Tim Garland Tenor, Soprano Saxophones And Bass Clarinet

Gerard Presencer Trumpet And Flugelhorn (Tracks 1,3,4,5)

Jason Rebello Piano And Fender Rhodes

Jeremy Stacey Drums (Tracks 1,3,4,5,6)

Mick Hutton Double Bass (Tracks 1,4,5)

Tom Farmer Double Bass (Tracks 2,3)

Lawrence Cottle Electric Bass (Track 6)

James Maddren Drums (Tracks 2,6)

Ant Law Guitar (Track 6)

‘I met Tim Garland through his original Enter The Fire – and I wanted some of that fire in my band – thus our long musical friendship began. This Return To The Fire shows Tim, his beautiful compositions and the band’s prowess completely. Thanks to Tim and his compadres for keeping the Music Fires burning brightly.’ CHICK COREA

1997. Tim Garland, a rising star in the UK jazz firmament, is in New York City, the metropolis of jazz. Staying at vibist Joe Locke’s apartment in Manhattan they are listening to the newly released Enter The Fire, when pianist Billy Childs arrives, and asks for a copy to give to a friend. That friend was the legendary Chick Corea who head-hunted Tim and this was the start of many years of international playing which continues today.

Featuring long-term colleagues Gerard Presencer, Jason Rebello, Jeremy Stacey, Mick Hutton, Laurence Cottle, and more recent friends Tom Farmer, James Maddren and Ant Law ‘Return to the Fire’ captures on wax some of the most celebrated and exciting musicians from the UK and some of Britain’s’ finest exports on the vibrant international circuit. These recordings evoke the classic sound of the sax/trumpet jazz quintet of yesteryear, along with the freshness and spontaneity of music truly improvised, risk- taking and emotive.

This is an out-and-out jazz record; viewed alongside today’s vast array of hybrids of all styles, ‘Return to the Fire’ stands out as an album extolling the virtues of swing and the ethos of the acoustic quintets particularly celebrated in the Miles Davis bands. It swings. It burns, and whilst continuing to look forward (not least in the sophisticated and contemporary compositions) it is a heartfelt homage that also features two classic ballads (from JJ Johnson and McCoy Tyner). It is imbued with a maturity and collective spirit that only musicians with the wealth of experience, the refined skills, the belief in one another, the conviction and certainty on display in ‘Return To The Fire’ could hope to kindle.

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