Michael Garrick MBE

[sidewinder]

Congratulations to pianist/composer Michael Garrick for his award of an MBE, announced in today's Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Personally I would have said he merited at least an OBE. Still, it's recognition of a unique artist and a great contributor to UK jazz over his career.

And at least this list of honours has no politicians and b(w)ankers on it, for once !

Edited June 12, 2010 by sidewinder

[RogerF]

Yep and Bill Ashton of NYJO gets an OBE. Personally I think Mike Garrick warranted a CBE if not a Knighthood (the Beatles got MBEs in their teenagehoods, Mike had to wait another 60 years - oh well better late...)

[A Lark Ascending]

I wonder if he got this based on his music or on his significant role as a music educator. Hopefully both, though the latter is more likely to get you picked up on the radar of the Gongsmiths.

[RogerF]

Bev, the citation reads: Jazz Pianist and Composer. For services to Music. So could be both (or either!)

Edited June 14, 2010 by RogerF

[sidewinder]

Mike Garrick definitely meritted an OBE or a CBE. However, he's not as well known to the public at large as Catherine Zeta Jones so he just gets an MBE.

Maybe next time they could throw one in for John Surman and upgrade Mike Westbrook to CBE? Also one for Kenny Wheeler under the 'Colonial Services' division perhaps?

Edited June 15, 2010 by sidewinder

[RogerF]

I am totally bemused as to what criteria if any are applied in the allocation (or more often not) of gongs to jazz musicians. Why does one deserve a CBE and one an OBE or an MBE? Is it a reflection of record sales, good works or what. Totally and utterly baffled. Or was it as random as there is a specific maximum number of OBEs, MBEs etc allocated per list? I still say Sir Michael Garrick would have been justified!

Edited June 15, 2010 by RogerF

[A Lark Ascending]

Not nearly as baffling as why we are awarding goings on behalf of 'the British Empire'.