Dave Keyes
Right Here Right Now
Keyesland Music
Dave Keyes has been a part of the New York music scene for over twenty years. His cd “Tear It Up” was released in 1997. In 2000 Keyes won the International Blues Challenge band competition. Keyes’ third cd “Covered in Blue” received 3 ½ stars from Downbeat magazine.
In 2009 Keyes released his fourth cd “Roots in The Blues”. More importantly Keyes has established himself as a first call session musician on both piano and accordion. This newest cd, 2013’s “Right Here Right Now”, resulted in Keyes receiving a nomination for 2014 Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of The Year at the Blues Music Awards this past May.

This album has been recorded on different days at various recording studios but the recording sounds as if it where completed in just one session. All songs were written by Keyes except one. On the rockin’ opener Keyes sings “Here She Comes Again”. Popa Chubby is on guitar and Sue Williams on bass; Frank Pagano is on drums, while Keyes lights it up on piano. The horn section of Chris Eminizer, sax; and Tim Ouinette, trumpet, complete the sound.

“You Think I Don’t Know” features Keys on the B-3 organ. Chubby takes a great guitar solo. Pagano’s background vocal adds just the right amount of harmony to Keyes’ tenor voice. “Nothing Left to Loose” features Keyes this time on both piano and organ. The guitarist is Dave Fields. The horns once again add the finishing touch.

“Shadow Boogie” is a fabulous instrumental. On it, Keyes displays why he received a nomination for Piano Player of The Year.

“Sit Right Here” is a Levon Helm or “Band” influenced song about the Mississippi river and features Keyes on both accordion and piano. “Delta Queen” features George Naha on guitar. “Wrong Man Blues” features guitarist Woody Mann.

The only song not written by Keyes is “Who Stole the Baby Jesus”. Keyes previously worked with Marie Knight and has an appreciation for a good gospel tune. This one was written by Diane Cricchio and features her and a gospel choir.

As a session musician Keyes is in demand more than ever before. Keyes also shares a special relationship with his band mates and thanks them for helping him with this recording and with his gigs. If you haven’t heard of Keyes this album would be a good place to start.

Richard Ludmerer