Since the early 70s Michael Franks has been providing the music community – and with it me – with very special music. Songs that are somewhere between jazz, folk and pop …
… and mostly highly melodic and often provided with complex arrangements – and of course performed with his unmistakable, purring Softi voice. Because many of his compositions are characterized by a non-binding lightness, the Californian is one of the first guards of the smooth jazz genre often frowned upon as “elevator music”. Wrongly so. On the one hand, because the texts of the doctor of literature have it in them. On the other hand, because he always records his albums with the best musicians in their field. In addition, during his long career he has repeatedly played and continues to play grandiose song pearls, such as “How The Garden Grows” from his 1983 album “Passion Fruit”. After the intro, reminiscent of the film composer Michel LeGrand (with the wonderful harmonica by Toots Thielemans), the track, staged with violins and harp, leads into relaxed Bossa Nova realms. No hustle and bustle, no display of musical masterpieces, no showmanship. Music that flows and rolls sluggishly, effortlessly and yet powerfully. As usual with him, it is also worth listening to the lyrics of this song. Even if, as usual, the statement does not open up without further ado, the music and lyrics ignite an almost magically beautiful pull.
