Pianist Garland was an integral part of Miles Davis’s 1955-1957 quintet. Once he was established and contributing considerably to the success of Davis’s band, Bob Weinstock of Prestige Records signed him to his own exclusive contract as a leader. He took fellow rhythm section member Paul Chambers with him to record his own material but couldn’t have drummer Philly Joe Jones due to a dispute between him and Weinstock. New York drummer Art Taylor was much in demand and made a good substitute.
Groovy was the third in the series of trio albums that the pianist recorded for Prestige, and it is a good one. On its initial release the Downbeat reviewer said it was suitable to be played repeatedly and rated it five stars. I’m not convinced that it merits five stars, but it is a good example of bop trio music of the time.
The recital begins with Ellington’s C Jam Blues. These three were all seasoned blues players and Garland knew just how to make this version his own. Garland’s light, bright, single notes shine out as he swings it along at medium tempo. Chambers gets a plucked solo here. Gone Again follows, with Red into his trademark block chords. The first side of the LP ends with an uptempo romp on Will you Still Be Mine.
A slow and rhapsodic reading of Willow Weep For Me begins side two. The programme is well balanced, with a ballad and Hey Now – a tasty blues – to round out the programme. There is nothing earth shattering here, just particularly good bop and blues piano-trio playing from three seasoned professionals. It did though, help to establish Garland, along with Tommy Flanagan and Wynton Kelly, as one of the best of the post-bop piano soloists. Craft’s attention to a quality replica reissue with shiny original cover art and well-remastered 180g vinyl helps to makes it a desirable purchase.
Discography
C Jam Blues; Gone Again; Will You Still Be Mine (20.01) – Willow Weep For Me; What Can I say Dear; Hey Now (20.05)
Garland (p); Paul Chambers (b); Art Taylor (d). New Jersey, 24 May & 9 August 1957.
OJC Prestige CR 007 19