DAVE KEYES
RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW
KEYESLAND RECORDS DKR 1008
HERE SHE COMES AGAIN–YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW–NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE–SHADOW BOOGIE–SIT RIGHT HERE–WHO STOLE THE BABY JESUS–NEVER SAY GOODBYE–NOW’S MY TIME–DELTA QUEEN–WRONGED MAN BLUES
Native New Yorker Dave Keyes is a brilliant keyboard player. He’s won the IBC (in 2000) and has four previous releases to his credit. Also, he was the musical conductor for the Broadway production of “Smoky Joe’s Cafe,” playing and singing on that Grammy-winning soundtrack. He brings that emotion, fire, and passion to his latest release, an all-original, ten-cut affair entitled “Right Here Right Now,” that further showcases Dave’s immense musical talents. And, there are some cool special guests along the way, such as Popa Chubby, Dave Fields, Jeff Pevar, and Woody Mann on guitar.
Dave’s Broadway background comes into play on several of these cuts, too, which range from straight blues, soulful R & B, and even some New Orleans-flavored Americana. The set opens with the jump-blues of “Here She Comes Again,” the rollicking tale of a lover who comes and goes as she pleases, and, for Dave, he “doesn’t ask, and she doesn’t tell!” The horn arrangements are spot-on, and both Dave and Popa Chuuby fire off some extended solos herein. “You Think I Don’t Know” is a gritty, soulful piece that looks at love from Dave’s point of view, after he’s “seen all the signs” that “she’s found another guy.” “Sit Right Here” is a spiritually-uplifting tune that shows the triumph of the human spirit, done up in a zydeco style, with Dave on the accordion. And, perhaps the most unusual cut on the set is “Who Stole The Baby Jesus,” an uptempo shuffle that traces the “theft” to a young boy who, upon receiving a much-treasured red wagon under the Christmas tree, simply wanted to express his thanks by giving the Baby Jesus the first ride! It has a dynamite horn section, and a Broadway-styled backing chorus. “Now’s My Time” features some deep slide guitar from Popa Chubby over Dave’s danceable groove, and the set closes with Dave’s Delta-inspired tale of a man who was lied on by his lover’s best friend, leaving him with those “Wronged Man Blues.” Wody Mann adds the acoustic backing guitar, as well.
We had two favorites, too. The horn section again spices up the Fifties-era tale of a lover who’s left Dave with “Nothing Left To Lose,” with Dave Fields on guitar. And, Dave’s original instrumental, “Shadow Boogie,” is a stone-cold, stomp-down, left-hand-rockin, beat me daddy, boogie-woogie lover’s dream!
Dave Keyes has carved quite a niche’ for himself since his IBC victory. He just keeps gettin’ better with each album, and “Right Here Right Now” is his best and most diverse to date! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow
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