Keyesland Music artist: Dave Keyes - The Healing - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Healing, from Dave Keyes, and its a breath of fresh air. Opening with boogie shuffle, Change, David J. Keyes on bass lays down a nice groove, with Dave Keyes on lead vocal and piano, Stephen Rushton on drums and Rob Paparozzi on harp backed by Alexis P. Suter, Vicki Bell and Ray Grappone on vocals. Very cool opener. On Bo Diddley flavored, Not So Nice Anymore has a great tom tom beat and nice piano work by Keyes, topped by fiery slide work by Popa Chubby. R&B track, Ain't Looking For Love has a real nice feel with warm vocals by Keyes and a nice duet with Vanese Thomas. I particularly like Paparozzi's harp work on this track. Very nice. Robert Johnsons's Traveling Riverside Blues is one of my favorites on the release with Chubby smoking the strings and Keyes digging in deep on vocals, laying down some real nice piano riffs and with Frank Pagano on drums. Keyes solos out on Boogie for Stefan, an excellent piano boogie. Boogie/gospel...yup! Strange Things Happening is a lively, gospel style number with boogie piano. Keyes shines on piano (of course) and his own vocals, teamed with The Ministers of Sound is really sweet. This is a really cool track and other of my favorites on the release. Faith Grace Love and Forgiveness is a particularly potent track with a John Hiatt feel and definite gospel overtones with 30 piece, The Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir blending beautifully on queue and a soulful guitar solo by Arthur Neilson . Excellent! This release just keeps building steam with ballad, Take You Back, backed by The Ministers of Sound and Neilson again adding tasty riffs. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Box of Blues, an easy flowing, New Orleans flavored track with Paparozzi on harp, a duet with Diane Cricchio, and full horn support from Chris Eminizer on bari and tenor sax and Tim Ouimette on trumpet. Solid closer.

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Keyesland Music artists: Harlem Street Singer - Empire Roots Band - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Music from the film, Harlem Street Singer, Music by Empire Roots Band it's it's quite well done. This film and consequently this cd celebrates the music of Rev. Gary Davis. Opening with Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, this band features the robust voice of Bill Sims Jr. guitar work by Woody Mann, piano by Dave Keyes and bass by Brian Glassman. Each of the performers shows their individual virtuosity on this track. On Search My Heart, Sims Jr. holds a strong line vocally but it's Keyes that shines on through on piano on this track. Opening with really clean piano riffs by Keyes, Mean Old World gets a super rework by Sims jr. and may be my favorite track on the release. Both Keyes and Mann lay down some exceptional riffs. There's A Destruction In This Land has a particularly strong spiritual overtone with it's gospel feel. Genre specific piano riffs and warm harmonies accentuate Sims jr.s lead vocals. I particularly like Mann's lead guitar take off on this track. Opening with some cool slide riffs by Mann, Soon My Work Will All Be Done, is a quiet contemplative track with subtle overtones. Nice finger picking by Mann opens Trying To Get Home and Sims Jr. lays down some of my favorite vocals on the release. A nice blend of Mann's guitar, Keyes on piano and a cool solo by Glassman makes this one of my favorites on the release. An extremely precise chord intro by Mann gives Sunday Church Medley a certain sophistication before breaking into a simple revival feel with blended male vocals and Keyes, Glassman and Mann sharing in the resulting musical bounty. A great intro by Mann and Keyes and a nice bass line by Glassman gives on Hesitation Blues a terrific posture. Excellent! Twelve Gates To The City has a nice almost New Orleans strut thanks to Keyes. Glassman lays out a solid bass solo on this track, lightly punctuated by Keyes and Mann plays close to Sims Jr. really capturing the feel of RGD. On I Am The Light Of This World/I Belong To The Band, Sims Jr.s vocals are more neatly tucked into the basci feel of the music with solid piano throughout. Mann has a few hot riffs but this track is about it's swing. Wrapping the release is Orangitang Rag. This is a really crisp guitar lead guitar track with tight bass riffs and a quick piano solo from Keys. An excellent track to conclude an uplifting release.

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Keyesland Music artist: Dave Keyes - Right Here Right Now - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, , from Dave Keyes and it's a variety of good time, boogie, blues and R&B... I mean it's a literal party! Opening with Here She Comes Again, Keyes has a great band playing feel good blues music a la Elvin Bishop. This is such a great style blending horns and vocals featuring Keyes on vocal and keys, Frank Pagano on drums,Sue Williams on bass, Chris Eminizer on sax, Tim Ouimette on trumpet and Popa Chubby screaming away on guitars! You Think I Don't Know is a soul ballad remaining somewhat contained making it a prime radio track. Popa takes a few bars to add his personal signature to this track and it blends beautifully into the mix. Nothing Left To Lose has a bit of a Latin feel but with R&B style keys and vocals. With a little Louisiana piano roll keeping the track moving along, Eminizer and Ouimette add a great horn backing. Guitarist Dave Fields steps up for a flaming guitar solo on this track adding some additional spice to the gumbo. Shadow Boogie is a great piano rumble. You want to hear someone play traditional piano boogie without the modern added crap...here it is! Sit Right Here opens with a gospel style piano intro but develops quickly into a R&B infused Wet Willie style track again with Eminizer, Ouimette and Fields cooking the back as Keyes leads the way. Fields plays some outrageous slide work characteristically heard from the Lowell George camp. Excellent! A cool track, Who Stole The Baby Jesus features special guest Diane Cricchio on vocal duet with backing from Paul Smith, Jeanie Brower and Keshia Baldwin and a great sax solo from Eminizer. This track has such a great gospel vibe and delivery! Never Say Goodbye, the second ballad on the release features primarily Keyes on vocal and piano. Jeff Pevar takes a very warm resonator solo on this track adding substantial to an already supple cake. Now's My Time, a cool shuffle track features David J. keyes on bass, and Steve Rushton on drums while Keyes trades piano riffs with Popa Chubby on hot slide. Delta Queen has a rolling blues sound with a taste of early Allmans. Popa is back on guitars backed by George Naha on rhythm. Keyes vocals on this track are reminiscent of Jack Bruce. Wrapping the release is Wronged Man Blues, a lightly executed spiritual style track. Woody Mann plays guitar to Keyes piano in a very well balanced acoustic boogie. This is a release that you should definitely check out!  

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”

Although not on this release, this is a good representation of Keyes at work: