REVIEWS

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Mike Garson
Conversations with My Family

Resonance Records

Posted: Friday, April 18, 2008
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

Not enough can be said about the talent that is Mike Garson; perhaps most famous for his longtime collaboration with David Bowie, as well as working with such artists as Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt, Seal, and Jim Walker, and composing music for films and television, Garson is the epitome of the musician's musician. Now with his first solo album in 15 years, not counting the numerous releases over the internet and 2003's Homage to My Heroes, Garson executes a tour-de-force of classical jazz beauty. Even more noteworthy than the music is the fact that Garson has been writing these 22 tracks over the course of 35 years, all inspired by time spent with his family. Just listening to "Song for Susan," an ode to Garson's wife, one immediately senses the love and affection he feels as the sweet melody plays soft and effortlessly amid the slightest percussion that only occasionally builds up in intensity, played gracefully by Gary Novak. And then there is the slightly chaotic whimsy of "Blues for the Terrible Twos," which any parent will be able to relate to their own experiences dealing with children during that wonderfully dreadful and tumultuous age. It's a track like this that reminds fans of modern electronic music where a great deal of the intricate constructions of IDM get their inspiration from. At any given moment, the progressions of seemingly haphazard pianos threaten to fall apart, but never do, with the drums and Bob Magnusson's smooth bass lines keeping pace and tension. Similarly, "Play Nicely Together (Interaction)" pairs Garson with violinist Christian Howes with the two musicians emotively dueling frantic solos back and forth. "Lullaby for Our Daughters" is a gentle piece that plays less like a lullaby and more like the musical equivalent of a bedtime story, with moments of intrigue to arouse interest, but ultimately inciting a peaceful slumber, while "Trials and Revelations" and "Searching" play out the musicians' talents as well as any piece by such greats as Dave Brubeck or Miles Davis. Released on Resonance Records, several of that label's prominent artists also appear to lend their special touches to Garson's music, truly making the album a familial outing; from the twinkling guitars of Andreas Öberg to the singing trumpets of Claudio Roditi and Lori Bell's flutes whistling birdlike amid the bed of jazzy ambience. As a special bonus, a DVD is included showcasing Garson's performance at The Rising Jazz Stars in May of 2006, allowing listeners the chance to see the man in his live element. It's almost hard to believe this is the work of a man who has lent his abilities to some of the darkest and harder-edged alternative music of the past three decades; Conversations with My Family is a wondrous album that will melt the even the iciest heart of the most hardened music lover.