Garrick’s idiom for his basic sextet is so original and by now mature that it follows that any of its performances will automatically achieve a high standard. This record is in line with the quality of his previous albums, and continues the logical progression of development. All the time these musicians are coming closer together in their anticipation of one another and, since they are without exception amongst the best in the country in their various roles, it is difficult for me to find anything to criticise in music which is so obviously artistic craftsmanship.
One is tempted to move out of the idiom to think of other sextets and small groups. Goodman’s? A brilliant one and the most powerful swinger of the age, but limited by its instrumentation in a way which Garrick has overcome so well. He has completely broken with the ensemble / string of solos / ensemble routine, and has stretched the range of this group beyond measure.
Since we are short of space this month I hope to return to the record in my column, but for now would draw your attention to the inventive and constructive playing of Green on Troppo, to Lowther’s fine violin on Overtones and to the oboe-like soprano sound that Themen gets here. Norma Winstone’s interpretation of the lovely lyrics, written especially for the date by Shakespeare, is as sensitive as one could wish, and her singing on Lime Blossom has a most imaginative delicacy.
Garrick’s music captures the mood of its titles, and Fellow Feeling, the moving tribute to Joe Harriott, has beautiful work from Rendell on flute and Goode. Themen’s Sons Of Art is a tirade of raging extroversion, while To Henry has that gentleman wailing his usual immaculate flugel in fine form. I am sick of saying that Green and Tomkins form a perfect rhythm section, but they do. The leader’s piano soloing is fresh and invigorating, his composition and voicing brilliant and, as I said, mature.
In a month when I’ve chosen a Gil Evans record as the one of the month, I find myself congratulating Garrick on building soundly constructed layers of music which parallel and would no doubt delight Evans himself. In case you are in any doubt I am trying to say that I think you might like this record.
Discography
(a) Troppo!; (a) To Henry, A Son; (b) Lime Blossom (23 min) – (a) Sons Of Art; (c) Fellow Feeling; (b) Overtones Of A Forgotten Music (25 min)
(a) Michael Garrick (pno/fender pno/Hohner pno); Norma Winstone (vcl); Henry Lowther tpt/flg-hn/vln); Art Themen, Don Rendell (flt/sop/ten); Dave Green (bs): Trevor Tomkins (dm). London 13, 25-26/10/73. (b) as (a) minus Don Rendell. (c) as (a) plus Coleridge Goode (bs).
Argo ZDA163 £2.15
