Wanna hear what a sax player can accomplish with a bit of creativity? Here’s a two disc set from Tim Garland that is almost encyclopedic. The discs are divided into essentially small and orchestra sections. The first disc, Lighthouse, has Garland on tenor, soprano, bass clarinet and flute along with a rotating set of piano players along with drums by Asaf Sirkis, guitar by Ant Law and Kevin Glasgows electric bass. Garland’s sax can soar hight as on the upbeat “Uplift” or flow with the mellow as on “Little Sunshine.” Things can even get a bit raucous as with Law on “A Brother’s Gift” or edgy with the bass clarinet on “Farewell to Ed.” His warmth is evident on a duet with Jason Rebello’s piano on She’s Out Of My Life.”
The second disc, Songs to the North Sky, is a suite of sorts with a handful of bass interludes in either solo, bowed or bass sectioned format. The rich orchestral sections give grandiose support to Garland’s tenor on “The Road Into Night” as well as getting eerie on “Shapes Over Northumberland.” Moody strings a la Vaughan Williams swoop and sweep on “Freedom to Wander” while the galloping and playful “Little Bay Blue” supplies framework for Garland’s soprano. Panoramic and inspiring on both discs-this guy’s got ideas and the chops to back them up!
Edition Records