Two years in the works a first time release is on the way in January from Elemental Music of a previously unissued Red Garland trio date recorded in 1977 at revered but long-gone San Francisco jazz club, the Keystone Korner.
Ex-Miles “first great quintet”, and later Milestones pianist Garland, is caught at Todd Barkan’s club with the quintet’s Philly Joe Jones, and with classy bassist Leroy Vinnegar. Earlier in 1977 the trio had also recorded a Xanadu Records date at the same club for a record called Keystones that came out in the 90s.
A 44-page booklet accompanies the 150 minutes’ worth of music on Swingin' on the Korner. None of the Dallas-born player’s music that day has even come out as a bootleg according to the label. The big talking point is the research needed to pin down an unknown ballad, one of the selections here scrutinised by Kenny Washington, a very helpful Adam Nussbaum, Steve Kuhn, and then singer Sheila Jordan who came up with its name, ‘If I’m Lucky’, a theme sung by Perry Como in a 1940s film. Producer Zev Feldman is quoted as saying: “I wanted to assemble one of the best packages ever for Red Garland. He’s one of my heroes and I wanted to help celebrate his legacy.”
Red Garland, above