Search - Hank Garland :: Move the Guitar Artistry of

Nothing upsets preconceived minds ......

Kevin Hennessey | TheTop Right Hand Corner of the US Map! | 08/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"....like someone who successfully crosses over to another genre after he has been thoroughly pigeonholed by experts in a previous one. Such was Hank Garland, Nashville's busiest country guitar picker who, with little warning, made a superb jazz album in mid-career and seemed headed for jazz stardom until an auto accident left him unable to perform. As a jazz performer, Garland had a fertile melodic and harmonic imagination and a sound that had apparently honed to the gospel of tone and attack according to Charlie Christian - with some Les Paul mixed in and more than a touch of Bud Powell's influence as well. But even on his country records (check out Red Foley's sublime "Midnight" and "Hearts of Stone"), Garland's urbane jazz and blues sensibilities can be felt.



Cowpens is a rural suburb of Spartanburg, SC, and while growing up there, Garland absorbed country music from Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith and Mother Maybelle Carter on the radio, eventually switching from banjo to guitar. He joined the Grand Ole Opry at 15 in 1945, signed with Decca in 1949 as a solo artist, and appeared on innumerable Nashville recording sessions while jamming privately in local clubs. In July 1960, Garland came forward as a jazz musician, organizing a combo that was scheduled to play the Newport Jazz Festival but found itself on the sidelines after riots closed the festival.



The following year, Garland's jazz debut on record, Jazz Winds From a New Direction, astonished both jazz and country circles, and a follow-up album, The Unforgettable Guitar of Hank Garland, was issued. But in September 1961, a near fatal auto accident robbed Garland of a good deal of his coordination and memory.He eventually returned to playing, but never regained the renown of his early 60s heyday. Hank Garland passed away on December 27, 2004 at the age of 74.





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Ten stars

. | Chicago, IL USA | 04/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Garland was -not- a 'steel' guitarist, (as the editorial review states), but a great session guitarist. He played whatever was asked for on hundreds of hits, usually country or country-tinged pop and rock, but he was one of the greatest jazz guitarists that has ever lived. In spite of his amazing dexterity, he never let a riff take away from the music as a whole, and always had the most beautiful tone. The band, featuring the debut of then-teenaged Gary Burton on vibes, is perfect."

Multiple Albums in this set

jazzman: | Charlotte, NC USA | 06/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I thought it would be worthwhile to tell Garland fans (count me in that group) that there are at least four albums involved in this set. "Unforgettable" and "Move" are two that are easy to follow (as far as track information is concerned). The following tracks are from two very obscure and totally out of print albums:



Jazz In New York (1979)

HG-1001-LPS



cherokee

secret love

like someone in love

it maight as well be spring

a foggy day in london town (213KB)

ed's place

blame it on my youth





Velvet Guitar - The Guitar Artistry of Hank Garland (1961)

Columbia HS 11028



secret love

scarlet ribbons

greensleeves

tammy

polka dots and moonbeams

autumn leaves (146KB)

like someone in love

ain't nothing wrong with that baby

ed's place

blame it on my youth



Note that not all of the tracks from these two albums are included on the CDs."