William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984) was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in jazz piano.
Early life and education William "Red" Garland was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas. He began his musical studies on the clarinet and alto saxophone, having studied with saxophonist Buster "Prof" Smith, who had been an early mentor of alto saxophonist Charlie Parker in Kansas City. His nickname came from Garland's hair color, though sources disagree on whether he had a natural reddish tint or if he artificially colored his hair.
He joined the United States Army in 1941 and was stationed in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. While there, Garland began to learn the piano with Army pianists John Lewis (not to be confused with John Lewis of the Modern Jazz Quartet) and Lee Barnes. At this time, he was also an amateur boxer, having fought Sugar Ray Robinson but losing the match.
After being discharged from the military in 1944, Garland continued teaching himself piano using classical piano exercise books by composers like Carl Czerny and Charles-Louis Hanon and heavily copying the style of Count Basie, who became his early idol. Garland played locally around Texas until 1946 when he joined the trumpet player Hot Lips Page's band, playing with him until a tour ended in New York in March 1946. Garland decided to stay in New York and soon found work there and also in Philadelphia. While in New York, Garland was recommended to singer Billy Eckstine, who hired him for several weeks.
Musical career 1955–1958: The first Miles Davis Quintet Garland found success in 1955 when he joined the Miles Davis Quintet, featuring John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers. Davis was a fan of boxing and was impressed that Garland had boxed earlier in his life. Together, the group recorded their famous Prestige albums, Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet (1956), Workin', Steamin', Cookin', and Relaxin'. Garland's style is prominent in these seminal recordings—evident in his distinctive chord voicings, his sophisticated accompaniment, and his musical references to Ahmad Jamal's style. Some observers dismissed Garland as a "cocktail" pianist, but Miles was pleased with his style, having urged Garland to absorb some of Jamal's lightness of touch and harmonics within his own approach.
Garland played on the first of Davis's many Columbia recordings, 'Round About Midnight (1957). Their relationship was already beginning to deteriorate, but he continued playing with Miles. By 1958, Garland and Jones had started to become more erratic in turning up for recordings and shows. He was eventually fired by Miles but later returned to play on another jazz classic, Milestones. Davis was displeased when Garland quoted Davis's much earlier, and by then famous, solo from "Now's The Time" in block chords during the slower take of "Straight, No Chaser". Garland walked out of one of the sessions for Milestones; on the track "Sid's Ahead", Davis comped behind the saxophone solos in his absence.
1958–1984: Red Garland Trio and later life In 1958, Garland formed his own trio. Among the musicians the trio recorded with are Pepper Adams, Nat Adderley, Ray Barretto, Kenny Burrell, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Jimmy Heath, Harold Land, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, Blue Mitchell, Ira Sullivan, and Leroy Vinnegar. The trio also recorded as a quintet with John Coltrane and Donald Byrd. Altogether, Garland released 25 albums on Prestige Records and its subsidiary Moodsville, which were recorded between 1956 and 1962. He also recorded several albums for the Riverside Records subsidiary Jazzland in the early 1960s.
In the mid-to-late 1960s, Garland's career suffered when rock music caused a substantial drop in the popularity of jazz, and his record sales plunged. During this period, he returned to his Dallas, Texas to care for his mother. After her death in 1968, he left music for a number of years.liner notes to "Red Garland: The Albums Collection, Part Three, 1961-1962
Garland resumed his recording career in 1971 with two albums for the German MPS Records label, and later in the decade recorded for Galaxy Records, Muse Records, Xanadu Records, and other jazz labels. In 1977, his Crossings album reunited him with Philly Joe Jones, with whom he also played club performances that same year. Garland continued recording until his death from a heart attack on April 23, 1984, at the age of 60.
Artistry In the original liner notes of Red Garland's Piano in 1957, jazz historian Ira Gitler wrote: "Red Garland's piano is an instrument effulgent with warm emotion. Red Garland is a pianist who eschews the flowery and champions the direct approach in a simple, subtle manner. His basic, solid style, developed along personal lines out of Nat Cole and Bud Powell, encompasses all moods and tempos with equal ease. Never syrupy on the ballads in ballad tempo or merely fleet on the up tempos, Red is especially buoyant in a soul-lifting way on the middle ground. Here is a musician who even if he played every cocktail lounge in the country could never be considered a 'cocktail lounge pianist.'"Gitler, Ira. As quoted from the liner notes of the reissue of Red Garland's Piano In addition to Cole and Powell, jazz writer Scott Yanow noted the influence of Ahmad Jamal present in Garland's style.
Legacy NPR inducted the album A Garland of Red into the NPR Basic Jazz Record Library in 2001. Staff broadcaster Murray Horwitz stated: "Red Garland is one of the those musicians you probably know a lot more about than you think you do, but it's still not enough. He made his biggest splash as a sideman, but [...] A Garland of Red is some of the finest piano trio jazz you can find."
Discography As leader Recording date Title Label Year released Personnel/Notes 1956-08A Garland of RedPrestige1957Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1956-12, 1957-03Red Garland's PianoPrestige 1957Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1957-05Red Garland Revisited!Prestige 1969Most tracks trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added 1956-05, 1957-03, 1957-08The P.C. BluesPrestige 1970Most tracks trio with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); one track trio with Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) 1956-12, 1957-05, 1957-08GroovyPrestige 1957Trio with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1957-11All Mornin' LongPrestige 1958Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1957-11Soul JunctionPrestige 1960Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1957-11, 1957-12High PressurePrestige 1961Quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1957-03, 1957-12, 1958-02Dig It!Prestige 1962One track trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums); two tracks quintet, with John Coltrane (tenor sax), Donald Byrd (trumpet), George Joyner (bass), Taylor (drums); one track quartet, without Byrd 1958-02It's a Blue WorldPrestige 1970Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1958-04MantecaPrestige 1958Quartet, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums), Ray Barretto (congas) 1958-06Can't See for Lookin'Prestige 1963Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1958-08RojoPrestige 1961Quartet, with George Joyner (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), Ray Barretto (congas) 1958-11The Red Garland TrioMoodsville 1960Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1958-11All Kinds of WeatherPrestige 1959Trio, with Paul Chambers (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1959-04Red in Blues-villePrestige 1959Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums) 1959-08, 1959-10Satin DollPrestige 1971Most tracks trio with Doug Watkins (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); some tracks trio with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Taylor (drums) 1959-10Red Garland at the PreludePrestige 1971Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert 1959-10Lil' Darlin'Status/Prestige 1965Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert 1959-10Red Garland Live!New Jazz/Prestige 1965Trio, with Jimmy Rowser (bass), Charles "Specs" Wright (drums); in concert 1959-12The Red Garland Trio + Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisMoodsville 1960Most tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); some tracks quartet, with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax) added 1960-04Red AloneMoodsville 1960Solo piano 1960-04Alone with the BluesMoodsville 1960Solo piano 1960-07Halleloo-Y'-AllPrestige 1964Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); Garland plays organ on one track 1960-07, 1961-03Soul Burnin'Prestige 1964Three tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums); two tracks quintet, with Oliver Nelson (tenor sax, alto sax), Richard Williams (trumpet), Peck Morrison (bass), Charlie Persip (drums) 1961-07Bright and BreezyJazzland 1961Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Charlie Persip (drums) 1961-11The Nearness of YouJazzland 1962One track solo piano; most tracks trio, with Larry Ridley (bass), Frank Gant (drums) 1962-01SolarJazzland 1962Most tracks trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Frank Gant (drums); some tracks quartet, with Les Spann (guitar, flute) added 1962-03Red's Good GrooveJazzland 1962Quintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Pepper Adams (baritone sax), Sam Jones (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) 1962-10When There Are Grey SkiesPrestige 1963Trio, with Wendell Marshall (bass), Charlie Persip (drums) 1971-05The QuotaMPS 1973Quartet, with Jimmy Heath (tenor sax, soprano sax), Peck Morrison (bass), Lenny McBrowne (drums) 1971-05Auf WiedersehenMPS 1975Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Roy Brooks (drums) 1974-03Groovin' LiveAlfa Jazz 1991 [2CD] Trio, with James Leary (bass), Eddie Marshall (drums); in concert 1974-03Groovin' Live IIAlfa Jazz 1991Trio, with James Leary (bass), Eddie Marshall (drums); in concert 1977-05Keystones!Xanadu 1977Trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums); in concert 1977-05Groovin' RedKeystone 1995?Trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums); in concert 1977-12Red AlertGalaxy 1978Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Frank Butler (drums); one track quartet, with Nat Adderley (cornet) added; two tracks sextet, with Harold Land and Ira Sullivan (tenor sax) added; one track quartet, with Sullivan, Carter, Butler 1977-12CrossingsGalaxy 1978Trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) 1978-05Feelin' RedMuse 1979Trio, with Sam Jones (bass), Al Foster (drums) 1978-05I Left My Heart...Muse 1985Some tracks trio, with Chris Amberger (bass), Eddie Moore (drums); some tracks quartet, with Leo Wright (alto sax) added; in concert 1978-08EquinoxGalaxy 1979Trio, with Richard Davis (bass), Roy Haynes (drums) 1979-07Stepping OutGalaxy 1981Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); some tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added 1979-07So Long BluesGalaxy 1984Some tracks trio, with Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); two tracks quartet, with Kenny Burrell (guitar) added; some tracks quintet, with Julian Priester (trombone), George Coleman (tenor sax) added 1979-07Strike Up the BandGalaxy 1982One track quartet with Julian Priester (trombone), Ron Carter (bass), Ben Riley (drums); one track quartet with George Coleman (tenor sax), Carter (bass), Riley (drums); three tracks quintet, with all listed 1982-04Misty RedSony Music Entertainment 1982Trio, with Jamil Nasser (bass), Frank Gant (drums)
Compilations Rediscovered Masters (Prestige, 1977) – rec. 1958–61 At the Prelude, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1994) – rec. 1959. compilation of Red Garland at the Prelude + Red Garland Live!. Blues in the Night (Prestige, 1997) – rec. 1960. compilation of Halleloo-Y'-All + Soul Burnin'''.