Erroll Louis Garner was born on 15th June 1921 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began playing the piano at the age of three. At the age of seven he began appearing on radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh with a group called the Candy Kids. By the age of eleven he was playing on the Allegheny riverboats. At the age of fourteen in 1937 he joined local saxophonist Leroy Brown.
He played locally in the shadow of his older pianist brother, Linton Garner, and moved to New York in 1944. He briefly worked with the bassist Slam Stewart, and though not a bebop musician, in 1947 he played with Charlie Parker on the famous "Cool Blues" session. Although his admission to the Pittsburgh music union was initially refused because of his inability to read music, they eventually relented in 1956 and made him an honorary member. Garner is credited with having a superb memory for music; after attending a concert by the Russian pianist Emil Gilels, Garner returned to his apartment and was able to play a large portion of the performed music.
His 1955 recording Concert by the Sea ranks among his very best work. Ironically this recording of a performance at an army base in Carmel, California, featuring Eddie Calhoun on bass and Denzil Best on drums, was made using relatively primitive sound equipment, but Garner's inventiveness and swing made its point in each tune. Other notable works include 1951's Long Ago and Far Away and 1974's Magician, both of which see Erroll perform a number of classic standards in his own style. Often the trio was expanded to add Latin percussion, usually a conga, with electric results.
What made Erroll easy to recognise were his trademark introductions, that seemed to make no sense but broke dramatically into his exposition of the tune he was to play, and the guitar strumming sound of his left hand, playing crotchet accompaniment to his rich-sounding right hand. This approach suggests that he was influenced by the iconic rhythm guitar work of Count Basie's long time guitarist, Freddie Green. But discerning listeners could find that while his even-four left hand was a fixture, it was far from being the only rhythmic approach he took to playing.
I'll Remember April
Erroll Garner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
Alone where we have walked together
I'll remember April and be glad
I'll be content you loved me once in April
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
For flames live such a little while
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I'll remember April and smile
The lyrics of Erroll Garner's "I'll Remember April" express a bittersweet nostalgia of remembering a past love that occurred in the month of April. The opening line, "This lovely day will lengthen into evening," sets the romantic tone of the song. The idea of the day turning into evening symbolizes the passing of time and the inevitable end of romance. The second line expresses the sadness of parting ways with a loved one and saying goodbye to all the memories shared together. The lines "Alone where we have walked together, I'll remember April and be glad" illustrate that even though the singer is alone now, he finds solace in the memories of their love.
The second verse, "I'll be content you loved me once in April, Your lips were warm and love and spring were new" acknowledges that the love affair was not a lasting one but that the singer remembers it fondly. The singer is not afraid of the future and its potential heartache because of the memories of the past. The last line of the verse, "For I'll remember April and you," reveals that the memory of the person they once were in love with will always stay with them.
The final verse speaks of the fire of love slowly fading like a flame dying out. The line "I won't forget but I won't be lonely" suggests that while the singer remembers the love that was lost, they are not consumed by it. The final line "I'll remember April and smile" encapsulates the song's message - that even though things come to an end, the memories of love bring happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
This lovely day will lengthen into evening
The beautiful day will turn into evening.
We'll sigh goodbye to all we ever had
We will be sad to let go of everything we shared.
Alone where we have walked together
I will be alone in a place where we used to walk together.
I'll remember April and be glad
Despite being alone, I'll remember our time together in April and feel happy.
I'll be content you loved me once in April
I'll find solace in the fact that you loved me once in April.
Your lips were warm and love and spring were new
When you loved me, everything felt fresh and new, like springtime.
I'm not afraid of autumn and her sorrow
I am not afraid of feeling sad like during autumn.
For I'll remember April and you
Because I will be able to remember you and our time together in April.
The fire will dwindle into glowing ashes
Our passion will subside and fade away.
For flames live such a little while
Passionate flames don't last for long, unlike memories.
I won't forget but I won't be lonely
I won't forget our love, but I won't be lonely because I still have the memories.
I'll remember April and smile
Thinking about our time together in April will bring a smile to my face.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON RAYE, GENE DE PAUL, PATRICIA JOHNSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bplantmans
Erroll Garner outstanding qualities along with his completely individual
style structure is his unpredictable spontaneous feeling, his
improvisational forte.Erroll Garner made his solo concert debut at the
Cleveland Music Hall in 1950 , winning critical and audience accolades.
Garner developed a signature style that involved his right hand playing
behind the beat while his left hand strummed a steady rhythm and
punctuation, thus creating insouciance and tension in the music.The
independence of his hands also was evidence by his masterful use of
three-against-four fingers and more complicated cross rhythms between
the hands. Garner also would improvise whimsical introductions to
audiences that left listeners in suspense as to what tune he would play.
HE MAY BE GONE, RIP BUT HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE ON .
Ross Cameron
50 years on, I`ll remember April still raises the hairs on the back of my head. Pure brilliance.
John Perks
To all music lovers of real depth this man is the epitome of love and joy.
bplantmans
Erroll Garner outstanding qualities along with his completely individual
style structure is his unpredictable spontaneous feeling, his
improvisational forte.Erroll Garner made his solo concert debut at the
Cleveland Music Hall in 1950 , winning critical and audience accolades.
Garner developed a signature style that involved his right hand playing
behind the beat while his left hand strummed a steady rhythm and
punctuation, thus creating insouciance and tension in the music.The
independence of his hands also was evidence by his masterful use of
three-against-four fingers and more complicated cross rhythms between
the hands. Garner also would improvise whimsical introductions to
audiences that left listeners in suspense as to what tune he would play.
HE MAY BE GONE, RIP BUT HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE ON .
james sullivan
It was in the early 90's, I was in a hotel in New Orleans at a conference of educators. A combo was setting up in the lobby, but I needed a dry martini. As they brought my drink around, the keyboard player started riffing on Garner's, Teach Me Tonight. All of a sudden the pain of the conference melted away. I was many miles from New York but I felt immediately at home.
Patrick van meter
I grew up in the 40s and 50s. The first time I heard this music I was hooked. I was in the closet about it as I did not know anyone that liked it. So I seldom mentioned it. Unfortunately later even my wife had to put up with me. I got rid of her but still enjoy Garner. Thanks
Lisa A
Gone much, much too soon. This whole album is sublime.
Dave Bass
After all of these years, listening again it is just a genius. Every bit. It's burned in my mind.
ThePipemajr
"I'll Remember April " is a constantly played Jazz piano classic. Despite listened to hundred's of times it's pure verve blows me away every time. A Genius at work!!
Scott Johnson
I grew up with this record, my parents loved him, as I do.
Joel Foxx
I play his music every year on my Dad's birthday. Watching Dad enjoy listening to him is one of my fondest memories.