High-octane West Coast fusion with a session-pro sheen. Sophisticated keys and tight grooves that feel like a sunset drive through 1980s Los Angeles.
David Garfield creates music that sounds like the absolute pinnacle of professional musicianship. It is the sound of the world's best session players finally getting to play exactly what they want. The production is shimmering and expensive, characterized by warm Rhodes pianos, biting guitar leads, and a rhythm section that moves with surgical precision. It captures the specific 'cool' of the California jazz scene, balancing technical complexity with an undeniable sense of fun.
What truly distinguishes Garfield is his role as a master collaborator. His music never feels like a lonely solo project; it feels like a high-stakes conversation between legends. You can hear the influence of his work with Toto and George Benson in the way he structures his arrangements, favoring dense, harmonically rich layers that never feel cluttered. It is 'musician's music' that remains remarkably accessible, prioritizing groove and melody over academic abstraction.
For those new to his catalog, 'Jammin' - Outside the Box' is a perfect entry point. It showcases his ability to bridge the gap between classic fusion and contemporary smooth jazz while featuring an incredible roster of guest talent. It is the ideal soundtrack for moments that require both energy and sophistication, working just as well for a focused work session as it does for a late-night drive.
David Garfield (September 27, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He has recorded with Smokey Robinson, Cher, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Spinal Tap, George Benson, The Manhattan Transfer, Eros Ramazzotti, and The Rippingtons. He has performed with Freddie Hubbard, Boz Scaggs, Oleta Adams, Brenda Russell, Natalie Cole, and Michael Bolton. He is a founding member of Karizma and Los Lobotomys. He has been a songwriter, producer, bandleader, arranger, recording artist, record label owner (Creatchy Records), session and touring musician, musical director and composer of commissioned themes for global organizations.
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