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.
It's All Right with Me
Erroll Garner Lyrics
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Though Your Face Is Charming It's The Wrong Face
It's Not Her Face But Such A Charming Face
That It's All Right With Me
Erroll Garner's song "It's All Right With Me" expresses the dilemma of being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person. Garner uses the metaphor of a charming face that makes everything all right with him, even though it is not the face of the right person he wants to be with. The song's melancholic melody underscores the singer's longing and confusion, as he tries to reconcile his desire with his reality.
The lyrics speak to the universal experience of finding oneself in a situation that is not ideal, whether it is in love or in life. The singer's reluctance to let go of the charming face suggests that he is aware of the consequences of his actions, yet he can't help being drawn to it. The song's ambiguous ending leaves the listener wondering whether the singer will choose his heart or his head.
Line by Line Meaning
It's The Wrong Time And The Wrong Place
Even though we are in the wrong place and the wrong time, I still feel good being with you.
Though Your Face Is Charming It's The Wrong Face
You have a charming face and I appreciate it, but it's not the face of the person I really want to be with.
It's Not Her Face But Such A Charming Face
Although the face is not of the person I was hoping for, it's still a lovely face to look at.
That It's All Right With Me
In spite of all these circumstances, everything is still alright with me because I am with someone charming and pleasant.
Writer(s): PORTER COLE
Contributed by Madelyn O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.