(CD = Mike Garson, Fazioli grand piano & composer/arranger; Bob Magnusson, bass; Gary Novak, drums; guests: Lori Bell, flute; Chris Howes, violin; Andreas Oberg, guitar; Claudio Roditi, trumpet; samples arranged by Kuno Schmid. DVD = Mike Garson, piano; Lori Bell, flute; Dave Carpenter, bass; Peter Erskine, drums)
This dual disc (done the right way) is a showcase for both the new Resonance Records jazz label and the longtime talent in jazz piano performance and composition. Among other parts of his music career Garson was associated for over three decades with rock legend David Bowie as his keyboardist and creative collaborator. He also worked with Free Flight, Stan Getz, Mel Tormé, Thad Jones and others. The idea of this double disc was to bring Garson’s own music to the world. Audiophiles will know of him due to his all-stops-out solo Gershwin Fantasia “single” CD for Reference Recordings (included in their new reissue “Jazz Hat”).
Garson started his classical piano lessons at age seven and later studied at length with Lennie Tristano, as well as one life-changing six-hour lesson with Bill Evans. He says he began composing music for the people in his life when he first met his wife-to-be at age 16. Conversations is based on his practice of creating such music inspired by his family. These pieces – such as Lullaby for Our Daughters, and Song for Susan are heard on the CD. All 22 tracks of the CD are Garson’s original compositions.
The video DVD is a very good way to get familiar with Garson’s style and keyboard techniques before listening to the CD. It was taped at Rising Jazz Stars’ performance space – the nonprofit group connected with Resonance Records. Simplicity is the key here, with just the four players, no guests or special sampled backing, and only four tunes – the first a medley. There are plenty of extreme closeups of the keyboard as Garson does his thing. He also talks to the small audience before some of the numbers. The video is 4:3 aspect ratio, color, with good PCM stereo audio. It also includes a video interview with Garson.
The CD is nothing like the DVD, being quite a production with the guest performers coming from the Resonance Records stables plus the imaginative use of special arrangements by Kuno Schmid using prerecorded material from the Vienna Symphonic Sample Library. Each guest is heard on from one to three of the 22 tracks. Many of the tracks had Garson and his rhythm section recording to a click track; then they were sent to Schmid who added the orchestrations. This may sound like a rather corny gimmick but that’s not the general impression one gets. The electronic orchestral additions are most tasteful – although some do sound rather electronic – and the final result made me think of the fine Stan Getz albums with strings and orchestral backing, only with piano as the main instrument instead of sax.
Violinist Christian Howes takes a couple of lyrical but swinging solos on The Mystery and the Awe and Longings. Blues for the Terrible Twos has Garson coming up with some real finger busters, and Jenny’s Waltz would make a terrific on-air twosome with Bill Evans’ Waltz for Debby. The flute-and-guitar duo of Lori Bell and Andreas Oberg is featured in the track Searching. The under-a-minute Interludes between the tunes are a delight – often impressionistic little piano improvisations which tie together the tunes before and after. The sweet and lovely timbre of the Fazioli piano comes across in spades during the long-held notes in some of the Interludes.
TrackList:
Disc: 1
1. Child Within
2. Interlude
3. Lullaby for Our Daughters
4. Interlude, Pt. 2
5. Mystery and the Awe
6. Blues for the Terrible Twos
7. Interlude, Pt. 3
8. Longings
9. Interlude, Pt. 4
10. Trials and Revelations
11. Interlude, Pt. 5
12. Yearnings
13. Place Nicely Together (Interaction)
14. Interlude, Pt. 6
15. Song for Susan
16. Interlude, Pt. 7
17. Searching
18. Interlude, Pt. 8
19. Miracle of Love (Welcome Heather)
20. Interlude, Pt. 9
21. Jenny’s Waltz
22. Conversations with My Family
Disc: 2
1. Medley: Autumn Leaves/Stella by Starlight [DVD][Live]
2. In Your Own Sweet Way [DVD][Live]
3. Besame Mucho [DVD][Live]
4. Hello Young Lovers [DVD][Live]
– John Henry
