One of the great pairings of piano and tenor saxophone was pianist Red Garland and saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Both artists were steeped in the blues and knew how to feed a blues, get it to roll over and coax it up on its hind legs. And yet, they only recorded one album together, and only four tracks for that album, one of which didn't even make the final cut. It was used later as filler on a Davis compilation album that's now out of print. In fact, so is the one I'm going to tell you about today. [Photo above of Red Garland]
Just one Garland-Davis collaboration can only be blamed on Prestige owner Bob Weinstock and the session supervisor Esmond Edwards. This is usually where Bob Porter would email me, coming to Weinstock's defense and then going on to say why it couldn't be done for legal reasons or that Garland and Davis were at each other's throats or something else behind the curtains. Sadly, Bob passed earlier in the month, so I won't be getting one of his illuminating after-post backstories. Miss you, Bob.
The album in question is The Red Garland Trio With Eddie Lockjaw Davis. Recorded in December 1959 for Prestige's Moodsville label, Weinstock's easy-listening line, the album featured Garland (p), Davis (ts), Sam Jones (b) and Art Taylor (d). Keep in mind, the album as it stands is sensational and gives Garland a chance to show off his gentle blues side. But Davis could easily have been featured throughout. I suppose he wasn't included on all tracks because then it would have cost more and no longer would have been a showcase for Garland. Even if that's so, why in heaven's name couldn't Esmond Edwards have begged Weinstock to record Garland and Davis together for stand-alone albums?
The songs are We'll Be Together Again (with Davis), Stella by Starlight, I Heard You Cried Last Night, Softly Baby (with Davis), When Your Lover Has Gone (with Davis), Wonder Why, Blue Room, The Red Blues and Untitled Blues (M-Squad Theme), with Davis. Apparently the last song wouldn't fit on the LP and wound up years later on a Davis two-fer compilation, Gentle Jaws. [Photo above of Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis]
What's beautiful about the Moodsville album is the groove, whether it's the Red Garland Trio alone or with Davis joining in. It's dripping blues, with penetrating soul and deeply authentic flavor that's elegant and nuanced, especially on songs that crawl. One day, someone will find a bunch of unmarked tapes in a vault and they'll turn out to be material recorded during a series of "lost" Garland and Davis live midnight and studio sessions. One can dream.
JazzWax tracks: You'll have to look for The Red Garland Trio and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis on eBay or Dicogs.com. It's unavailable across the board at Amazon or it's selling for three figures. To listen, it's at Apple Music.
JazzWax clips: Here's the entire album...
And here's the rare and missing M-Squad Theme from the Garlan-David session...
