David Diggs - The Artful Collection (1998)

A melodic imagination and an extensive education in arranging, composition, orchestration, and conducting have carried David Diggs to the heights of jazz artistry and to the top of the jazz charts. David let's his music speak for itself, making a strong, upbeat statement. With a unique blend of instrumentation -- a mixture of jazz and rhythm & blues, Diggs brings a dimension of 'blue-eyed soul' to his music. With synthesizers and strings, and some of the top musicians in Los Angeles, David's albums get right to the point with unrestrained creativity, illustrating why both CASH BOX and BILLBOARD rated him one of the top three New Jazz Artists in 1985. Under the influence of Michel Legrand, Claus Ogerman and Bob James, Diggs polished his arranging and producing talents, which were eventually featured on projects by Quincy Jones, Irene Cara, Jonathan Butler, Richie Furay, The Brothers Johnson, Pat & Debby Boone, as well as David's own albums. His album Streetshadows was a top ten entry on BILLBOARD'S Jazz Album Chart for 26 weeks. To this list of musical credits, David has added television programs, including The Tonite Show and Midnite Special, as well as feature films. He has produced/arranged several Grammy-nominated albums including the music for 'Finally Captured' by comedian Jonathan Winters. Inspired by his passion for living, David Diggs' music is revealing and realistic, unrestrained and upbeat. Up front and honest, The Artful Collection unites David's old-fashioned heart with a contemporary jazz sound. Album features Kenny Wild, Tom Saviano, and Eric Gale, and was mixed by engineer Paul Klingberg.