Michael Garrick - Late Autumn Sunshine (2LP)

These unreleased 1970s sessions from legendary pianist/composer Michael Garrick, see him lead two groups of top Brit jazzers, who perform eight original compositions by Garrick that display his flair for combining emotive writing with modal jazz grooves.

“An absolute find. Holy grail stuff.” - Gilles Peterson

The album is made up of two sessions recorded for BBC Radio 2 at Maida Vale Studios, from 1973 and 1978 that feature vocalist Norma Winstone, trumpeter Henry Lowther, saxophonists Art Themen, Tony Coe and Alan Wakeman, trombonist David Horler, bassists Dave Green and Jeff Clyne, and drummers Trevor Tomkins and John Marshall.

The material, all composed by Garrick, includes some favourites from the classic LPs 'Troppo' and 'October Woman'. He wouldn't record the tracks "River Running" and "Galilee" until decades later, so this is the first time these '70s arrangements have been released. Whereas "Robin's Rest" and the title track are exclusive to this album - providing a fascinating insight into this uniquely talented artist. Garrick was at the forefront of British jazz from the mid-1960s until his death in 2011 aged 78. He was a key member of The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet, composing the jazz gems "Dusk Fire and "Black Marigolds" and released a series of seminal 1960s and 1970s LPs including 'Cold Mountain', 'The Heart is a Lotus' and 'Black Marigolds'.

Remastered by Caspar Sutton-Jones @ Gearbox Records, 'Late Autumn Sunshine' is available as a 2LP set housed in a gatefold sleeve (a limited edition of 600 copies) and 'mini-LP' gatefold CD, with sleeve notes by Daniel Spicer (Jazzwise, The Wire).

'Late Autumn Sunshine' celebrates Michael Garrick's memory and should introduce him to many new fans.

1. Sons of Art
2. River Running
3. Lime Blossom
4. Galilee
5. Robin's Rest
6. Songs of the Ainur
7. Return of an Angel
8. Late Autumn Sunshine