In his second of his Outside the Box series, pianist/keyboardist David Garfield goes from grooving jazz to getting out into the soulful struts. He once again pulls out his iphone to call some of the biggest all stars, making it a R&B heaven of sorts.
And what a guest list! George Benson and David Sanborn get tropical on an irresistible “Please Don’t Go” and then get into some swampy Memphis soul with Wayne Bergeron/tp, Lennie Castro/perc and Eric Marienthal/s on a stomping “Stay.” Michale MacDonald/voc and Vinnie Colaiuta team with Michael Landaul and John Clayton’s strings for a smooth as silk “Fragile, “ while Smokey Robinson sizzles with Sanborn on “One Like You.” Vintage CTI sounds are delivered by Marcus Miller on a swinging “Rainbow Seeker” and ray Parker teams up with Lamont Dozier Jr (where’d they find HIM?!?) for an EWF-funky “What You Won’t do For Love.” Last but not least, nor exhaustively, Garfield brought back legendary tenor saxist John Klemmer out from the cold and teamed him with Rick Braun for a rich and moody “Chasing Pavements.” This disc has more stars than a Cecil B DeMille epic!