Michael Garrick

Michael Garrick (1933- 2011) was an English jazz pianist and composer and a pioneer in mixing jazz with poetry recitations. He came to special prominence in the British contemporary jazz world initially as the pianist with the Don Rendell - Ian Carr quintet from 1965 to 1969, and led his own sextet from 1966. His own record label Jazz Academy Records features many albums by his Michael Garrick Jazz Orchestra and has trio, solo, quartet and other small groupings.

The Heart is a Lotus is one of the more distinctive albums by Garrick, because it expressed his interest in the confluence of words and music. At the time he was an organizer of an ongoing series of performances called "Poetry and Jazz in Concert ; the poetry on The Heart is a Lotus concerns itself, amongst other things, with death and the end of relationships. The presence of vocalist Norma Winstone is what gives this session its real distinction. Still in her twenties, Winstone's soft and nimble voice demonstrated a personal approach that was already well-formed at this early stage.

THE HEART IS A LOTUS (Originally Argo UK) - 3 STARS PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ

PERSONNEL:

Michael Garrick (p)
Art Themen (fl, cl, ss)
Jim Philip (fl, cl, ts)
Don Rendell (fl)
Ian Carr (tp, flhn)
Dave Green
Coleridge Goode (b)
Trevor Tomkins (d)
Norma Winstone (voc)

London, January 20, 21 & 22, 1970.

Tracks:
01. The Heart Is A Lotus
02. Song By The Sea
03. Torrent
04. Temple Dancer
05. Blues On Blues
06. Voices
07. Beautiful Thing
08. Rustat’s Grave Song