Search - Erroll Garner :: Dreamstreet & One World Concert

The Inscrutable Genius of Erroll Garner

Fabricio Monteagudo | USA | 12/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a two or three year hiatus from recording because of a lawsuit Garner filed against Columbia for releasing certain recordings without his consent, Garner returned to the studios in 1961, under his own label, OCTAVE, and recorded one of his most inspiring albums of all (if his famous CONCERT BY THE SEA had the sound quality if would have had a much better chance for a 5-star rating), DREAMSTREET. The title cut is one of the shorter cuts of the album, but it is one of Garner's better piano jazz ballads. Some of the most uplifting and awe-inspiring Garner performances can be found here. The first time I heard his version of an old big band era classic made famous by big band leader Tommy Dorsey, "I'm Gettin Sentimental Over You" it brought tears to my eyes. And believe me I am truly not one for over-sentimentality, melodrama or vanilla tunes. But in the hands of Garner, a tune such as this one gets infused with such a sincere and palpable feeling, the performance really glows and if one listens to it real intently as I did, I felt a glow and few shivers down my spine. His swinging take of "The Lady Is a Tramp" is filled with so much verve and energy that it makes you go right through the roof with joy and it even has a moment where Erroll qoutes the famous "Wedding March" theme played at the end of countless weddings right after he states the Rodgers and Hart theme. Other highlights that will make you feel good are his OKLAHOMA! medley of 3 songs from the show, and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things"
"One World Concert", is a great live performance by the elfin pianist. The opening track is one of the best-structured Garner performances, it is a spright and delightful version of "The Way You Look Tonight". "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" is one of the better Garner recordings of all time while "Sweet and Lovely" is joyous Garner romp. "Misty" appears hear in more introspective than usual but gets more passionate as it evolves and as always remains one the great ballads of any genre. Overall the recording is far too short but the performances are certainly packed with the inscrutable magic of Erroll Garner, a kind of magic that perhaps will never be witnessed again."

Happiness is a thing called Erroll !

E. Macomber | New Bern, NC United States | 11/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Telarc reissued some great recordings made for the old London label. Amoung them were newer and perhaps more mature, if not experimental, renditions of the classical songs of the past century. "Happiness is a thing called Joe" on its own merit will show you how powerful this man who needed Manhatten/Brooklyn phone books to reach the keys and yet was bigger than any keyboard player in my lifetime.The live concert genre which these represent allows a better appreciation than the Concert by the Sea effort. This cd will disappear one day soon, and getting a copy of these 2 covers is a must if you are a jazz audiophile!"

Jazz Piano Classic

A. Valkin | South Africa | 05/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are two titles supplied here, released from the two original albums with these names. Every moment of the recordings is filled with the musicality and originality that has made Errol Garner a jazz great.



Garner plays mostly standards with showmanship and musical depth. I think that the variety of moods and textures at every moment make each song worth it. He, with the other members of his trio, entertains his audience beautifully, especially on the live album. His style is modern jazz, but not serious bebop like Thelonious Monk for example.



I understand that sometimes critics have questioned whether Garner belongs in the mainstream of serious jazz. When listening to this recording that doesn't seem to me to be worth discussing.



Sound quality is good overall despite the age of the recordings.



Above all, it's a good jazz album for listening and enjoying over a long time.

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