Reference Recordings - RR-123 Details



	Reference Recordings is thrilled to present a new release of virtuoso solo improvisations by David Bowie’s long-time music director! MIKE GARSON The Bowie Variations RR-123 "Whatever Mike lends his hands to invariably becomes something magical."-David Bowie. Beginning in 1972, super-versatile pianist Mike Garson performed, toured internationally and recorded with one of the most creative figures in popular music, David Bowie. Garson writes, "When I met David, I sensed that he was an immense artist and a songwriter with a flair for great melodies and unique harmonies. The Ziggy Stardust tour changed the course of my life in many ways and began a working relationship and a special friendship that has spanned four decades." Having played the Bowie songbook in concert countless times, Garson always had the ambition to record his own original variations on these well-known themes. This is the year it came to fruition! Thanks to the advanced digital technology of the Yamaha Disklavier piano, Garson was able to create several exciting sonic overlays, without abandoning RR's audiophile approach to recording. "It's like having six hands!" he exclaimed. Recorded in the fine natural acoustics of the Oxnard, California, Center for the Performing Arts (venue of several previous RR successes), this program has realistic spatial characteristics not possible with standard studio techniques. Grammy® award winning engineer Keith Johnson has created another touchstone piano recording. Review: "A riff from HEROES crops up throughout the album, and each time it reoccurs, the overall work feels less like a collection of variations sourced from songs and more like a piece composed as a whole... Garson's achievement is to have created something that is quite nearly autonomous, save that it owes its inspiration to the good Mr. Stardust." —Colin Fleming,, Jazz Times Review: '...there's gorgeous sound, an exquisite recording and an intellectual challenge." —Ken Kessler, HiFi News Review: "Garson doesn't just do straight jazz treatments; he moves through classical, pop and even avant-garde genres here and there. Most interesting." —John Henry,Audiophile Audition Review: "...each and every track is surprising, involving, and just superb...and what a recording it is! This HDCD-encoded disc is perhaps the best-sounding piano disc I have ever encountered...If you're a Bowie fan, you should hear this disc. If you're a fan of jazz you should, too. And even if you just want to hear just how good a CD can sound, with a disc able to push your system to its limits, this is one you should have." —Andrew Everard,What Hi-Fi - complete review Track Listing: 1 Space Oddity; 2 John, I'm Only Dancing; 3 Life On Mars; 4 Heroes; 5 Ashes To Ashes; 6 Variations on "Changes," 7 Let's Dance; 8 Battle For Britain/Loneliest Guy/Disco King; 9 Tribute to David; 10 Wild is the Wind; Bonus Track: 11 Space Oddity-take 2 *RR-123HDCD - Mike Garson - The Bowie Variations* - $16.98** -------------------