JAZA16 Michael Garrick – Gigs: Introducing Michael Garrick

Legendary pianist Michael Garrick had been going through a revival when this album was originally released in 2008, due to the interest in British jazz of the 1950s and 1960s led by Gilles Peterson with his ‘Impressed’ compilations.

These featured Garrick as a leader of his own groups, which at different times included Tony Coe, Joe Harriott, Shake Keane, Henry Lowther, and as a member of the Rendell-Carr Quintet. Jazz fell out of fashion in the late ’70s and ’80s and there is little of Garrick’s output from that period on record. This collection of previously unreleased live recordings redresses that situation.

Performing a set of familiar standards, plus two Michael Garrick originals, on various acoustic pianos, from a Steinway grand to a Danemann upright, Garrick can be heard performing solo, and accompanied by bassists Dave Green and Paul Moylan and drummers Trevor Tomkins and Alan Jackson.

“They succeed in emphasising Garrick’s originality, while acknowledging his debts. Indeed, that rather sums up this delightful album.” – Duncan Heining, Jazzwise

“A fascinating and often joyful selection of recordings made over the years at several different venues with pianist Mick Garrett (sorry Michael Garrick)…There’s a freshness and vitality to the whole programme which includes tributes to Bill Evans, strong workouts on standards like Cottontail and Prelude To A Kiss and a couple of Mike’s fine original compositions.” – Peter Bevan, The Northern Echo

Michael Garrick: pianos
Dave Green, Paul Moylan: double bass
Trevor Tomkins, Alan Jackson: drums

Recorded at the old Pizza Express, Dean Street, London, the Royal Festival Hall foyer, London and in Reading

Location recordings by Peter Nicholls and Anthony Pepper

JAZZ ACADEMY HOMEPAGE