Erroll Garner
Piano Solo on
Dark Shadows

About

Erroll Garner closes out the solos on piano with a quarter of the form, following Charlie Parker at approximately 93 BPM. Set within a swinging rhythmic framework, the 32-bar AABA form and the key of E♭, the solo allows for nuanced, expressive phrasing. Coming last in the solo order, Garner has the task of building on everything that came before while steering the performance back toward the closing head. The tune, composed by Shifty Henry, provides a relaxed framework for Parker's half-chorus alto saxophone solo and Erroll Garner's quarter-chorus piano spot. Garner plays over just the bridge.

Erroll Garner was 25 to 26 years old at the time.