The shadow of your smile Garner 1972

[plafkinfarms]

When Eroll Garner plays the piano, it is as if he is playing the rhythm of the drums with all of its syncopation; he is able to feel every beat and rhythm that the drummer would feel and anticipate. He is a joy to watch in his videos.

Roger Plafkin-Plafkin Farms, Ada, Michigan

[valvetrom]

For any wouldbe pianist and KB player just watch how high Errol sits and how his fingers hit the keys at an angle from above, try it and you will be playing so easyly. Its so sad in many schools all the the keyboards are too high, the tendons,activated by your muscles from the under arm have a heart time.

[lottewonder]

truth, honesty,humbleness and determintation. pure joy of music NOT sneaker brands, perfumes and all the other crap so called " artists" think they have to sell to the people. not reading notes, dosent mean not to have KNOWLEDGE of music. plus : basically : spend 20.000 hours REALLY practising, thats the the economy class ticket for your trip to making real music. never think about sucscess, never envy other artitst or to just break it down : less ego mo music AND ENJOY

[mabelcwagner]

I have always liked Erroll Garner, Then, I just love piano. mcw

[laurakolb]

The master...............

[deftroniks]

Errrr. Wayne Shorter on Conga? :0)

So great to se Errol in color too. brilliant!!

[Jazzhog]

Truly a gifted pianist...

[MCalixte89]

how can 2 people not like this?

[giyentstepp]

@MCalixte89 I know. It boggles the mind.

[pinkieldred]

EG was different... he may not have had the technical tools, skills that say a Oscar Peterson or Art Tatum had...they of course were brilliant jazz pianist in every sense of the word but Erroll used his melodic genius....his uncanny and absolutely stunning style and ability to say just as much! This song is perfect example of that. He carries it along chorus after chorus to a euphoric excitement that dazzles the musical mind. This is Erroll Garner, his own way,his own unique bag of tricks.

[chainchips]

i've got this garner album that i can't find anywhere online its from the 50tys and i need help

[Ayers76]

AWESOME!!!!!! ERROLL GARNER IS THE BEST!!!!

[tarr761]

Jaj de jóóóóó !!! 

[sacpelicancom]

TRUE GENIUS

[ANNSIGGY52]

It's just beautiful!!

[ScareMouth]

Play is a pleasure for him...

[TehWinnerz]

this is clearly a cheap trick. There are two pianists playing and it is shot to make it look like it is just Mr Garner. It is a shame he had to cheat on tv for all to see. It is funny that both piano players wear the same clothes to add to the illusion. But I see through his cheap stunt like I see through the clothes of singing transvestite Madonna.

[AManAnd88Keys]

@TehWinnerz I really hope you aren't serious... That's one of the silliest theories to explain Garners -brilliant- skills I've ever heard. If this isn't a bad, bad joke then you obviously don't know much about this jazz giant.

[zelmanzelman]

@TehWinnerz If you do not already have children, please do not mate, because you are STUPID, and it would be a crime to reproduce STUDID children!!!!!!!

[graygull771]

Yes! It's JAZZ!

[callumk5]

Wow! That's my fix for the day.

[BoratD]

nice play, i wish i could play like this man. i play at the level oscar peterson did, so i have to practise...

[foggy4180]

He talks with his instrument and starts a conversation with the other musicians.

Music is a real language for him; it part of himself

That's why he doesn't need to know anything about notes and music theory.

When plays he becomes music itself so there is nothing between him and the music.

That's why he is complete in the momentum of the rythym and let his inner voice take control.

You must be very humble to give yourself totally to the music like he did.

You can't understand it but only feel it.

[SERiF7321]

... well put.

[spassgamer]

@foggy4180 Are you sure he didn´t know much about music theory? Can´t imagine how u can become so good otherwhise

[foggy4180]

@spassgamer

just image that you sing a simple song, to do that you don't have to know anything about theory.

The same way it happens to him, he just follows what comes up in his mind., only the music that came up into his mind was more complex than most of the songs that come up into our mind.

In other words; what he plays he sings in his mind.

His mind is only filled with music and when he plays the piano there are no unnessecary thoughts, that's how relaxed he is, he is complete at ease.

[spassgamer]

@foggy4180 I understand you, but Errol Garner plays in his right hand many really complex chords and he switches from chord to chord so quickly that I can´t believe your explanation might be possible^^ He really must have learned these chords by heart ! :D

[foggy4180]

@spassgamer

Sure he knows these chords by heart, but to do that you don't have to learn musictheory out of books.

You only have to play a lot and when you know to play what you sing you know how to improvise and than you'll be free in your expression on your instrument.

A lot of jazzmusicians do that and he was one of the greatest, he showed us what it means to be completely free on your instrument, in other words; there was nothing between him and his piano.

[rmakdad]

@foggy4180 I played with a bass player / part time keyboard player, he didn't know squat about music theory: major, minor, augmented, diminish, dominant, sub-dominant, and the associated scales. He had an ear for it, he had rhythm.

He can play swing, funk, latin, jazz you name it.

My late college big band directer use to say during rehearsals, I don't care if you play the wrong notes as long it is played with the right rhythm, and in sync with everybody else.

As for EG a ragtime jazz player

[foggy4180]

@rmakdad in my opinion you can play music if you got the feeling for it and it's not necessery to study theory.

Sometimes it makes it easier when you know how to read music, also a great musician like Frank Zappa liked it when you could read music.

Most important thing is that you practise a lot but for most people who are born musicians its not a problem anyway because then they follow the flow inside of them and thats a kind of freedom for most of them.

[slapmyfunkybass]

@rmakdad ... a ragtime pianist??? are you kidding me??? garner is so far from ragtime its incredible..... you cannot pigeon hole genius!

[MrRickywallace]

@spassgamer Yes, he knew much theory, but it cam intuitively, which is the best way for someone to be a great artist who plays by ear.

[MrRickywallace]

@spassgamer Yes, he knew much theory, but it came intuitively, which is the best way for someone to be a great artist who plays by ear.

[Kolef88]

@foggy4180 Just because Erroll did not read music does not mean that he did not know quite a bit about notes and music theory.

[dggd]

@foggy4180 So beautifully and truthfully stated... I love all the greats, but ERROLL is my #1. I've idolized him from a wee little girl. Nice to see his hands up close playing. Ken Burns and crew should be back-handed for leaving out Erroll in his Jazz series. Damn shame. Erroll was in a class by himself...uniquely gifted...true master with so much soul...respected and loved by other jazz musicians, and society. The most happy piano indeed. I'll always cherish his precious soul." ♥

[cilcsster]

What makes Garner a genius is that he is self-taught, and he did not read music...think about it!

[GassyMaskz]

I htink he was a genius because he was good at what he did, not how he got good.

[SERiF7321]

wow. I knew Errol could play but I didn't know he could do that.

[1svetla]

Супер!!! Браво!!!

[TheRenato990]

ERROL .......GARNER ........le maitre du piano !

[ScareMouth]

If it's not perfect it's almost there for sure...Thanks to Mr. Garner and his magic trio!!!

[christophergill]

perfection by its nature cannot be bettered !

[ladynfsoffice]

PIANO PERFECTION AT ITS BEST!! =)

[Flextones]

1972 later day tunes. Erroll is in C minor/E flat Major and he is swinging. That bears a second listen.

[ray123ification]

yes priapus 56, definitely obamas dad on bongos, well spotted.

[dawgdrum]

That's a very large bongo.

Actually it's a conga drum.

[ray123ification]

well bongos that theory. he looks like obama though, i think its remarkable likeness.

[anameow]

That man on the congas is none other than Mr. Jose Mangual, Sr. (Puerto Rican) bongo/percussionist. He played with Machito and his Afro Cubans, and many other great Latin and Jazz band leaders. His sons, Jose Luis Mangual, Jr., and Luis Jose Mangual, are also great percussionists. Good friends of mine. If you would like to hear, indepth, Errol Garner's bongocero, Jose Mangual's work (he was known as "Buyu") listen to his album: BUYU. His album "BUYU" is an outstanding piece of work.

[WinstoneP]

Is it true that he was self taught and never read music. Utterly amazing. Makes life worth living!!!! Good old Jazz!

[Chimbo65]

Yes thats true.

Erroll had ONE Piano lesson,

and he thought is was so boring.

[WinstoneP]

Dear Chimbo - Good to get your comment. I am coming up to 68 and decided to learn to play the piano. I hope to imitate Mr Garner when I am 80. God Bless you in Denmark. WinstoneP

[Chimbo65]

All the best to you Sir.

I have been in showbiz for 33 years,.

and I found out that if you really WANT something in life,you achieve it.

Check out my band on youtube:

Chimbos Revival

It is Rock and Roll but it SWINGS !!

[Jigov]

sry to tell you but imitating is not the best way to learn. You have it or you dont have it. Thats how it goes in the music. the fake players are easy to recognise. Erroll Garner is maby the most original and sweetest piano playeer i have ever heard. He is totally genius on the piano, and i dont believe someone could imitate him. It will be just waste of you time. But you can enjoy his music and try to play on it, thats what i do. just play his stufff and play mine above. I feel great, pleased

[WinstoneP]

Hello Jigov - I know what you mean and I wasn't being serious. I am just over the moon with Errol Garner and sometimes want to cry when I hear him. You just continue doing your thing. God Bless, Winstone.

[Jigov]

Cool :P

[Andreeeiiii]

peterson!

but.. i agree!

garner is such a cool and sweet pianist!

[fabalousej]

I saw EG in 1971 in Pgh....It's STILL THE BEST JAZZ PERFORMANCE I"VE EVER SEEN!!!!!!!!

[priapus56]

Mr Obama's dad on bongos!

[regionalable]

Errol Garner is awsome, I would like to purchase His whole library of  DVD's can we order from the "you Tube"? (Artist) Cynthia E Jones

[1018709]

OMG! I am about cry when the thema got started.

But at last, I can't stop smiling.

How could you imagine this song is played like this?

[Vaksel]

Garner in color!!!

[dissidencello]

Marvellous and magic !

Does anyone know how to get this program on DVD, IN COLOUR ? (They put it out in black and white, what a pity !) Many thanks !

[knausspiano]

Ah, 1972, this is when I believe Garner had changed from merely being a brilliant jazz pianist to actually being a musical God. Some of the passages later on in this video just reach out into the heavens!

[rayjr62]

If you can locate his 1970 release "Feeling is Believing," get it. You won't be disappointed. Errol was at the peak of his powers then. Critic Leonard Feather called Erroll's playing on that LP "both contemporary and avante garde at all times."

Unreal.

[chattyshow]

His man really enjoyed playing. His music is always a joy to hear. When I listen to his piano playing I want to jump around. Great optimism. Above all, he was also a genius.

[golsno147]

Spot on. I listened to the Concert by the Sea L.P.( probably every day in life) until

I lost it-.Every piece was superb and I miss most of all his playing "Autumn Leaves." which I think has more beauty and passion than any piano recording by a jazz artist..

[charade97]

Erroll Garner at his best-I had the privilege of seeing him play in London, England, in 1965 and still have the signed programme. The ticket was 7/6d. right at the back of the theatre. I even shook his hand.Nothing beats his 'Concert By The Sea' album recorded in 1956 at Carmel.

[oss587]

un beau standard à la mode tropicale ,merci Monsieur Garner !

[AdelinDeltenre]

I am happy ! I used to have this video in my playlist and...one day it dissepeared. I'm glad jazzbobob could "find" it and post it again on youtube. This version is really something. Great swing. Great Erroll ! The best ever ! Thanks jazzbobob !!!

[VJCZAJA]

thank you soooo much for this post, btw--my brother,a "child Ppodigy" classical pianist, loves garner , says he's the best pianist ever!!!

[ugnex3]

please introduce him to some Art Tatum. I would recommend Sweet Lorraine, Someone to Watch Over Me, She's Funny That Way [if they still have it on youtube], Yesterdays, all of them are great :]

[drjazz2020]

@ugnex3 They are both great Tatum was Oscar Peterson's hero.

[ugnex3]

@drjazz2020 I was obviously replying to VJCZAJA...