British composer/saxophonist Tim Garland has a pretty unique connection with Hong Kong. His appearance in the coming International Jazz Festival will see his return to this vibrant city he loves, yet as he says, ‘Well, I haven’t been there in a long while, and one thing I love about this crazy way of life is all the friends I know I will have made before I leave – this way life is joyful and the world is [made] a smaller, friendlier place.’ His connection lies in that he was told The New Crystal Silence, his collaboration with Chick Corea, won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz CD by Corea while the pianist was playing with John McClaughlin during their appearance for the HK Arts Festival earlier this year.

The news, he says, took his breath away. ‘It was an honour for me to have worked closely with Chick for several years on and off – he had been a featured guest on my CD The Mystery, which was all orchestral,’ he recalls. He cites many of Corea’s groups – like Keith Jarrett and his European band and the trio with drummer Paul Motian – as major influences, especially on his three quartets. ‘Through this, Chick asked me to make creative arrangements of his music, making sure there was a lot of space for the soloists, and it didn’t become too abstract!’

Garland is working on a solo career as well as projects like Acoustic Triangle and The Lighthouse Trio – which will be performing in the Hong Kong festival. Garland teams up with pianist Gwylym Simcock and percussionist Asaf Sirkis for the trio which, having released the highly acclaimed double-disc album Libre last year, blends rhythms from the Middle East, Spain and South America. Sirkis plays behind a custom-made percussion set of frame drums, bass Udu and a hang drum among others. ‘The Lighthouse Trio has been my main focus for three years and we are like a family now. I am doing more orchestral writing, however, and next year will be working with my old friends Joe Locke and Geoff Keezer from the USA,’ he says. ‘I’m very interested in the production techniques of pop music these days, and I really like the high-energy things that Squarepusher has done, although that’s not pop music, I know!’

Yet his recent music diet also includes American soul/funk group Tower Of Power. ‘That band ROCKS! I was brought up with that stuff and, despite all the varied things I do, it’s in my blood I think! I also downloaded John Patitucci’s new CD with Joe Lovano on sax – he’s a tremendous tenor presence – and Brian Blade on drums is a magical dude!’ When not playing or listening, he teaches. ‘These [student] players are sometimes scary in their ability to take new things in and use them straight away! London is a big city with lots of musicians, and teaching, when I have time, is a way of keeping in contact with the future shapers of the music. I love it and am honoured to be sought after in this way.’

For Hong Kong’s two-week festival, jazz lovers will be able to see – along with Tim Garland’s The Lighthouse Trio – international groups such as the explosive fusionist Henderson Berlin Chambers Trio (guitarist Scott Henderson played in the Chick Corea Elektric in the ’80s), Italian trumpet master Enrico Rava and his quintet and the trio of young Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren. Hong Kong’s own jazz hero Eugene Pao will team up with Richard Galliano, the French accordion/bandoneon master who has played with the likes of Chet Baker and Astor Piazzolla, as well as with the Korean Youn Sun Nah Quartet.

The festival itself is a fusion of jazz – East and West, young and old, traditional and avant-garde. Garland has already reserved his seat: ‘When I was playing in Joe Lovano’s band, a big concert in London with his seven piece, he totally blew me away. Standing right next to him is the best position in the house!’

The Tim Garland Lighthouse Trio will play at Dada Bar + Lounge on October 13 at 9pm. Tickets are $250 with one drink. Other highlights of the festival include the two double-bill concerts – the Enrico Rava New Quintet and Henderson Berlin Chambers Trio on October 14, and the Jan Lundgren Trio and Richard Galliano & Eugene Pao Quartet on October 15. Tickets are $520-$200 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. A series of free performances and a photo exhibition will be held at ELEMENTS and the Sha Tin Town Hall – go to our listings or visit HYPERLINK "http://www.hkja.org" www.hkja.org for a full programme.