Showcase CD
Giving Back - David Garfield:
The Chicago-born Garfield began learning the piano when he was seven. For David there was an immediate connection with the instrument that was almost spiritual in nature, and he felt compelled to keep playing. Although he started with the rock tracks of the day from bands such as Led Zeppelin & Grand Funk, in St. Louis Garfield moved ever nearer to jazz, which became his second love.

Since relocating to LA in the mid 70's or so, David has amassed an impressive set of credentials. He's scored and recorded for films and commercials, produced over 20 albums and appeared on nearly 80 additional projects as a session player. The people with whom he's worked include such notables as Cher, Boz Scaggs, & Larry Carlton, to name but a few in a lengthy list. For a time he toured with Earl Klugh and for 5 years in the 80s he was the musical director for George Benson with whom he continues to tour on occasion.

He led a pair of high-energy fusion projects, Karizma & Los Lobotomys, through the 90s and then in 1997, finally launched his own solo career fronting an all star cast of players on a tribute to the late Jeff Porcaro. Giving Back is his latest effort. Garfield once again is at the helm of another gathering of great talent. Packed with musical gems, the cd well captures Garfield's versatility as a musician and as such makes a fitting choice as the subject for today's feature. From the showcase cd we give you some fantastic tracks with a superb cast of players in support of Garfield. Prominent on Desert Hideaway are Gerald Albright on sax and Hiroshima's June Kuramoto on koto. But since we treat you right, we're playing the full seven minute version; that's right - seven minutes! So listen for Walt Fowler on trumpet & flugelhorn, Will Lee on bass, Michael O'Neill on the guitar solo and Steve Ferrone on drums as they each take a turn. Then to start hour 2 we have a track titled Los that Garfield dedicates to the late Carlos Vega. Vega & Garfield had been best friends and band mates in Karizma. Larry Klimas contributes some tasty tenor sax to that track with none other than Lee Ritenour handling the guitar duties. Two Bunch Samba completes the feature and the show. Ricardo Silveira guests on guitar on that one and Vinnie Colaiuta & Greg Bissonette share drum duties with Airto on percussion. All in all a spectacular showcase cd feature and no doubt one of our best.

CD: Giving Back
Label: Creatchy
Site: Garfield/Creatchy

Flight Time - Cabo Frio:
Named after a city in Brazil, Cabo Frio is a veteran jazz band that emerged from the musically fertile Upstate New York area during the late 70s. The group began their recording career in 1982, with the release of their self-titled debut album and over the past two decades, have recorded six cds and toured extensively. Although Cabo Frio have been absent from the music scene for the past few years, they reunited last year to celebrate their 25th Anniversary with a highly successful concert and a new album. Island Dance is their follow up project and presents an exciting fusion of ideas and cultural identities, characteristics which have always been hallmarks of the group. From that effort, we've chosen a cool tune titled Flight Time which well encapsulates many of this veteran ensemble's finest qualities.

CD: Island Dance
Label: Kezia Records
Site: Cabo Frio

Blue Me Down - William Woods:
The son of a professional violinist, Woods started playing piano at nine. Initially, he wanted to be a concert player, but as he improvised while he practiced, Woods found creating his own music was a more personally satisfying experience. As a teenager, William studied classical composition and at 16, he started taking pre-college courses at the Juilliard School of Music. He went on to Princeton, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in music and soon after was playing in & around the NYC area. However, in time Woods answered to a different calling as he entered the field of medicine eventually becoming an MD specializing in radiation oncology. It wasn't until the mid 90's that Woods got back into music. Cobalt Blue is his sophomore effort, the album's name is a reference to a radioactive substance used in x-rays as well as the fact that it's a shade blue. Continuing on the play on that colour, we've selected a wonderful piece titled Blue Me Down and that will be from Dr. William Woods.

CD: Cobalt Blue
Label: Qantar Music Inc.
Site: William Woods

Back Pocket - The Clayton/Scott Group :
Andrew Scott and Jim Clayton met while studying jazz at Toronto's Humber College. Although each went their separate way after graduation, upon their return to Toronto, the two reconnected and shortly thereafter released August, their critically acclaimed debut CD. Just out is So Nice, the follow up project which is certain to draw more rave reviews. For this endeavour Clayton & Scott enlisted the aid of Tony Grace & Rob DeBoar. The latter pair operate as The Boomtang Boys but for our purposes we're referring to them as Four80East, their jazz & chill-based alter egos. The aligning of these creative forces has resulted in a highly refined project that is certain to propel Jim Clayton, Andrew Scott & their band to even greater levels on the international scene. Safe to say we're very excited about this one and will be playing much from it in the weeks ahead.

CD: So Nice
Label: Boomtang Records
Site:Clayton/Scott Group