(2-CD set) For years now, Tim Garland's playing and composition have less reflected 'influences' than styles he has mastered - everything from Celtic music to Yellowjackets fusion, from free improvisation to classical performance, from ECM 'third stream' to left-field electroacoustics. As a composer, he uses his native eclecticism and phenomenal technique to make telling and often surprising connections; as a bandleader, he creates spaces in which other musicians will surprise themselves. Songs to the North Sky unites these two strands of his career in one remarkable project. After two years in the making between much international touring and time away from the UK, Garland celebrates ten years of "Lighthouse Music" and a deserved place once again as band leader.One half of Songs to the North Sky features Lighthouse, Garland's small group celebrating a new chapter after ten years of existence. Garland and the astonishing percussion of Asaf Sirkis are joined here by three of the most talented pianists working in jazz today: Jason Rebello, Geoffrey Keezer and John Turville. Bassist Kevin Glasgow and guitarist Ant Law are newcomers to the Lighthouse project, but typically, Garland has devised perfect spaces in which their two singular talents can flourish. Garland himself has rarely played with such exhilarating freedom. His years on the road with Chick Corea have instilled a confident presence to the delivery of every note, and he has become one of those rare musicians for whom the idea of 'live performance' is indistinguishable from merely picking up the instrument. The group functions from a trio up, as it always has, with elements of his long-standing kinship with Celtic music permitted to dance alongside the more obvious modern jazz influences such as Corea. It is not such a surprise to find a simple and beautiful duet rendition of "She's Out Of My Life" the pop anthem made famous by Michael Jackson. Garland's love of melody (hence "Songs") and his celebrated soprano sax sound ensures an overall cogency to the project.Songs to the North Sky, for orchestral strings, both jazz and classical percussion, and Garland as soloist, takes up the other half of this recording. It reflects Garland's ten years association with (and frequent displacement from) northeast England, it's constantly changing cloudscapes and wild seas. One of it's principal joys is hearing what happens when Garland writes for himself: listening to the undulating layers of the string ensemble shape themselves around Garland's fluid and astonishingly articulate reeds is a little like watching some rare animal finally released back into it's native environment. These radiant pieces are bridged by improvised links, finely intelligent 'breathers' played by the great bassist and friend, John Patitucci. This is at once both local and international music, with several titles alluding to place names of the northeast. It was in part sponsored generously by The Sage Gateshead and is played sumptuously by the Royal Northern Sinfonia strings.For all it's eclecticism, though, this music is no mere series of surprises, or cinematic musings, but of remarkable solutions to questions Garland himself poses. The result is a succession of thrilling journeys across new terrain others might have decided was impassable. In it's instrumental virtuosity and compositional sophistication, Songs to the North Sky is the closest thing yet we have to the Full Garland. This will delight existing fans, and serve as an ideal primer for those yet to be acquainted with one of the most remarkable British musicians of his generation.