-Buddy Rich

"....Tom Garling's "Jade" paid homage to the Miles Davis/Wayne Shorter legacy, but in truth it went beyond that reference point, though not simply because it applied a fusion-era sensibility to an orchestral palette. More important, the colors that Garling achieved in this work -- a heady swirl of ultrasophisticated horn writing, unstoppable funk backbeats and throbbing electronic keyboard -- were unprecedented for the CJE."
-Howard Reigh, Chicago Tribune

“Maynard Ferguson Presents Tom Garling is a delightful nine songsworth of pure, unadulterated jazz by this up-and-coming trombonist, surrounded by five of jazzdom’s young lions. Both get my seal of approval.”

-Frenceska Nemko, Jazz Beat, Telegram Tribune, San luis, Obispo County

“In the latest release in Concord’s ‘Maynard Ferguson Presents’ series, the spotlight swings to trombonist extraordinaire, Tom Garling. It’s a provocatively diverse date with a broadly swinging stylistic compass. There’s an up-tempo tribute to Tommy Dorsey via air mailed ‘I’m getting Sentimental over you’ and an attractively over-dubbed ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ in which Garling multiples himself and adds bass trombonist, Alex Ilse for a bracing downpour stroll. “Garlings sound has presence. Big and buttery yet also edgy, Garling’s assertive attack reminds one of bop bone masters J.J. Johnson and Slide Hampton. No shrinking violet here.... Whatever the groove, MF is right when he says, ‘Make no mistake, this is a jazz album’. Indeed, it’s a damn fine jazz album!”

-Chuck Berg, Jazz Times

 “I was mightily impressed by trombonist Garling even before this ‘introduction’ by Maynard Ferguson (2) owing to his superlative work on the two most recent releases by Maynards Big Bop Nouveau Band, ‘These Cats can Swing’ and especially ‘One More Trip to Birdland’, on which ‘You Got It’ and ‘The Vibe’ embody the sessions brightest moments. Six of the nine tunes on this disc are Garlings, and having sung the praises of his writing skills, I blush to admit that my favorite tracks are the standards, ‘Getting Sentimental Over You’ (played as an up-tempo burner instead of a ballad), ‘Here’s That Rainy Day” (a sumptuous a cappella for Garling- who overdubs to become an entire ‘bone section’.....) and Earl Zindars’ charming waltz, ‘How My Heart Sings’, a duet for Garling and pianist Jacob. That’s not to imply that Garlings charts are uninteresting; quite the contrary. Each one has its striking moments, at times swinging, at others cool and deliberate..... A delightful and impressive debut by any measure.”

- Cadence Magazine, Santa Barbara, CA

“There aren’t alot of trombone players these days who get backing to lead a group on a CD for a quality jazz label. Ferguson must have known what he was doing in promoting Garling. Garling can make his low horn sing lyrically one moment, and then soar fluidly over snappy, striaght-ahead rhythms the next. The arrangements.....are also well crafted. Of Note: Shrimp Tales conjours up Weather Report-like images; Trinology is Monkish; Bill Evans is hanting and pensive; the harmonized head of Forging Behind is a real cooker; Rainer’s Dream is a fragrant tone poem; Ilene’s Dance is an absolutely hoppin’ seven beat affair. This is definitely a trombone record I can recommend with some enthusiasm.”

- Jazzscene, Jazz society of Oregon

“’Maynard Ferguson Presents.....’ gives the trombonist.......a chance to fully show his soloing and arranging skills.The music bounces from a driving ‘Shrimp Tales’ to a thoughtful ‘Bill Evans’, but perhaps the two best tracks are ‘I’m Getting Sentimental over You’ and ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’. ....Garling Supplies tone that is near Tommy Dorsey..... The album also features “Ilene’s Dance”, a piece that is funkier than its odd time signature would indicate. Besides the fine work of the trombonist, the album also features good play from Christian Jacob, sax player Jerry Pinter and drummer Tony Pia.”

- Bob Karlovits, Chicago Tribune

“..... This album by composer/trombonsit Tom Garling comes recommended by Maynard Ferguson, and its richness, energy and variety more than justify the trumpeters confidence in this youthfull protege. .....Garlings trombone playing is imressively full bodied throughout, but it is the brightness and originality of his themes, and the intelligence applied to thier arrangement, that make him such an exciting prospect.”

-Jazzwise Magazine, England