Inside Liner Notes:
What can I say? The San Francisco Bay Area rocks. And
one of the things I love most about it is the musical versatility. Not
only the extremely wide range of styles and expression found here such
as jazz, blues, R&B, funk, soul, Latin American, etc., but also the
fact that the area attracts musicians like David Yamasaki, who combine
the above mentioned elements, always prioritizing love and integrity
over the commercial demands of clubs, record labels, and the industry
in general.
David's notoriety as a first call guitarist for
studio and live performance is no surprise to me. The fact that he is
not much more widely known is indicative of how the business of music
so often misses the boat. I had the honor of playing with him in the
mid-eighties for about four years in the orchestra of maestro Pete
Escovedo. It so happened that our stage set up found David and I right
next to each other where I heard and felt every note he played. He
never ceased to amaze me with his rock solid rhythmic accompaniment
while his outrageously creative and flawless solos wowed the musicians
and audience every time. I've also played with him countless times
since those days with Wayne Wallace's Rhythm and Thyme and even with
my own band in the studio, and it's always a great pleasure to hear,
watch and feel him burst through his guitar and grab everyone in the
room. He plays with so much honesty, freedom and joy, that it's truly
contagious. David is constantly striving to improve and push the
parameters. He richly deserves the high respect bestowed upon him by
all his peers and colleagues.
From Me to You is a wonderful example of some of the
best of our local crew of stellar musicians coming together around
David's emotive guitar - at once elegant, tender and powerful. His
broad-based influence and innate musicality is in plain evidence here.
Check out the intense urban edge of
J-Town Blues, the high danceability of the jazzy cha cha cha
From Me to You, the proud Asian triple meter adventurousness of
Samurai Hee Haw (title notwithstanding), David's lilting
samba/mambo arrangement of Jaco's
Three Views of a Secret, or any one of the several gorgeous
ballads and semi-ballads like
Just For You,
Just Once, or
Rachael's Song. Everything is passionate, yet has a relaxed,
natural flow that gives the deceptive impression that it's easy to do.
It ain't!
David's work as a composer/arranger is also
remarkable throughout this recording. He wrote half the tunes and the
imaginative arrangements are all his too! To top it off, he's a
dedicated, great teacher of kids. He's shared his vast knowledge and
experience with thousands of youngsters for many years throughout the
San Francisco Bay Area where he has been commended and recognized for
his outstanding service. David Yamasaki is the total package - a
musician's musician who always reaches the hearts of his listeners.
It's time the public and the music business caught up with him.
John Santos
Oakland, CA
April 2003 |