Red Garland - The Nearness Of You (1962) [2006 Jazz紙ジャケ十八番]

Unlike his slightly earlier recordings for Moodsville (which feature Red Garland on unaccompanied piano solos), this strictly ballad date has Garland joined (on all but the solo "Lush Life") by bassist Larry Ridley and drummer Frank Gant. Since all eight of the standards are taken at the same medium/slow tempo, there is not much variety here, keeping the CD from being essential. But Garland's attractive and distinctive chord voicings, plus his ability to uplift melodies while swinging at a slow speed, make this project a success. Highlights include "The Nearness of You," "Where or When," and Irving Berlin's "All Alone." Particularly effective when used as background music.


Tracks:

1. "Why Was I Born?" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) - 4:51
2. "The Nearness of You" (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) - 5:34
3. "Where or When" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) - 6:09
4. "Long Ago (and Far Away)" (Ira Gershwin, Kern) - 3:54
5. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" (Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster) - 5:17
6. "Don't Worry About Me" (Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler) - 4:40
7. "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn) - 4:15
8. "All Alone" (Irving Berlin) - 4:58

Personnel:

Bass – Larry Ridley
Drums – Frank Gant
Piano – Red Garland