Now, A Jazz Moment...

NEA Jazz Master Shirley Horn started as a classical pianist. Claude Debussy's lyricism was a big influence on her.

MUSIC (brief): Ballade, CD: Debussy Piano Works Volume 1, Naxos 8.553290, (cut 12)

But one day she heard something new. For Shirley, it was a pivotal point in her musical direction.

Shirley Horn: I found out about Errol Garners Penthouse Serenade on my own, I guess I was 12, 13 years old.

MUSIC PAUSE: Penthouse Serenade, CD: The Essence of Erroll Garner , Sony 57155 (cut 3)

The lyricism I hear with Debussy and Erroll Garner is so fluid, it flows together.

MUSIC POST: Penthouse Serenade, CD: The Essence of Erroll Garner , Sony 57155 (cut 3)

I think when I really discovered him, Erroll Garner, I had a porch off of my bedroom and I would see the flowers and I would hear him, it seemed like he was caressing the flowers....and there were so many songs that one day I must record.

And she did. In 1996, she recorded "Dreamy," a classic by Erroll Garner.

Music Post : Dreamy, CD: Loving You , Verve 537 022-2 (cut 3)

The late pianist, singer, and composer, Shirley Horn. This Jazz Moment was created by the National Endowment for the Arts. I'm Delfeayo Marsalis.