To celebrate his 70th birthday, legendary pianist/composer Michael Garrick, decided to write this musical portrait of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. He did so with the musical candour that has kept his musical career fresh and eclectic for over 40 years.
The suite signals a number of firsts: Anita Wardell's humorous-dramatic art as well as her jazz singing gifts; big band sounds (first presented at Beechwood School, Tunbridge Wells) for children's involvement in art, poetry drama and their own improvisations; Garrick's music written specifically for dance, free or choreographed; the debut of the orchestra's choral emissions and Michael's role as speaker/poet.
Garrick's compositions remain 100% true to jazz and to the way that Duke Ellington expanded the horizons of the jazz tradition. At the same time they keep a firm and loving gaze on Pan's - and our - eternal plight and the enchanting richness of its fun, beauty and sadness. An important figure on the British jazz scene since the 1960s Garrick's contributions were chronicled on Gilles Peterson's best-selling compilation, 'Impressed', which helped his music to be discovered by a new generation of music lovers.
Excellent. A record that hasn't left my player since the turn of the year. - Rick Finlay, Jazz Review
Yet another triumphant outing from Michael Garrick's under-sung bunch of jazz heroes. - Sholto Byrnes, Independent on Sunday
Michael Garrick: piano & voice
Anita Wardell: voice
Mark Armstrong, Gabriel Garrick, Quentin Collins, Dave Priseman, Nick Smart: trumpets
Martin Hathaway, Matt Wates, Bob McKay, Paul Booth, Jamie Anderson, Mick Foster: reeds
Mark d'Silva, James Adams, Dave Eaglestone: trombones
Dominic Ashworth, Pete Callard: guitars
Paul Moylan: bass
Alan Jackson: drums
Music, words and production by Michael Garrick
Recorded July 2003
Recorded and edited by Dick Hammett at Red Gables Studio, London
