Errol Garner: Afternoon Of An Elf auf 2 CDs

Featuring: Erroll Garner (piano solo)

Too often in jazz commercial success is followed by reduced critical acceptance, lessened artistic standards, or both. The “experts” become tired of hearing the artist once he has mass acceptance, and too often are prone to complain that he has “sold out” whether he has or not.

Erroll Garner’s was an exceptional case. He was one of the delights of the era, one of the most popular jazz pianists in the world, and he would remain unchangeably one of the best. Erroll did this session without rhythm section and with only nine fingers (the index finger of his left hand was in a splint). But nothing could change, or reduce, his capacity for swinging. He is easily and unflaggingly his own rhythm section; in several places, his orchestral conception conveys a big band feeling to the date. (freshsoundrecords. com)