Indulging his passion for R&B-pop on the second volume of
his five-part, multi-genre “Outside the Box” series, keyboardist David Garfield
will release “Jammin’ Outside the Box” on July 20 on Creatchy Records. Like the
first disc, the straight-ahead jazz exploration “Jazz Outside the Box,”
Garfield produced, arranged and played piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer electric
piano and synthesizers on a carefully-selected set list with
purposefully-chosen collaborators that spotlights sessions with seminal icons,
Grammy winners, chart-toppers and prominent players. Garfield has a personal
connection and meaningful history with every song and each musician he selected
for the groove rich, soul-jazz album, crucial elements that position the
ambitious “Outside the Box” anthology towards becoming an enduring,
career-capping collection.
Two of the
singles that prefaced “Jammin’ Outside the Box,” “Go Home” and “Jamming,”
peaked in the Billboard Top 10 and the recently-released third single, “Stay”
featuring George Benson, David Sanborn and singer-songwriter Moon Calhoun, aims
to follow suit. In addition to the three original Garfield tunes, including
“One Like You,” which he wrote with Smokey Robinson, who plies his trademark
falsetto complimented by Michael McDonald on background vocals, Garfield
redesigned R&B, funk and pop classics made famous by Stevie Wonder, Bob
Marley, Adele, Sting, Aretha Franklin, Toto, Isley Brothers, Rufus, Minnie
Riperton, Bobby Caldwell and one of his keyboard mentors, Joe Sample. To do so,
Garfield gathered members of the Zac Brown Band, Steely Dan, Tom Petty’s
Heartbreakers, Chicago, Toto and Tower of Power along with an army of
noteworthy soloists including Ray Parker Jr., Kirk Whalum, Rick Braun, Marcus
Miller, Paul Jackson Jr., Eric Marienthal, Tom Scott, Vinnie Colaiuta, Greg
Phillinganes, Steve Jordan, Freddie Washington, Will Lee, Tony Maiden, Rickey
Minor and Lenny Castro.
“One of the
things I have always loved to do is keep the spirit of old-school R&B fresh
and alive for new generations of listeners. This explains my longstanding
tradition of creating interesting and sometimes stylistically off-the-beaten
path reimaginings of songs by legendary soul artists. It was a thrill doing
these songs, adding a jazz touch with improvisation that take the songs
‘outside the box.’ What was also special for me is that this album features a
lot of people I work with or have worked for, from Smokey and George to David
Sanborn and Natalie Cole, but now I got to have them as guests on my thing,”
said Garfield, a Los Angeles-based musician’s musician who grew up in St Louis
on a steady diet of R&B and jazz.
An example
of the poignancy that proliferates “Jammin’ Outside the Box,” one can look at
“The Highways Of My Life,” which features an introduction by Cole. Garfield
toured with her for two years. During their first trek together, she introduced
him to the Isley Brothers’ original and asked him to craft an arrangement for
her. Before they could perform it live together, Garfield was summoned to
return to his long-held gig as Benson’s music director. But Cole performed his
arrangement nonetheless. When Garfield hatched the “Outside the Box” concept a
few years ago, he reached out to Cole to have her sing it. Unfortunately, she
passed away prior to the recording date. Admirably filling in for her are Oleta
Adams and Phil Perry, who masterfully reposition the song as a moving duet.
Cole’s voice is heard introducing the song, creating a divine moment.
“The final
touch was having a 24-piece string section arranged by Grammy winner John
Clayton. This takes the song to the high and luxurious level a tribute to Natalie
deserves. I owe this track to Natalie. It was one of her favorite songs and
that’s why it’s an important part of this collection.”
“Jammin’
Outside the Box” contains the following songs:
“Go Home”
“Chasing
Pavements”
“Please
Don’t Go”
“Stay”
“Lovin’ You”
“Fragile”
(instrumental)
“Jamming”
“One Like
You”
“Waiting For
Your Love”
“Rainbow
Seeker” (electric)
“The
Highways Of My Life”
“Rock
Steady”
“What You
Won’t Do For Love”
“Harvest
Time” (electric)
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