The Jazz Room at the Stage Door Theater

Overview

Piano virtuoso Charles Craig returns with his trio to perform remarkable re-interpretations of the timeless compositions by one of his greatest influences, jazz piano icon Erroll Garner.

Charles Craig Sr, the son of a preacher, was born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in Chicago. His early training was classical music, which he played exclusively until age 17.  Though concentrating on piano, he also played trumpet, trombone, cornet, and other brass instruments. Craig attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and had played with many of the world’s top jazz icons.

Erroll Garner

“Pittsburgh born Jazz pianist, prolific composer, concert hall artist, and recording star. Garner was one of the most well known and influential pianists in the world during his lifetime. Surrounded by a musical family, Garner was by all accounts self-taught, began playing at the age of three and was performing professionally by the age of seven. Throughout his career Garner developed a distinctive and original piano style often compared with Art Tatum, Fats Waller, as well as Claude Debussy.

Garner released music on over 40 labels, received multiple Grammy nominations, and recorded one of the greatest selling jazz albums of all time, Concert By The Sea. His published catalog contains nearly 200 compositions including “Misty”, which was named #15 on ASCAP’s list of the top songs of the 20th century. He scored for ballet, film, television, and orchestra. One of the most televised Jazz artists of his era, Garner appeared on TV shows all over the world, including: Ed Sullivan, Dick Cavitt, Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, and many others.” ~ errollgarner.com