Keyboardist David Garfield really needs no introduction as his musical resume reads like a soul, jazz and classic rock how-to guide. Garfield has been a renowned songwriter, producer, bandleader (of Los Angeles based contemporary world jazz collectives Karizma and Los Lobotomys), arranger, recording artist, record label owner (Creatchy Records), session and touring musician, musical director and composer of various commissioned themes for global organizations. And for names he has recorded with? Here are just a few: Smokey Robinson, Cher, Spint Tab, Boz Scaggs, Oleta Adams. Garfield’s playing hones a distinctive keyboard flair rooted in the 70’s electronic hey-dey, yet maintaining another hand in the trends of pop culture and its respective musical themes. Now in his fifth decade of performing, the creative twists have unleased another present.
Glide is proud to premiere a seriously in the pocket and righteous version of Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady” (below). This track will be included on Garfield’s upcoming star-studded album Stretchin’ Outside the Box, scheduled for release in early 2021. Featuring The Meters’ legendary drummer Zigaboo Modeliste and prolific guitarist Cory Wong, the song in a soulful beast reignited for 2020’s need to uprise. Kenya Hathway (daughter of the great Donny Hathaway and Lalah Hathaway’s sister) and Bill Champlin (former lead singer of Chicago and Sons of Champlin) provide vocals, along with with horns by Jerry Hey, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter, flugelhornist, arranger, orchestrator and session musician whose credits include Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. The track was was mixed by Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer Niko Bolas.
“I always loved Aretha Franklin’s “Rock Steady” and wanted to re-imagine it with one of my very favorite drummers Zigaboo Modeliste of “the Meters” to bring the funky “Nawlin’s Sound” to it,”‘ says Garfield. “I had always been a huge fan of the Meters and their approach to funk & rhythm section grooves. On one of my live shows in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of using guitarist Cory Wong in my band and then invited him to play on this track as well as I liked his fresh approach to funk. I only found out later after he recorded for me that he was in a very popular group called “Vulfpeck” Turns out that Vulfpeck had hired Zig to play with them as well so it was one big happy coincidence. Collaborating with both of these fantastic players and arranging the horns together with Jerry Hey made these recordings a bucket list deal for me!”
