Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
Based on my last two posts (here and here) about Erroll Garner's Complete Concert by the Sea coming from Sony on Sept. 18 and on reader comments at JazzWax's Facebook page ("Marc JazzWax Myers"), there appears to be enormous interest in the new three-CD set. The album, which features the 1955 concert in its entirety, including 11 previously unreleased tracks, is easily one of this year's best historic jazz releases.
While you are certainly familiar with Concert by the Sea and Erroll Garner, you may not be aware of the other professional pianist named Garner—Linton Garner, Erroll's older brother. Though Linton was largely eclipsed by Erroll, he was no slouch. He recorded and arranged on important sessions in the 1940s. Billy Eckstine's All the Things Your Are for National Records in 1946 was arranged by Linton. He also wrote and arranged Minor Walk in 1947 and Duff Capers in 1948 for Dizzy Gillespie.
Throughout the decade, Linton recorded with virtually everyone of significance, including Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Max Roach, Earl Coleman and Babs Gonzales. Between 1950 and 1959, there's a huge gap in his discography, and then another gap until 1998. Part of the reason for these long periods out of the studio is Linton's move to Canada.
Born in Thomasville, N.C., in 1915, Linton grew up in Pittsburgh. He started playing piano at age 8, but by the time he was 10 he fell in love with the cornet and played steadily during school. Billy Strayhorn was in the same high school band. Linton played professionally in Pittsburgh, leading his own band at age 14, but switching to piano at age 15 after cracking his three front teeth. [Pictured above, the Linton Garner Trio in 1987, from left, Don Fraser, Linton Garner and Stewart Loseby]
In the 1930s, when his musicians were asked to join Fletcher Henderson, they balked unless Linton was hired as well. Henderson agreed and gave up the piano chair to conduct. In the early 1940s, Linton served in the Army. After his discharge, he worked with the Leroy Brown combo at the Hollywood Show Bar in East Pittsburgh in 1946 and then joined Eckstine's big band before accompanying comedian Timmy Rogers and touring with dancer Teddy Hale from 1947 to 1955.
In '55, Jet magazine reported that Linton and Erroll had a sister named Martha Garner Murray, "a Pittsburgh housewife who, it is said, can play rings around either of them. Another sister is studying medicine in California."
In 1959, Linton recorded Garner Plays Garner for the Enrica label. As Jet noted that year: "Linton Garner, Erroll's brother, who 10 years ago employed musicians Teddy McRae and Eddie Wilcox in his band, has just signed a contract to make a long-playing album for Enrica records—which the two now own."
Linton moved his family to Montreal in 1964, which he later told interviewers allowed his children to learn French. In the 1960s, he appeared on the Toronto and Vancouver jazz scenes, moving to Vancouver in 1974. Linton likely faced a lifetime of not being recognized but being asked by club-goers if he knew Misty. Interestingly, Linton is said to have had a wonderful personality and never said a bad word about anyone.
Linton Garner died of heart failure in 2003 at age 87, the same malady that his brother Erroll died of in 1977 at age 55.
JazzWax tracks: Sadly, no albums by Linton Garner are available in the States in print. That includes Garner by Garner. The only shot you have is Quiet Nights, Linton's last album in 2002, recorded just months before his death. It was recorded live at The Cellar in Vancouver. The Linton Garner Trio featured Ross Taggart (ts), Linton Garner (p) and Russ Botten (b). The album is superb, and you'd hardly know a drum was missing from the lineup. You'll find Quiet Nights as a download here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Just Friends from Quiet Nights, with a brilliant Linton Garner solo. It's one of my favorite versions of Just Friends, hands down...
A special thanks to Doug Paterson.
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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