David Garfield & The Cats: Do Pop Classiccs (2011)

David Garfield's mission statement is I make music. And make music he does, as a world-renowned keyboard artist, producer, and composer. Be it jazz, rock, funk, or world beat he is the creative force behind the production of many internationally acclaimed recordings.

David started his career with jazz greats such as Willie Bobo, Freddie Hubbard, and Tom Scott in the 70's. After being on the L.A. scene for several years, he moved into the vast studio world during its heyday and earned a reputation for fine craftsmanship and versatility. This work eventually led to composing opportunities for television, film, and commercials (NBC / Disney / Nippon Television / RTL Germany).

During the 80's, Garfield arranged and produced many top Japanese artists and went on to produce his own projects for release in Japan. For the past 20 years, he has enjoyed continued popularity and success in that part of the world.

Tracklist:

1. David Garfield, Alex Lingertwood - Let's Stay Together (Unreleased Version) (5:50)
2. David Garfield, Alex Lingertwood, Joseph Williams - Lowdown (6:38)
3. David Garfield And The Cats - Strawberry Fields (5:06)
4. David Garfield And The Cats - Layla (5:31)
5. David Garfield - For the Love of You (6:30)
6. David Garfield, Bernard Purdie - Babylon Sisters (6:15)
7. David Garfield - Josie (5:38)
8. David Garfield, Will Lee, Michael Landau, Simon Phillips - If Six Was Nine (7:01)
9. David Garfield, Boz Scaggs - It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry (6:22)
10. David Garfield - Too Shy to Say (4:59)
11. David Garfield and Friends - Englishman in New York (7:04)
12. Abe Labonel, David Garfield, JR., Mischel Paulo - Lowdown (Alternate Mix) (6:33)
13. Michael McDonald, David Garfield - Let's Stay Together (5:59)
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George Benson: Guitar Man (2011)

Grammy-winning legend George Benson brings his guitar to the forefront in his newest album Guitar Man. The 12-song collection includes a mix of jazz and pop standards - some in a combo setting and some solo, but all of them tied together seamlessly by Benson's soulful and exploratory signature sound. Lending a hand on this recording is a solid team made up of veterans and newcomers alike - pianist Joe Sample, keyboardist and musical director David Garfield, bassist Ben Williams and drummer Harvey Mason. Williams is one of the hottest up-and-coming new artists on the jazz scene. Mason is a regular member of Fourplay, and a studio collaborator with Benson all the way back to Benson's 1976 blockbuster album, Breezin'.

In a career that spans five decades, more than 30 recordings as a leader and ten Grammy Awards, Benson has used his jazz roots as the foundation for an engaging mix of pop, R&B and other shades that add up to a style that appeals to a broad mainstream audience. Along the way, he has also established himself as a formidable jazz singer - one whose biggest career hits have showcased his vocals. But Guitar Man is just what the title implies - an album that highlights Benson's unparalleled guitar playing, perhaps more than any other album he has released in decades.

For the new project, the crew came together in the studio with a minimum of prior rehearsal time but an eagerness to jump in and lay down tracks in something very close to the live experience - what Benson describes as an "old school" approach. The impromptu sensibility comes across in the final product, much of which came together with minimal takes in a single day of recording.

"We figured that we would get the best energy if we went into the studio with some live musicians who are savvy and flexible," says Benson, "and boy, did we accomplish that." On Guitar Man, Benson's mastery of the guitar is demonstrated in a variety of styles and settings, all with legendary jazz roots. Benson has never been one to shy away from innovation or experimentation. For this guitar man, putting a jazz spin on pop standards - not just on this recording but throughout his career - is less of a taboo when you're willing to dispense with labels and the limitations that come with them. ~ amazon.com

Tracklist:
01. Tenderly [2:01]
02. I Want To Hold Your Hand [5:10]
03. My Cherie Amour [4:08]
04. Naima [3:41]
05. Tequila [4:31]
06. Don't Know Why [2:45]
07. The Lady In My Life [4:30]
08. My One And Only Love [3:24]
09. Paper Moon [2:44]
10. Danny Boy [3:26]
11. Since I Fell For You [2:58]
12. Fingerlero [3:40]
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Los Lobotomys: ST (1989)

Los Lobotomys is an American fusion group, conceived by Toto-members Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro and keyboarder David Garfield. A range of well-known 'session cats' worked together with the core trio.

Anyhow Los Lobotomys is an occasional band by a bunch of musical friends in California, with Steve Lukather and David Garfield as core members. This eponymous record is recorded live on april 29th 1989 at the Complex, West Los Angeles, USA, and produced by David Garfield and Alan Hirshberg for Creatchy Productions. The songs are instrumentals which vary from relaxed slow and midtempo fusion to uptempo heavy rock, like Smell Yourself (in an in memoriam on Jeff Porcaro Vinnie Colaiuta recalled: "We had so much fun when I guested briefly on Los Lobotomys. Double-drumming with Jeff was one of the high points of my career and my life").
A comic one is Purple Haze that ends right after the intro, because nobody knows the lyrics (compare this one to the Red House version on the Lukather single cd Borrowed Time and the Los Lobotomys version of Candyman, where Lukather starts yelling because a string of his guitar snaps at the end of a solo).

Tracklist:
01. Dismemberment (Lenny Castro, David Garfield)
02. Oozer (Carlos Vega, David Garfield)
03. Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix)
04. Big Bone (Jeff Porcaro, David Garfield)
05. Jorainbo (Joe Sample, David Garfield)
06. Lobotomy Stew (Steve Lukather, David Garfield)
07. Little Wing (Jimi Hendrix)
08. Smell Yourself (Steve Lukather)
09. All Blues (Miles Davis)
Personnel:
Steve Lukather: guitar
David Garfield: keyboards
Jeff Porcaro: drums
Will Lee: bass
Brandon Fields: alto sax
Lenny Castro: percussion
Joe Sample: piano
Carlos Vega: drums
Vince Colaiuta: double drums
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Mike Porcaro: Brotherly Love (2010) [2 CD]

For almost a half century, the name Porcaro has been synonymous with musical greatness. It began with Papa Joe Porcaro, whose roots go back to gigging in Connecticut before transplanting and continuing his music career in Los Angeles. Soon to follow were three amazing prodigies who embraced the Los Angeles music scene in the mid to late 70’s and didn’t let go. Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro’s talents transcended their band Toto and touched thousands of recordings that came out of the LA music scene. But their success in the music industry is only a small part of what makes the Porcaro family so special. Having had the good fortune to meet many members of the family, what strikes me most about each and every Porcaro is how upbeat, personable and friendly they are. And although I didn’t have the opportunity to meet Jeff, I get the sense that he was every bit as inviting and open as his parents, brothers and his sister, Joleen. When you consider the loss of Jeff and the impact this had on the world of music and his fans – even to this day - I can’t imagine how this impacted the Porcaro family. We now have come to realize that another Porcaro brother, Mike, is struggling with ALS on a daily basis and has been for a few years. I have no doubt that the spirit of the Porcaro family is stronger than ever and rallying around him. For those of you who know Mike or have had the opportunity to watch him perform with Toto, it only takes a glance at his face while he’s performing to tell you how passionate he is about music. Mike’s groove is so deep-in-the-pocket-tight, but loose enough that his bass parts always seem to blend so nicely with everything Toto lays down. I’ve always likened Mike’s role in Toto to that of George Harrison’s with the Beatles. George was often thought of as the quiet one, but in many ways the ‘glue’ of the band. Like Harrison, Mike didn’t get the spotlight as often as his band mates, but he was always so steady, reliable and rhythmically solid both on albums and during live performances.

With the realization of Mike’s condition, it was such a wonderful surprise to learn about “Brotherly Love” and that Mike spearheaded this project. As mentioned, “Brotherly Love” is a 2 CD set that was recorded live in Germany in 2002 as a tribute to Mike’s brother, Jeff. It features an all-star cast of musicians, including David Garfield, Steve Gadd, Greg Bissonette, Lenny Castro, Glenn Hughes, brother Steve Porcaro and father Joe Porcaro. The songs on this project cover many Porcaro influenced selections, including ones by Toto, Boz Scaggs, Los Lobotomys, Michael Jackson, Al Green, Steely Dan and more. “Brotherly Love” has been released in Japan, but is only available as an import here in the States. There is speculation that it might be available here soon.

I highly recommend this album for anyone who is not only a fan of Mike Porcaro, but for those of you who are a fan of his love and passion for the music he created with so many incredible musicians over the years, including his brothers, Jeff and Steve. The Porcaro spirit runs deep on the appropriately titled “Brotherly Love.”

Tracklist:

Disc 1:
1. Rosanna (7:08)
2. Manic Depression (4:43)
3. Georgy Porgy (9:38)
4. Lowdown (8:07)
5. E Minor Shuffle (8:05)
6. English Eyes (7:21)
7. Human Nature (5:24)
8. Straight No Chaser (8:52)
9. Africa (6:52)
10. Let's Stay Together (Bonus Track) (8:37)
Disc 2:
1. Stuffy (1:31)
2. Jeff's Strut (8:06)
3. Babylon Sisters (7:31)
4. Big Bone (7:44)
5. Corbitt Van Brauer (10:43)
Personnel :
Mike Procaro - Bass
David Garfield - Keyboards
Steve Porcaro - Keyboards
Michael O'Neill - Guitar
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Larry Klimas - Sax, Flute
Ralph "Mosch" Himmler - Trumpet
Glenn Hughes - Lead Vocal (1, 2, 10)
Bobby Kimball - Lead Vocal (1, 6, 9, 10)
Alex Ligertwood - Lead Vocal (3, 4, 9, 10)
Steve Gadd - Drums (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
Gregg Bissonette - Drums (1, 2, 5, 9, 13, 14)
Robin DiMaggio - Drums (4, 9)
Chase Duddy - Drums (6)
Joe Porcaro - Drums (8), Percussion (9)
John Robinson - Drums (10)
Bernard Purdie - Drums (13)
Doug Bossi - Guitar Solos (1), Additional Guitars (6)
David Paich - Piano (9), Additional Vocals (9)
Joseph Williams -. BG Vocals (6, 9)
Brotherly Love
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John Blackwell Project: 4ever Jia (2010)

John Blackwell Project came together after the 2008 Buddy Rich Memorial Concert to create a stellar album with a truly unique and varied collection of innovative fusion tunes, the basic tracks for 4ever Jia were recorded at DrumChannel in Oxnard, California. The album's influences are drawn from Funk, Fusion and Jazz, something for everyone and some tunes that will have you singing in no time.

An incredible band consisting of four core talents: John (a world-class groove master and drummer with Prince, and many other top performers) Corey Bernhard (keys - you may have seen him on John's Master class Hudson DVD), Paul Pesco (guitar - Madonna, J-Lo, Hall & Oates, Mary J., Alicia Keyes and many others) and Will Lee (bass - everyone, and I mean everyone, but most know him from Dave Letterman). There are multiple guest musicians on the album including Charlie Singleton (Cameo), David Garfield, David Mann (Tower of Power), Luis Conte, Esperanza Spalding, Michael Landau and many others.

Tracklist:
01. Hyper-Formants (4:35)
02. Amazing (4:40)
03. Jeremiah's Sleepy Night (6:54)
04. No Ordinary Day (5:49)
05. Blackhouse (4:13)
06. Mind Of J (5:57)
07. You're The One (4:59)
08. Sexual Harassment (5:30)
09. Jada (5:10)
10. Jaiven (6:51)
11. You Asked For It (5:30)
Personnel:
John Blackwell - DRUMS
Paul Pesco - GUITAR
Corey Bernhard - KEYS
Will Lee - BASS
4ever Jia
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John Pena: Call It Grace (2008)

Session bassist John Pena adds variety in style, playing and composition with jazz,r&b,latin jazz, fusion, contemporary jazz, alternative jazz and inspirational music under one umbrella. Highly recommended!!!

Special guests that participated on this project:

On Drums/Chad Wackerman, Raul Pineda, Oscar Seaton, Alvaro Lopez, John Ferraro, Marvin McQuitty and Tom Brechtlein.

On Keys/Otmaro Ruiz, David Garfield, Dave Goldblatt, Tommy Coster Jr., Ricardo Arbe and Stephan Oberhoff.

On Guitars/Ramon Stagnaro, James Harrah & Byron Fry.

On Trumpet and Flugelhorn/Harry Kim.

On Sax/Justo Almario & Larry Klimas.

Vocalists/Leslie Smith & Sharon Perry.

Background vocals/Terry Wood Pena, Angie Jaree and Annette Mata

On Percussion/Fausto Cuevas & Raul Pineda.

Tracklist:

1. 4 Basses & a Cross 2:05

2. Signs of Tribulation 5:36
3. Call It Grace 6:24
4. Speak to Me 3:58
5. Overwhelming Peace 3:40
6. All for Nothing (V.3) 6:28
7. Alas De Aguila 4:44
8. Tears in a Bottle 5:28
9. The Warrior's Prayer 4:07
10. Nothing but the Blood 2:09
Call It Grace
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