Winds" with it's tight swinging ensembles and scintillating solo work by Garland and young Burton (his recording debut) is easily worth the price by itself.

If you're a fan of the music and guitar playing of Johnny Smith, Barney Kessel and Howard Roberts then you're in for a treat. The aptly named 'The Guitar Artistry of Hank Garland' is a compilation of his entire recordings in one.

Don't umm and aahhh, MOVE! and buy this cd. You won't be disappointed.