Creative ambassador and co-producer of the Nightconcert record, pianist Christian Sands leads listeners on a song-by-song journey through Erroll Garner's midnight recording at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw.

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“Erroll Garner and Nightconcert represent possibilities. He has a full grasp of all musical styles, and you can hear it through his compositions and arrangements on this album.”

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— Christian Sands

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Side A

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01 Where or When

This arrangement typifies the genius of Erroll Garner, from his flowing solos to his cued shout chorus ideas, each swinging harder than the last.

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©1937 [w+m] Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart Chappell & Co., Inc.; Williamson Music Co. (ASCAP)

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02 Easy to Love

This truly is an “easy to love” arrangement of Easy To Love. It displays Garner’s ability to create beautiful melodies while maintaining his signature swing. He truly captures the soul and the story of Cole Porter’s classic piece.

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©1934 [w+m] Cole Porter |Chappell & Co., Inc. (ASCAP)

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03 On Green Dolphin Street

A reading with an upbeat and exciting presence, and a bounce that won’t quit. Moving through keys, and a variety of rhythms, this arrangement showcases the full musical force of Garner and his like-minded counterparts, Eddie Calhoun (b) and Kelly Martin (d).

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©1947 [m] Bronislaw Kaper, [w] Ned Washington | Patti Washington Music; Catharine Hinen Music/Shapiro Bernstein; Primary Wave Songs/BMG Gold Songs (ASCAP)

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04 Theme from "A New Kind of Love"

For longtime fans, this piece is a real gem. Written by Garner to be performed with an orchestra, which he did, directed by Leith Stevens for the 1963 film of the same name, this trio rendition is—in true Erroll Garner fashion—sophisticated, poised and full of imagination.

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©1973 [m] Erroll Garner | Octave Music Publ Corp./Downtown DLJ Songs (ASCAP)

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Side B

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05 Night and Day

With a bold and grooving solo introduction, we turn to an infectious and imaginative Night And Day. The trio adds an interesting swinging mambo feel to this arrangement that must have had the audience dancing in their seats

©1932 [w+m] Cole Porter | WB Music Corp (ASCAP)

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06 Cheek to Cheek

I absolutely love the beginning of this version of Cheek To Cheek. EG shows how adventurous and open he can be, dabbing into a variety of harmonies and moods. He doesn’t stay in any one for too long, but it’s thrilling to hear him embrace the avant-garde. We can also detect a nice shout-out to fellow pianist Thelonious Monk with the I Mean You quote.

©1935 [w+m] Irving Berlin | Irving Berlin Music Company (ASCAP)

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07 My Funny Valentine

With the avant-garde still in mind, this number begins in an ominous-sounding harmonic progression before segueing into a surprisingly teasing and playful moment, showcasing EG’s comfort on and command of the stage. We eventually fall into a dark, heavy, walking ballad with big chords and a big attitude—one with an easy, blues-drenched groove.

©1937 [w+m] Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart Chappell & Co., Inc. ; Williamson Music Co. (ASCAP)

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Side C

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08 Gypsy In My Soul

A fun swinger full of energy and joy. This tune in particular shows Garner’s imaginative orchestrating skills, which earned him the nickname “Ork” (so dubbed by pianist Jimmy Rowles). The trio swings from start to finish with a true big-band sound.

©1937 [m] Clay Boland, [w] Moe Jaffe | Words and Music Inc. (ASCAP)

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09 That Amsterdam Swing

EG begins with abstract pointillism, outlining the blues. His melodies seem to flow on top of one another, perhaps resembling or echoing the narrow winding streets of Amsterdam. From there, the trio turns into a driving, strutting blues.

©2017 [m] Erroll Garner Octave Music Publ Corp./Downtown DLJ Songs (ASCAP)

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10 Over The Rainbow

Garner flows like a dream across the Bechstein grand in this tender rendition of Over the Rainbow. Every now and then, throwing some twists and turns with blues riffs, EG shows his masterful understanding of melody.

©1939 [m] Harold Arlen, [w] Yip Harburg | EMI Feist Catalog Inc./EMI April Music Inc. (ASCAP)

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11 What Is This Thing Called Love

Dances from beginning to end—the dynamic introduction slides into that familiar boogaloo mambo swing that the trio plays so well. EG’s reading of this Cole Porter classic is both coy and confident.

©1929 [w+m] Cole Porter |WB Music Corp (ASCAP)

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Side D

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12 Laura

The introduction subtly reminds me of Cecil Taylor, the free jazz pioneer. Garner begins with some interesting clustered chord choices into his two-handed patterns, adding heavy sostenuto pedal work. Then he blissfully dissolves into the tune and tells the tragic story of Laura Hunt. (The song describes the title character from the 1944 film noir, “Laura.”)

©1945 [m] David Raksin, [w] Johnny Mercer |EMI Robbins Catalog Inc. (ASCAP)

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13 When Your Lover Has Gone

Going back to his stride roots, EG gets gritty on this tune. There are moments when he channels his early influences (and two of my favorite pianists) James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. With laughter towards the end, he’s clearly having a great time behind his instrument.

©1931 [w+m] Einar Aaron Swan |Warner Bros Music (ASCAP)

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14 No More Shadows

EG’s approach to this song is more classical. With virtuosity, he plays this sweet version in an almost Chopinic way, with arpeggios and flurries from both hands.

©1963 [m] Erroll Garner, [w] Edward Heyman | Octave Music Publ Corp./Downtown DLJ Songs (ASCAP)

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15 'S Wonderful

I like this rendition of ’S Wonderful because the trio is rocking. With each plucked note and cymbal played, Calhoun and Martin fuel the fire, creating the perfect foundation for Garner. He’s free to literally hit his stride—there are moments when we can hear the big band influence on him: Count Basie, and again the stride master Fats Waller.

©1927 [m] George Gershwin, [w] Ira Gershwin | WB Music Corp.; Ira Gershwin Music/WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)

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16 Thanks For The Memory

The trio rounds out this concert in pure Pittsburgh EG style, with a short swinger that has everyone rocking in their seats. From the classic Bob Hope movie, “Thanks for the Memory,” Garner and his musical brethren say thank you and goodbye...for now.

©1938 [m] Ralph Rainger, [w] Leo Robin |Sony/ATV Harmony (ASCAP)

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