Mike Garson's Jazz Hat

Mike Garson's is truly a gifted pianist. I enjoy it every time I play it. The recording is flawless! Recommended.

You are about to hear what Bowie heard when Garson joined up with the Ziggy tour all those years ago. Mike's incredible gift of jazz and classical interpretation is one of the key ingredients to the various styles Bowie created in his music, his art and his different personas. From Thelonius Monk style chording and melody lines, to lively, dancing Gershwin interpretations, this album will introduce you to the talent and the creativity of the man Bowie lovingly referred to as "his piano man". He wears this hat well.

Mike Garson is most famous for being David Bowie's keyboard player, and specificlly for playing the avant-garde solo at the end of Aladdine Sane. Here he is playing with his Jazz Hat on. The reason for the albums title is clear; Mike Garson can play virtually anything.The album starts with Garsons own Rumble. A thunderous piece, which after a Piano only introduction breaks into infectious swing after a minute or so. Any doubts about his skill level can be abandoned once you have heard this. He is a virtuoso.Highlights are many, and include the Gershwin Fantasy; which is largely an improvisation, using some of Rhapsody in Blues most famous themes as a launch pad. No it doesn't swing as such, but its still improvised.My reason for not giving it 5 stars are two fold. I'm not a fan of the Sax player, and in a few places it perhaps lacks a little soul.Be of no doubt though overall it is a nice little Jazz album!

If you like well recorded music with a realistic natural dynamic range you will enjoy this CD. Be aware that it is encoded with HDCD (both peak extension and low level compression) so you will only enjoy full dynamics with an appropriate decoder. Those listening on a computer might want to check out foobar2000.It's too bad more music is not recorded with this quality level.

This is a nice jazz album and a fabulous recording but is a reissue of The Oxnard Sessions vol 2. with 2 fewer tracks. Rather annoying to me to think that I was buying new material only to pay again for music that I already have! Shame on Reference Recordings. They need to bring out some new material instead of just slapping a new album cover on their back catalog. Also beware of Clark Terry Chicago Sessions is basicly a repackage of Clark Terry Express which I also already own. Gurrrr.

This is Mike's first recording. I first discovered him through "Brethren", the group he was in back in the late 60's, early 70's. People, when we review an album like this, we need to try and find the good stuff in it. His career began in the late 60's with the start of Brethren. It has been over 40 years! Finally, his first ever solo album. Guys, you got to give him credit. He could easily have just maintained a session career... Also, this is what he was feeling at that time... What he wanted to express...

Love this album. Superlative playing of many different jazz styles from standards to avant garde. It is wonderful listening. Mike Garson is an awesome musician.

Pianiste excellent , que je ne connaissais pas . Très bonne équipe avec lui .Prise de son sans reproches .Voilà du jazz en parfait équilibre , ni routinier ni cérébral .Pas si fréquent , dans la période récente ...

cd senza pretese !!

やはりピアノが良いと思います。繊細で大胆。時間があるときにゆっくり聴けたら良い休憩時間になります。雰囲気のでる一枚です。

Ascoltare questa performance di Mike Garson ci fa comprendere la grandezza di questo pianista che si è accompagnato con i migliori musicisti Jazz e non in circolazione, la registrazione "Micidiale" della "Reference Recordings" lo catapulta nello "Spazio". Quindi?..........Con Mike Garson piano, anche Brian Bromberg acoustic bass, Ralph Humpry drums, Eric Marienthal alto saxophone. "Buona musica", in ogni senso ovviamente.

wahou ! quelle performance, rarement entendu une telle dextérité un des meilleurs au monde d'après D BOWIE qui l'a eu à ses cotés et les musiciens qui l'accompagne ne démérite pas. De plus la version HDCD est d'une superbe qualité a écouter absolument sur une bonne chaine