Personnel:
Arv Garrison (g, vcl), Vivien Garry (b, vcl), Teddy Kaye,
George Handy, Wini Beatty (p, vcl), Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Howard
McGhee, Teddy Buckner (tp), Vic Dickenson, Kai Winding (tb), Earle Spencer (tb,
dir), Charlie Parker, Les Robinson (as), Lucky Thompson, Teddy Edwards, Charlie
Ventura (ts), Dodo Marmarosa, Leonard Feather, Sonny White, El Myers (p),
Lionel Hampton (vib), Barney Kessel, Irving Ashby, Les Paul, Tony Rizzi, Gene
Sargent (g), Ray Brown, Vic McMillan, Thomas Moultree, Bob Kesterson (b), Roy
Hall, Stan Levey, Harold “Doc” West, Percy Brice, Ed Hall, Phil Kraus (d),
Frankie Laine, Leo Watson, Rickey Jordan, Babs Gonzales (vcl)
THE UNKNOWN ARV GARRISON
Wizard of the Six String · Classic and Rare Recordings from
the 1940's
3-CD Box Set · 80-Pages Booklet
Arv Garrison is relatively unknown today. His professional
recording career spanned three years after the end of WWII. A majority of that
legacy was with the Vivien Garry Trio. The Trio’s first recordings for Guild
and Sarco demonstrated Arv’s phenomenal mastery of the electric guitar. He was
on several Dial sessions led by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Howard
McGhee, but his presence on these recordings is sparse due to the short
duration of 78 singles.
Vivien and Arv were on sessions for Signature and Exclusive
where they were part of the ensembles backing Leo Watson and Rickey Jordan
respectively. Arv plays rhythm backup with occasional solo breaks on these
vocalist sessions where his ability to adapt and swing in different musical
settings demonstrated his versatility. Arv was hired by Earle Spencer to
compose a piece for his orchestra featuring five harmonized guitars. “Five
Guitars in Flight” on Black & White 822 remained Arv’s proudest achievement
of his recording career.
His most accomplished performances were recorded for the
Armed Forces Radio Service on “Jubilee” and “Magic Carpet” transcriptions that
were heard by service personnel around the world, but not in the U.S. Likewise,
the air checks included in this set were broadcasts on Los Angeles and New York
City radio stations but not recorded for commercial release.
Arv Garrison suffered from epilepsy. He was able to perform
despite the occasional seizures that his trio mates noticed during their time
in California. The seizures became more frequent and pronounced when the Vivien
Garry Trio returned to New York.
Arv’s earlier playing had displayed his exceptional gift to
communicate commands requiring milliseconds from his brain to his fingers.
Epilepsy robbed that facility. Arv’s peers like his close friend, Irving Ashby,
continued their performance and recording careers, the essential elements to
creating and sustaining an awareness in the minds of jazz fans. His sparse
outings on record failed to establish that same recognition. His name
disappeared from the jazz polls. Arv Garrison remains mostly unknown among
today’s jazz public.
—James A. Harrod
TRACKLIST
CD 1:
01. Altitude (Ashby-Hampton) 3:13
02. Relax Jack (Garrison-Garry) 2:38
03. Hopscotch (Arv Garrison) 2:27
04. Where You At? (Handy-Segal) 2:44
05. I Surrender Dear (Clifford-Barris) 2:37
06. I've Got To, That’s All (Garrison-Garry) 2:41
07. Tonsilectomy (Handy-McKusick) 2:47
08. These Foolish Things (Marvell-Strachey-Link) 2:43
09. Diggin' Diz (George Handy) 2:50
10. Where You At? (Handy-Segal) 3:02
11. Moose the Mooche [Take 2] (Charlie Parker) 3:03
12. Yardbird Suite [Take 1] (Charlie Parker) 2:37
13. Yardbird Suite [Take 4] (Charlie Parker) 2:54
14. Ornithology [Take 1] (Charlie Parker) 2:57
15. Ornithology [Take 3] (Charlie Parker) 3:17
16. Ornithology [Take 4] (Charlie Parker) 2:59
17. A Night in Tunisia [Take 4] (Gillespie-Paparelli) 3:02
18. A Night in Tunisia [Take 5] (Gillespie-Paparelli) 3:04
19. Mop Mop (Leonard Feather) 2:27
20. How Deep is the Ocean (Irving Berlin) 2:45
21. It Only Happens Once (Frankie Laine) 3:47
22. It Ain't Gonna Be Like That (Laine-Torme) 2:12
CD 2:
01. Where You At? (Handy-Segal) 2:16
02. Baby, I'm Gone (Callender-Enois) 3:18
03. Fred Shields Introduction 0:46
04. How High the Moon (Hamilton-Lewis) 2:42
05. Rip Van Winkle (Handy-Levinson-Leeds) 2:59
06. Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpont) 2:39
07. Snake Pit (Leo Watson) 2:47
08. Tight and Gay (Leo Watson) 2:50
09. Sonny Boy (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson-Jolson) 2:59
10. Ernest “Bubbles” Whitman Introduction 0:29
11. Medley: 10:47
—Cherokee (Ray Noble)
—I Got Rhythm (Gershwin-Gershwin)
—How High the Moon (Hamilton-Lewis)
—Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf-Waller)
12. Dialated Pupils [Take 4] (Howard McGhee) 2:30
13. Dialated Pupils [Take 5] (Howard McGhee) 2:55
14. Midnight at Minton’s (Howard McGhee) 2:58
15. Up in Dodo's Room [Take 1] (Howard McGhee) 3:11
16. Up in Dodo's Room [Take 2] (Howard McGhee) 3:13
17. High Wind in Hollywood (Howard McGhee) 2:36
18. Five Guitars in Flight (Arv Garrison) 2:40
19. A.B.C. Blues (Rickey Jordan) 2:42
20. Blues in the Storm (Leonard Feather) 2:58
21. Rickey's Blues (Rickey Jordan) 2:57
22. Night and Day (Cole Porter) 2:35
23. Stormy Weather (Koehler-Arlen) 2:27
24. Drop Dead (Rickey Jordan) 2:38
CD 3:
01. Mop Mop (Leonard Feather) 2:46
02. Art Ford Introduction 2:57
03. Just You, Just Me (Klages-Greer) 4:45
04. Lover Man (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman) 5:35
05. Art Ford Interview, Vivien and Arv 2:01
06. The Three Bears (Bobby Troup) 3:19
07. Art Ford and Vivien Garry 2:14
08. Indiana (MacDonald-Hanley) 2:47
09. Art Ford, The Great Experiment 1:02
10. Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpont) 3:10
11. Art Ford and Babs Gonzales 1:32
12. Blues in B Flat (traditional) 4:26
13. Art Ford Introduction to Flying Home 1:07
14. Flying Home (Goodman-Hampton) 7:08
15. You Can Do It If You Try (Pappas-Spaulding) 2:32
16. Spring is Saying Hello (O’Hara-Bell) 3:03
17. Right Me If I'm Wrong (Weiser-Amann-James) 2:34
18. New Love (El Myers) 2:40
19. Baby, I'm Gone (Callender-Enois) 3:04
20. Walk It Off (James-Miller) 3:20
ALBUM DETAILS:
Original sources CD 1:
Tracks #1 & 2: Guild 124
Tracks #3 & 4: Sarco 101
Tracks #5 & 6: Sarco 102
Tracks #7 & 8: Sarco 103
Track #9: Dial 1004
Track #10: AFRS Jubilee 175
Track #11: Dial 1004
Tracks #12 & 17: Dial LP 201
Track #13: Dial 1003
Track #14: Dial LP 208
Track #15: Dial 1006
Tracks #16 & 18: Dial 1002
Tracks #19-22: AFRS Jubilee 183
Original sources CD 2:
Tracks #1 & 2: V-Disc 690
Tracks #3-5: AFRS Magic Carpet 332
Tracks #6 & 7: Signature 1004
Tracks #8 & 9: Signature 1007
Tracks #10 & 11: AFRS Jubilee 205
Track #12: Dial 1010
Tracks #13 & 14: Dial 1011
Track #15: Spotlight SPJ-131
Track #16 & 17: Dial 1010
Track #18: Black & White 822
Tracks #19 & 20: Exclusive 235
Tracks #21 & 22: Exclusive 237
Tracks #23 & 24: Exclusive 248
Original sources CD 3:
Track #1: KMPC aircheck
Tracks #2-14 WNEW aircheck
Tracks #15 & 16: Metro M8015
Tracks #17 & 18: Metro M8016
Tracks #19 & 20: Wilcox-Gay acetate
Personnel on CD 1:
Tracks #1-2: VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Teddy Kaye, piano, vocal.
Recorded at Decca Studios, New York, June 20, 1945
Tracks #3-8: VIVIEN GARRY QUARTET
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; George Handy, piano, vocal; Roy Hall, drums.
Recorded at Master Recording Company, Hollywood, December
15, 1945
Track #9: DIZZY GILLESPIE JAZZMEN
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Lucky
Thompson, tenor sax; George Handy, piano; Arv Garrison, electric guitar; Ray
Brown, bass; Stan Levey, drums.
Recorded at Electro Recording & Broadcasting Studios,
Glendale, February 5, 1946
Track #10: ARMED FORCES RADIO SERVICE / JUBILEE SHOW
VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Wini Beatty, piano, vocal.
Recorded at NBC Studios, Hollywood, March 1946
Tracks #11-18: CHARLIE PARKER SEPTET
Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; Lucky
Thompson, tenor sax; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Arv Garrison, electric guitar; Vic
McMillan, bass; Roy Porter, drums.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, March 28, 1946
Tracks #19-20: ARMED FORCES RADIO SERVICE / JUBILEE SHOW
VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Wini Beatty, piano, vocal; Ernest “Bubbles” Whitman, emcee.
Recorded at NBC Studios, Hollywood, May 1946
Tracks #21-22: FRANKIE LAINE / VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Frankie Laine, vocal; Vivien Garry, bass; Arv Garrison,
electric guitar; Wini Beatty, piano; Ernest “Bubbles” Whitman, emcee.
Recorded at NBC Studios, Hollywood, May 1946
Personnel on CD 2:
Tracks #1-2: VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Wini Beatty, piano, vocal.
Recorded at NBC Studios, Hollywood, May 1946
Tracks #3-5: VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Wini Beatty, piano, vocal; Fred Shields, emcee.
Recorded at Club Morocco, Hollywood, May 1946
Tracks #6-9: LEO WATSON / THE VIC DICKENSON QUINTET
Leo Watson, vocal; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Leonard Feather,
piano; Arv Garrison, electric guitar; Vivien Garry, bass; Harold “Doc” West,
drums.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, September 7, 1946
Tracks #10-11: ARMED FORCES RADIO SERVICE / JUBILEE SHOW
Barney Kessel, Irving Ashby, Arv Garrison, Les Paul,
electric guitars; Sonny White, piano; Thomas Moultree, bass; Percy Brice,
drums; Ernest “Bubbles” Whitman, emcee.
Recorded at NBC Studios, Hollywood, October 14, 1946
Tracks #12-17: HOWARD McGHEE SEXTET
Howard McGhee, trumpet; Teddy Edwards, tenor sax; Arv
Garrison, electric guitar; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Bob Kesterson, bass; Roy
Porter, drums.
Recorded at Universal Recorders, Hollywood, October 18,
1946
Track #18: EARLE SPENCER ORCHESTRA
Al Killian, Frank Beach, Bob Fowler, Dick Binns, Mike Bryan,
trumpets; Earle Spencer; Ollie Wilson, J. Durward Morsch, Eugene Manson, Ray
Sims, Jim Gales, trombones; William Hudspeth, Les Robinson, clarinet, alto sax;
Ralph Lee, Don Lodice, tenor saxes; Hy Mandel, baritone sax; Hal Schaefer,
piano; Artie Shapiro, bass; Sam Weiss, drums. Morty Corb, arranger.
Arv Garrison Quintet:
Arv Garrison, Barney Kessel, Irving Ashby, Tony Rizzi, Gene
Sargent, electric guitars.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, October 19, 1946
Tracks #19-24: RICKEY JORDAN / VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Rickey Jordan, vocal; Vivien Garry, bass; Teddy Buckner,
trumpet; Les Robinson, alto sax; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Arv Garrison,
electric guitar; Wini Beatty, piano; Ed Hall, drums.
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, October 28, 1946
Personnel on CD 3:
Track #1: VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass; Arv Garrison, electric guitar; Wini
Beatty, piano; Gene Norman, emcee.
“Mild and Mellow,” KMPC Studios, Hollywood, November 1946
Tracks #2-10: ART FORD’S “SATURDAY NIGHT SWING SESSION”
VIVIEN GARRY TRIO
Vivien Garry, bass, vocal; Arv Garrison, electric guitar,
vocal; Teddy Kaye, piano, vocal; Art Ford, emcee.
Recorded at WNEW Studios, New York, May 24, 1947
Tracks #11-12:
Vivien Garry Trio plus Babs Gonzales, vocal; Roy Ross,
accordion; Phil Kraus, drums.
Recorded in the same session as #2-10
Tracks #13-14:
All Star Jam adding Kai Winding, trombone; Charlie Ventura,
tenor saxophone; Lionel Hampton, vibraphone.
Recorded in the same session as #2-10
Tracks #15-18: ARV GARRISON TRIO
Arv Garrison, electric guitar; El Myers, piano, vocal;
Vivien Garry, bass.
Recorded in 1948
Tracks #19-20:
Arv Garrison, electric guitar, vocal; El Myers, piano,
vocal; Vivien Garry, bass, vocal.
Private recording, 1948
This 3-CD compilation researched, compiled, and annotated
by James A. Harrod, Bob Dietsche and Nick Rossi
Photos: © Bob Dietsche Collection / Los Angeles Jazz
Institute
Graphic design by Rafael Ros
Produced for release by Jordi Pujol