Erroll Garner - The Most Happy Piano

Few sounds in music are happier than those produced by Erroll Garner at a piano. Any piano, anywhere. The conviction is strong in this corner that Erroll would sound just as happy playing a spinet strapped to the back of a bowlegged racing camel, although in the interests of the hi-fi public Columbia prefers to record him in locations such as the 30th Street studio in New York or, if you bought his last album (and you certainly should if you haven't), on location before an enthusiastic 

audience such as the one at Carmel, California, by the sea. 

This is an especially happy album because at the time Erroll strolled into the studio (he always strolls, to keep from dancing or turning cartwheels) there was serious doubt as to how the session might come out. He was only a few days out of the hospital, freshly recovered from a bad concussion suffered in a taxi crash. 

Two days earlier, Erroll had sat down at a piano again and announced that he’d like to try to record. His accompanists were off on Erroll’s sick leave, so bassist Al Hall and drummer Specs Powell, a couple of old pals, were called at the last minute. With no rehearsal beyond some hearty "Well, gee, how are ya"s they proceeded to knock off 19 numbers, totaling 97 minutes and 2 seconds in playing time, in three and a half hours. 

But at the start it didn’t look that cool. Erroll was quieter than usual, and when he began to play his neck and shoulders looked unfamiliarly stiff. After a bit, however, he slumped into his usual relaxed pose, and the session turned out to be typical of all Garner dates: quick, easy, fun, lots of great music, and the usual quota of towels (which Erroll brings along in a suitcase) with which he mopped himself between takes. *George Avakian (liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Girl Of My Dreams

(Clapp)

2 - But Not For Me

(I. & G. Gershwin) 

3 - Passing Through

(Garner)

4 - Time On My Hands

(Adamson, Gordon, Youmans)

5 - Alexander's Ragtime Band

 (Berlin)

Side 2

6 - Full Moon And Empty Arms

(Kay, Mossman)

7 - Mambo 207

(Garner)

8 - The Way Back Blues

(Garner)

9 - Ol' Man River

(Hammerstein II, Kern)

Erroll Garner (piano), Al Hall (bass), Gordon "Specs" Powell (drums).

Recorded in New York City, June 7 (#1, #2, #4, #5, #6, #9) and September 11 (#3, #7, #8), 1956.