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David Boswell

David Boswell, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist modern jazz recording artist from Los Angeles, California.

About Me

“Boswell brings chops, class and style.” Guitar Player Magazine

“A guitar innovator, a brilliant virtuoso.” Scott Yanow - Jazz Historian/ Journalist/ author of The Great Jazz Guitarists: The Ultimate Guide

Guitarist David Boswell was born in San Francisco, California, and raised in nearby town of Saratoga, California. His entire family is musical and namely his older brother, John Boswell who is a pianist and recording artist. David began taking guitar lessons at age 7 and at age 12, he formed a rock band that performed at school dances. At age 16, he attended a Pat Metheny concert he likened to “a religious experience” and became immersed in jazz. He later was chosen to be part of a group of young musicians who traveled to Woodstock, NY, to study with Metheny, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette for several weeks. He made a living, however, in playing in the pop and rock genre as a member of the San Francisco Bay Area band the Metro Jets, which recorded an EP entitled “About to Surface” and played extensively around the northern California Bay Area. After moving to Los Angeles, he played in another band, Model 2, while studying in the Professional Instrumental Program with an emphasis on guitar at the prestigious Grove School of Music. He also studied film scoring at UCLA, which was where he learned the intricacies of writing for film and arranging music for a full orchestra. Boswell has worked as a session musician in Los Angeles, notably appearing on albums by Broadway musical performers and singers as Stacy Sullivan, Joanne O'Brien, Kevin Koelbl, Cindy Benson, Franc D'Ambrosio, Lee Lessack, David Burnham, Suzanne Jamieson Selmo, Dwayne Britton, Jeudi, Greg Safel, Elizabeth Ward Land. While doing studio work, he was also working in a jazz trio with renowned bassist and recording artist Dean Taba. It was at this time that Boswell became a prolific composer and in 2004, he released his first album, “Hold Tight to Your Dreams”, on his independent My Quiet Moon Records label. On this record his compositions show an eclectic variety including an epic film-score type tune featuring Eric Rigler (Braveheart, Titanic) on bagpipes and whisle entitled “Path to Freedom”. He followed it in 2006, with his second recording, “Bridge of Art”, which celebrated a hit on the Smooth Jazz charts with the tune “Simple Life” followed by his third release “I Like That” featuring celebrated saxophonist Nelson Rangell and Yellowjackets co-founder and Grammy Award winner Jimmy Haslip on the bass as well as his brother John Boswell on the Piano and Grammy Award winning MB Gordy on drums and percussion. In 2012, he returned with the same rhythm section line-up for the award winning recording “Windows” with the addition of Dean Taba and Rod MacDowell sitting in the bass chair for a few tracks and John Fumo on the trumpet as a special guest on one track. The 2014 release of the debut recording of his trio project Storyboard entitled “Hello” with drummer Alex Locascio and electric bass player Rod MacDowell brought tunes that were born out weekly jams which blossomed into some really adventurous guitar-centric music. In 2018 David released 3 solo acoustic baritone guitar singles of tunes that really spoke to him over the years as part of his ongoing “Singles Project”. Of the released tunes are Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”, David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” and Dave Matthews’ “So Damn Lucky” as well as his debut vocal recording of an original song entitled “Struggle”. Recently released was an acoustic instrumental of the Car’s song “Drive” written by Ric Ocasek.

2020 brings David’s current and most ambitious record bringing Jimmy Haslip in as the producer on the project. The title of the record is “The Story Behind the Story” and features an incredible line-up of musicians: Mitchel Forman - piano, MB Gordy - drums and percussion, Jimmy Haslip - bass, Scott Kinsey - piano and keyboards, Gary Novak - drums, Otmaro Ruiz - piano and keyboards, Bart Samolis - bass and Andy Snitzer on the saxophone. The record is mixed and mastered by Grammy Award winning engineer Rich Breen.

David Boswell has a unique approach to music with his use of synthesized guitars, different electric and acoustic guitars including mandolin and ukulele and the incorporation of his voice as a melodic instrument. David’s music transports the listener and sends them off on amazing journeys through his adventurous and melodic music. The music is cinematic at times and tends to leave the listener with beautiful melodies ringing in their heads long after the music stops.

My Jazz Story

Jazz moves my body, feeds my soul, fills my heart, and opens my mind to to the endless possibilities in life! I simply love jazz!