William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. was born on May 13, 1923, and died on April 23, 1984. He was an American jazz musician who played the piano. Garland is known for leading a band and for working with Miles Davis during the 1950s. He helped make the block chord style of playing the piano more famous in jazz music.

Early life and education

William "Red" Garland was born in 1923 in Dallas, Texas. He started learning music on the clarinet and alto saxophone, studying with saxophonist Buster "Prof" Smith, who had earlier taught Charlie Parker, a famous saxophonist from Kansas City. His nickname came from the color of his hair, though some say it was natural, and others believe he dyed it red.

In 1941, Garland joined the United States Army and was assigned to Fort Huachuca, Arizona. While there, he began learning the piano from Army musicians John Lewis (not the same person as John Lewis from the Modern Jazz Quartet) and Lee Barnes. At this time, he also practiced amateur boxing and fought against Sugar Ray Robinson, though he lost the match.

After leaving the military in 1944, Garland played music in Texas until 1946, when he joined the band of trumpet player Hot Lips Page. He stayed with the band until a tour ended in New York in March 1946. Garland chose to remain in New York and later found work there and in Philadelphia. During his time in New York, he was recommended to singer Billy Eckstine, who hired him to perform for several weeks.

Musical career

In 1955, Garland joined the Miles Davis Quintet. The group included John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers. Miles Davis liked boxing and was impressed that Garland had boxed earlier in his life. Together, they recorded important albums for Prestige Records, including Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet (1956), Workin', Steamin', Cookin', and Relaxin'. Garland’s musical style is clearly heard in these recordings. He used unique ways to play chords and added complex accompaniment. His playing also showed influences from Ahmad Jamal’s style. Some people called him a "cocktail" pianist, but Miles Davis liked his style and encouraged Garland to include some of Jamal’s light touch and harmonies in his own playing.

Garland played on the first of Davis’s many Columbia recordings, Round About Midnight (1957). Their relationship began to worsen, but Garland continued working with Miles. By 1958, Garland and Jones became less reliable in showing up for recordings and shows. Garland was eventually fired by Miles but later returned to play on another jazz classic, Milestones. Davis was upset when Garland used block chords to play a solo from Davis’s earlier song, "Now’s The Time," during a slower version of "Straight, No Chaser." Garland left one of the Milestones recording sessions. On the track "Sid’s Ahead," Davis played background piano during Garland’s absence.

In 1958, Garland formed his own trio. The trio recorded with musicians such as 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. Garland released 25 albums on Prestige Records and its subsidiary Moodsville 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 as rock music reduced the popularity of jazz, and his record sales dropped. During this time, he returned to Dallas, Texas, to care for his mother. After her death in 1968, he left music for several years.

Garland returned to recording in 1971 with two albums for the German MPS Records label. Later in the 1970s, he 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 performed in clubs that 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 for Red Garland's Piano from 1957, jazz historian Ira Gitler wrote: "Red Garland's piano is an instrument full of warm emotion. Red Garland is a pianist who avoids complicated styles and instead uses a simple, subtle approach. His strong, clear style, developed from the influences of Nat Cole and Bud Powell, can handle all moods and speeds with ease. He does not play ballads in an overly sweet way, nor does he rush through fast-paced pieces. Red Garland is especially uplifting in the middle tempo range. Here is a musician who, even if he played every cocktail lounge in the country, would never be called a 'cocktail lounge pianist.'" In addition to Cole and Powell, jazz writer Scott Yanow noted that Ahmad Jamal's style also influenced Garland.

Legacy

In 2001, NPR added the album A Garland of Red to the NPR Basic Jazz Record Library. Staff broadcaster Murray Horwitz said: "Red Garland is one of those musicians you might know more about than you realize, but it is still not enough. He had his most famous moments as a supporting musician, but A Garland of Red is some of the finest piano trio jazz you can find."

Discography

• Rediscovered Masters (Prestige, 1977) – Recorded between 1958 and 1961.
• At the Prelude, Vol. 1 (Prestige, 1994) – Recorded in 1959. Includes tracks from Red Garland at the Prelude and Red Garland Live!.
• Blues in the Night (Prestige, 1997) – Recorded in 1960. Includes tracks from Halleloo-Y'-All and Soul Burnin'.
• Red's Blues (Prestige, 1998) – Recorded between 1956 and 1962.
• Stretching Out (Prestige, 2002) – Recorded in 1959. Includes tracks from Satin Doll and Lil' Darlin'.
• The Best of the Red Garland Quintets (Prestige, 2004).
• The Best of the Red Garland Trios (Prestige, 2004).