REVIEWS FOR ‘ONE’:

“Few world-class jazz improvisers are comparably imaginative composers, but the British reeds player Tim Garland is that rarity.” THE GUARDIAN (UK)

“…Garland is reaching for (and for the most part, grabbing with both hands) a grand fusion – one that is fresh and original but redolent nonetheless of a life spent listening.” IRISH TIMES (IRE)

“…the finest album by a British jazz musician for quite some while.” JAZZWISE MAGAZINE (UK)

“I really like the energy on this opening piece…” BBC RADIO 3 JAZZ LINE UP, CLAIRE MARTIN (UK)

“A new album out showcasing his breadth & versatility…Oh, that’s a bit good isn’t it!” STEPHEN DUFFY BBC SCOTLAND (UK)

“Yet again, Tim Garland has packed in a lot of substantial music on this album – it’ll take years to fully absorb it.” THE JAZZ BREAKFAST (UK)

“One reveals a veritable smorgasbord of diverse, universally appealing tunes, fired by imaginative arrangements and an all-star cast.” ALL ABOUT JAZZ (UK)

“…this was an evening of musicianship of the highest order with rhythmic interplay from master drummer Asaf Sirkis and numerous instances of virtuosity from pianist Rebello together with some tight, highly-developed sax playing from Tim Garland.” SUSSEX JAZZ MAGAZINE (UK)

“…in the first minute they present a microcosm of what this album is about: marrying elements of American swing with English lyricism, coupled with the many influences picked up along the way, to achieve a cohesive fusion.” WEXFORD ECHO (IRE)

“…dynamic improvisation and crystal clear sound are well represented, along with the great contribution of rarely used electronic sound effects (especially the “harmonizer”). Also the rest of the band gets kudos for their energetic interaction and virtuoso playing. In short, those who love their jazz in a firmer jacket and with surprising plot twists in the music, won’t go wrong with this album.” JAZZFLITS (ND)

“A mature work between futuristic jazz rock, pastoral melodies and world musical sophistication” JAZZTHING (DE)

“One” reminds us us that just across the bay we have a world class musician that festival organizers, and others, can put at the top of their list. Tim Garland is in fact just that – one of a kind!” TOR HAMMERO (NO)

BUY / LISTEN:

Bandcamp: https://timgarland.bandcamp.com/album/one

MUSICIANS:

TIM GARLAND  soprano and tenor sax and additional keyboards and percussion
ASAF SIRKIS  drums and percussion
JASON REBELLO piano, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ and keyboards
ANT LAW  nylon string, 12 string, 8 string and semi-acoustic guitars

TRACKLISTING:

1. Sama’i For Peace
2. Bright New Year
3. The Eternal Greeting
4. Colours Of Night
5. Prototype
6. The Gathering Dark
7. Pity The Poor Arms Dealer
8. Foretold
9. Youkay

All music composed by Tim Garland.

ABOUT ‘ONE’:

One is the new, highly energetic and unifying studio album from Tim Garland. Working with his regular collaborators Jason Rebello, Asaf Sirkis and Ant Law, the sax maestro has dug back into his past and re-examined his early interest in jazz-rock styles.

With One Tim explores many of the influences that have guided him from the beginning, such as jazz-rock (his Canterbury roots); saxophone players from both sides of the Atlantic; the Celtic guitar music from long running project Lammas; the Latin and Spanish inflections that are so deeply a part of Chick Corea’s music; and a variety of rhythmic patterns learned from drum maestros Bill Bruford and Asaf Sirkis.

Asaf taught Tim the ten beat, Middle Eastern Sama’i. On ‘Sama’i For Peace’, Hossam Ramzy adds Egyptian percussion. He’s also on ‘Colours Of Night’, and ‘Foretold’ where the groove he sets up on the karkabu (giant metallic finger cymbals) and doholla (deep darbouka drum) is mesmeric.

One is a studio album and Tim’s taken the opportunity to add occasional keyboard colours with Asaf layering Udu and Darbouka, and vocals, over his own drumming. One theme features six layered saxophones rather than just one, and, as this is his most percussively driven album to date, a little percussion of Tim’s own (as he does on stage).

Jason Rebello and Tim have worked together for 25 years, and his always unforced, honest improvisation extends to keyboards as well as to piano; the Rhodes is quite a feature in this project, providing a wonderful fat bass end, a register Jason shares skillfully with the lower end of Ant Law’s mighty eight string guitar. Ant Law is a relative newcomer to the group, but plays all four types of guitar on this disc with balanced beauty, accuracy and youthful passion and like the (slightly) older ones, he is drawn to different meters and rhythms that have their origins around the globe.

London is home to a fairly frequent arms fair and in 2015, among the countless reports of refugees and bombed out cities in the news, there was scant mention of this huge and lethal profiteering opportunity going on at the very same time. ‘Pity The Poor Arms Dealer’ was written in a state of almost breathless disbelief as the media busied itself distracting the population from the connections that are most certainly there, well nurtured by our governments. Dionne Bennett’s powerful, unique vocal illuminates this song in a singular, colourful way: part campfire protest song, part soapbox lament.

CREDITS:

Recorded between June 2015 and January 2016 at Masterchord Studio by Isa Khan, Woodworm Studio by Stuart Jones and Eastcote Studio by George Murphy.

Mixed at Candle On The Moon Studio by Anis Finn.

Mastered by Andrew Tulloch at The Blue Studio London

All compositions by Tim Garland (PRS/MCPS)
Produced by Tim Garland

Asaf Sirkis plays Darbouka on YouKay

Bright New Year dedicated to Geoff Taggart
The Gathering Dark dedicated to Don Paterson
Prototype dedicated to Bill Bruford