A proportion of sales from this CD will go towards MacMillan Cancer Support.
Carol Jarvis is one of the most versatile musicians of her generation, whose work encompasses almost every musical genre from the Symphonic, through Jazz, Rock and Pop and just about everything in between. As a player, arranger, teacher, journalist and clinician, she is the sort of musician whose versatility defies all usual classifications and narrow pigeon holes, the sort of musician who makes the musical establishment feel just a little uncomfortable, the sort of musician who is well worth a listen. In 2004, in her mid 20s, Carol was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma.
For a good many of us, such a revelation would stop life in its tracks, interrupt the progress of our careers and make us feel at the very least, that we had suddenly and savagely arrived at the end of something. It would be a time to stop and hide ourselves away and lick our wounds. Carol’s tenacity in doing exactly the opposite, in reaching out for life with tremendous passion and working harder than ever throughout a six year ordeal of often brutal therapies and treatments, has been an inspiration to all who know and work with her. At the time of making this CD, her fight goes on.
It is hoped that this album might inspire other young people who suddenly find themselves in a fight against a Cancer, or a fight for life itself, and show that there is always hope and that through Macmillan they and their families and friends can find help, support and information which will lead to that hope. As for the music, some tracks are old friends, some are tunes that have been important to Carol herself over the last few years and in most cases their significance will be obvious. Others are just great songs and are here for that reason alone. One or two of the tracks are quite simply just a bit of fun.
The album is co-produced by Roderick Dunk (who also conducted the orchestra) – incidentally one of the UK’s most versatile conductors. The front cover design is a painting of Carol by Rolf Harris.
Sales of “Smile” will generate valuable income for the Macmillan Cancer Support (at least £1.50 per CD).
