Errol Garner
Erroll Louis Garner (June 15, 1921 - January 21, 1977) was a jazz pianist whose blindness meant that he developed a much distinctive method and unorthodox style.
Life and Career
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA in 1921, Errol played locally for a while in the shadow of his older pianist brother Linton Garner. He moved to New York in 1944 and briefly worked with the bassist Slam Stewart. A couple of years later in 1947 Errol backed up Charlie Parker on his Cool Blues session.
Already Garner had developed a huge reputation, owing much to his unusual style which could had the orchestral approach of swing but was accessible to bebop. His ability to record albums from very little preparation, switch from various keys and introduce dynamic spontaneity astonished many critics.
Suffering from illness, Errol retired in 1975.
Works
His 1955 recording, Concert by the Sea, ranks among his very best work and has Eddie Calhoun on bass and Denzil Best on drums. Other notable works include 1951's Long Ago and Far Away and 1952's Body and Soul, both of which sees Errol perform a number of classic standards in his own style.
Referenced By
Left-hander | Leftie | List of blind people | List of famous left-handed people | List of famous left-handers | List of left-handed people | List of left-handers | List of people blind in one eye | List of people with visual disabilities
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