Pianist Red Garland was a fixture on the great jazz scene of the 50's-80's, and even non-jazz aficionados may have unknowingly heard his work with Charlie Parker and the Miles Davis Quintet (among others). Here, he leads a trio (with Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums) and the resulting sounds are lovely, sweeping, and intimate. "Makin' Whoopee" swings gently and romantically, while "Blue Red" is as it suggests -- a bluesy slow jam by Red and company. "Constellation" is a frenzied bit of out-jazz, stopping on a dime and showing the synergy these guys had. They lived and breathed music, and this intense, yet accessible set is evidence of just that. These recordings were originally released as "A Garland Of Red" in 1956, and this CD reissue adds 5 bonus tracks from the same era, effectively completing Garland's studio work in the trio configuration. Essential studio work from one of the greats. (EJC)
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