Red Garland on Piano at the Jazznote

Born in Dallas, Texas May 13, 1923 William M. (Red) Garland started on clarinet and alto, switching to piano when he was 18. In 1945, he went on the road Oran "Hot Lips" Page, ending up in New York. Art Blakey heard him and recommended him to bandleader Billy Eckstine. After playing with Eckstine and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Garland began a two-year stint at the Blue Note club in Philadelphia in 1947, the main venue for modern jazz in that city. While there he accompanied such greats as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Fats Navarro. In 1949, he worked with Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge, and word soon spread that he was an exceptional player. Gigs with Lester Young and Ben Webster followed.

Leading his own trio by the early '50s, Garland got his first call from Miles in 1953. But the quintet later to be dubbed 'the Classic Quintet' wasn't to be until October, 1955. He would be make his presence felt on some Davis' finest recordings including the classics Workin', Relaxin', and Steamin' recorded in May 1956, and the final session for Prestige, Cookin' in October of that year. Throughout his tenure with Davis Garland continued to record albums as leader, usually in a trio, but occasionally with the passing brassman (i.e. Coltrane, Donald Byrd).

High Pressure is one of his more exceptional collaborations with Coltrane and Donald Byrd (accompanied by bassist George Joyner and drummer Art Taylor). Highlights include "Two Bass Hit" and Benny Goodman's "Soft Winds". The same lineup would meet again on November 15, 1957 for the Red Garland Quintet's Soul Junction which highlights a pair of Gillespie compositions, "Woody'n You" and "Birk's Works". However, more impressive is Garland's playing spanning the title cut which is just short of 16 minutes.

Leaving Miles in 1958 Garland went on to record successfully for such labels as Prestige, Jazzland and Moodsville as a trio until 1962.

Just short of an hour, Blues In The Night offers the listener a fairly comprehensive example of Garland's trio work (with Sam Jones on bass and drummer Art Taylor). This set covers a pair of sessions heavy on the blues in the late fifties and is interesting in that it even features Red on organ for one track.

But for the most Red bang for your buck check out the sensational Red Garland at the Prelude, Vol.1 (recorded in October, 1959). Originally released as two albums, Prestige has reissued this session on a single CD spanning 76 minutes. Mostly made up of standards, Garland (accompanied by bassist Jimmy Rowser and drummer Specs Wright) shines forth on a pair of his originals.

Relocating to Dallas he enjoyed semi-retirement before reemerging in 1976, playing locally in Texas before making a comeback of sorts at San Francisco's Keystone Corner in 1978. He continued performing until his death on April 23, 1984 of a heart attack at age 60.

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