Yesterdays

This fine Savoy set features Garner with both bassist Slam Stewart's group and one of his own early trios. Having arrived in New York from his hometown of Pittsburgh, Garner quickly gained recognition via a slew of 52nd Street gigs and a smattering of sessions in the mid-'40s. The four Slam Stewart sides that kick off this release come from Garner's second formal recording session during the period and spotlight his work as much as Stewart's incredible bowing technique. While not in his full glory yet, Garner still turns in impressive solos over the four tracks, especially showing bold intimations of his mature style on "Jumpin' at the Deuces." For the remaining nine cuts, he is heard on a 1949 L.A. session with bassist John Simmons and drummer Alvin Stoller. While Garner mostly shows off his rococo approach on standout ballads like "I Only Have Eyes for You," he does manage a few swingers with covers of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Rosalie." Garner's style was certainly in place at this juncture, and even with an overabundance of the syrupy stuff, the tracks never become boring. A fine release for fans looking to check out Garner's early recordings.