We only had David Bowie's Piano Man, Mike Garson, for 45 minutes, but boy did he make every second count. His stories, golden treasures, were matched by the mastery of his impromptu music.

I first saw Mike play on the Diamond Dogs Tour, where Bowie soared above the audience in a cherry picker to sing Space Oddity. Here, 47 years later, Mike told the tales of that tour (and Ziggy Stardust) with Mick Ronson, Luther Vandross, David Sanborn, Carlos Alomar, and bookended the show with an original Bowie Variation of said song––stunningly beautiful, soulful, and emotional. I’m still a bit teary.

From backing Mel Torme, Gregory Hines, and hundreds of singers in the Catskills starting at 14, studying with Herbie Hancock and Stan Getz amongst other jazz icons, to an 8-week gig with David Bowie that endured through 40 years, 150,000 hours of playing has sure paid off.

Mike’s classical training to the fore, he treated us to a few improvised gems weaved betwixt sensational stories––how he started, got the gig, played it differently every time with David’s blessing, how Aladdin Sane got so avant-garde and insane, playing with Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, composing with Trent Razor for film and TV, recent gigs with Duran Duran and Def Leopard to name but two, Mike’s Symphony Healing Suite, which evolves and continues, giving back what he’s learned––teaching––improv for one, a skill he says can be learned.

A most inspirational, educational, and enjoyable Game Cha-Cha-Changers, which left me wanting more. Luckily, Mike continues A Bowie Celebration (virtually through the pandemic) with other original band members. The rendition I saw at the Orpheum in 2019 was killer.

I sit here moved, missing David, grateful as hell for Mike.

Mike Garson on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 2/9/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3LnFqWg

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for the best dressed. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt