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Mike Garson

From Bach to Bowie, east coast to west coast, piano keyboards to computer keyboards, Mike has worked to make the world a more creative, compassionate and compelling place. He remains a man of many talents and limitless inspiration. No artistic medium is off-limits to this avant-garde individual to whom the word "no" is quickly - and seemingly effortlessly - transformed into the word "now."

Best known for his impressive skills as a pianist, he is a respected composer and a budding computer artist. Embracing the idea of the "Renaissance Man," Mike continually experiments with new ways through which he can communicate his humanistic ideals.

Mike's story begins at the age of seven, when he began to study the classics. He was drawn magnetically to the piano and by his fourteenth birthday Mike was modifying complex Chopin and Mozart compositions to suit his ear for embellishment.

By his late teens, Mike discovered jazz and the allure of improvisation - a pivotal moment in his artistic development. Mike is now considered one of the greatest musical improvisers of his era.

In fact, his exceptional improvisational abilities were a highlight of the January 2004 Keyboard Magazine cover story featuring Mike.

Mike's love of improvisation is most evident in the signature style of musical composition he has developed under the NOW! MUSIC® brand. Unveiled in 1995, this innovative approach to contemporary composing transfers his knowledge of improvisation into the classical realm. Using a Yamaha Disklavier piano, Mike composes sonatas, nocturnes, ballades and concertos in real-time. The result is refreshing, inspirational and always original music.

Mike's inaugural NOW! MUSIC® album, released in 1998, was followed by the 2004 release of "Homage to My Heroes," another independent album recorded in a similar style. He has also recorded twelve traditional solo albums including "Admiration," "Avant Garson," "Gershwin Fantasia," "Jazzical," "Mystery Man," "The Oxnard Sessions, Volumes I and II," "Serendipity" and "Remember Love."

Beyond his NOW! MUSIC® pieces, Mike has many years of traditional composing to his credit. Over the course of his career, Mike has written several thousand pieces of music in a variety of genres. While many artists prefer to remain within one genre, Mike remains open to artistic expression in any format.

"If I am truly passionate about what I do, that feeling can inspire people who receive my art," Garson believes. "As a musician I'm not concerned with whether I play jazz, rock, classical, or pop so long as it's creative."

It stands to reason that, when Mike sits down at a keyboard, the result is usually a passionate musical performance. However, while touring with the Smashing Pumpkins in late 2000, Garson discovered another creative outlet: the computer keyboard. Using various programs on his MAC laptop, Garson has designed imaginative imagery in much the same way that he composes his NOW! MUSIC®. On April 12, 2004, Portland's Brian Marki Fine Art Gallery hosted a premiere reception of his avant-garde artwork.

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48
Interview

Mike Garson: David Bowie Always Chose Good Musicians

Read "Mike Garson: David Bowie Always Chose Good Musicians" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


By comparison, rarely anyone has ever had as diverse career within the music business as pianist Mike Garson. A jazz pianist and a teacher, he went to become one of singer David Bowie's most trusted and longest working sideman. At the start of the '70s, he was touted to Bowie and The Spiders from Mars who were in need of a pianist for their “Ziggy Stardust" tour in America in 1972. After a very brief audition, he was hired for ...

392
Album Review

Mike Garson: Conversations With My Family

Read "Conversations With My Family" reviewed by Jim Santella


Mike Garson's musical conversations come from deep within. His family, as the closest entity to his heart, deserves to be celebrated in song. So, with his acoustic piano trio and featured guests, he delivers thirteen compositions with brief connecting interludes, to tell his stories in vivid detail and with appropriate moods. There's “The Mystery and the Awe" that comes from family relationships, the “Trials and Revelations" that families manage to survive, “Yearnings" for the best all around, and the “Miracle ...

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Recording

Eclectic Second Release By Netherland's Mr Averell Features Lene Lovich, Mike Garson, John, Ellis, Members Of Van Der Graaf Generator And Others

Eclectic Second Release By Netherland's Mr Averell Features Lene Lovich, Mike Garson, John, Ellis, Members Of Van Der Graaf Generator And Others

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

The Netherlands – Avant-Garde music aficionados across the globe are excited about the forthcoming second album by Dutch visual sound artist René van Commenée under the guise Mr Averell titled 'Gridlock'. Van Commenée is known in The Netherlands for his music (sound) art objects, theatrical performances and soundtracks for theatre, fireworks spectacles and film. Over the years he has worked with many acknowledged musicians around the world and became well-known by fans of Van der Graaf Generator through his percussion ...

163

Interview

Mike Garson, Long-Time David Bowie Pianist, on "Dreaming the Duke" at Tanglewood Jazz Fest Sept 5

Mike Garson, Long-Time David Bowie Pianist, on "Dreaming the Duke" at Tanglewood Jazz Fest Sept 5

Source: Dawn Singh Publicity

The unlikely trio of long-time David Bowie pianist, Mike Garson, classical vocalist Harolyn Blackwell and Grammy nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon will perform with a double quartet, a single jazz quartet and a string quartet in “Dreaming the Duke” at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival on Saturday, September 5. In a first-of-its-kind production, Garson serves as the arranger, accompanist and musical director for this concert. He is known for his many years with David Bowie and other rock performers such as ...

225

Recording

Four Free MP3 Downloads from Resonance Records: Gene Harris, Andreas Oberg, John Beasley, and Mike Garson

Four Free MP3 Downloads from Resonance Records: Gene Harris, Andreas Oberg, John Beasley, and Mike Garson

Source: All About Jazz

Four free MP3s from the first set of Resonance Records album releases. Includes tracks from Gene Harris' Live in London, Andreas Oberg's My Favorite Guitars, John Beasley's Letter to Herbie, and Mike Garson's Conversations with My Family.

Blue Monk Gene Harris From Live in London 11:19 4AM John Beasley From Letter to Herbie 5:52 The Trick Bag Andreas Oberg From My Favorite Guitars

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Recording

Renowned Keyboardist/Composer Mike Garson Releases "Conversations with My Family" on Resonance Records

Renowned Keyboardist/Composer Mike Garson Releases "Conversations with My Family" on Resonance Records

Source: All About Jazz

Featuring Stellar Cast of Labelmates on this Gorgeously Rendered Project Conversations with My Family, the auspicious new album from celebrated keyboardist Mike Garson debuts on jazz producer, engineer and entrepreneur George Klabin's Resonance Records imprint. This collection of original works, some of them dating back 30 years and others written as recently as during the Conversations sessions themselves, heralds Garson's arrival in the front rank of jazz piano performance and composition. Based on Garson's longtime practice of creating music inspired ...

David Bowie
It is pointless to talk about his ability as a pianist. He is exceptional. However, there are very, very few musicians, let alone pianists, who naturally understand the movement and free thinking necessary to hurl themselves into experimental or traditional areas of music, sometimes, ironically, at the same time. Mike does this with such enthusiasm that it makes my heart glad just to be in the same room with him.

Billy Corgan, Alternative Press (October, 1999)
Of the whole lot, Mike is the true genius; we are all just toys in his atonal wonderland.

Billy Corgan, Addicted to Noise (September 5, 1999)
He's a master piano [player]... he was the first person who probably introduced my young mind to the concept of atonality. Bowie's music at the time in the '70s was the first music I ever heard that I thought, 'This is different, where did this come from?'

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Conversations With My...

Resonance Records
2008

buy

Reflections

Love Records
1985

buy

Jazzical

Love Records
1982

buy

The Mystery and the Awe

From: Conversations With My Family
By Mike Garson

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