Red Garland
Piano Solo on
My Funny Valentine

About

Red Garland's piano solo is the sole improvisation on this recording of "My Funny Valentine". Spanning one chorus of the 36-bar AABA' form in C at a slow 69 BPM with a ballad feel, Garland's solo is a study in understated elegance, his block chords ringing with bell-like clarity over Paul Chambers's walking bass. Garland's ballad interpretation draws on the full harmonic palette of the piano, balancing lyrical single-note lines with rich chordal textures. The Cookin' album was part of a legendary marathon recording session held at Rudy Van Gelder's studio on October 26, 1956, which also produced the material for Relaxin', Workin', and Steamin'.

Red Garland was 32 to 33 years old at the time.