Album Notes

Bridge Of Art is the awaited new release from the acclaimed Los Angeles based contemporary jazz guitarist David Boswell. It features the sharp melodic playing, composing and improvising of David Boswell with the amazing musicianship of his band. It is smooth jazz, contemporary jazz and has elements of world music and is a record that puts David Boswell “on the map” as an amazing guitarist and composer to watch out for.

Smooth Jazz News
March 2006

Review by Jonathan Widran

When Los Angeles-based guitarist David Boswell was 19, he had the unique opportunity to study with Pat Metheny, and it’s clear from this adventurous new collection that the contemporary jazz guitar master is still very much an influence.

Bridge of Art is the kind of sharply-performed, melodically interesting and rhythmically diverse disc that has something to please everyone’s palette.

Smooth jazz fans will enjoy the laid back lushness of the ballad “Simple Life,” which features a cool electric guitar melody over the elegant and jazzy piano harmonies of brother John Boswell.
Another track with a soulful pop sensibility is “Looking Forward,” whose moody melody is played on both electric and synth guitar. Fusion and straight ahead jazz fans will appreciate the more expansive pieces, in particular the impressionistic, highly improvisational “Take Me Away,” which builds slowly, propelled along by trippy, exotic soundscaping and Tim McIntyre’s hypnotic drum brushes. Then there’s the crackling jam session “Salute to Kindness,” where the drums are let loose and Boswell complements his rich guitar lines with wordless chanting. World music fans will be enchanted with “Exclamation’s A Smile,” which blends the kalimba and berimbau work of M.B. Gordy III and Boswell’s Indian-tinged synth guitar lines.
Also notable is the stunning album cover created around a photo of a bridge in Los Gatos, California by Boswell’s sister Julie Werner. Boswell sees the bridge, which features colorful, free-form artwork by local young children, as a metaphor for the way music functions as a bridge between people and cultures.

Bridge Of Art features David's brother John Boswell on piano (celebrated composer, Hearts of Space Records recording artist) Dean Taba on bass (David Benoit, Andy Summers, Dave Koz, More Is More...) MB Gordy on percussion (Frank Zappa, LA Philharmonic, Doobie Brothers, John Tesh...) Tim McIntyre on drums (MI Instructor, LA Studio musician...)