DAVE KEYES
THE HEALING
CHANGE–DANCE IN THE DARK–NOT SO NICE ANYMORE–AIN’T LOOKING FOR LOVE–TRAVELING RIVERSIDE BLUES–BOOGIE FOR STEFAN–COME TO ME–STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING–FAITH GRACE LOVE AND FORGIVENESS–TAKE YOU BACK–BOX OF BLUES
New York-based keyboard wizard/composer/vocalist Dave Keyes is another artist we always look forward to when it comes to new music. He’s eclectic and unique with a style rooted in traditional blues as well as keeping an eye toward the future. That spirit drives the eleven cuts that make up his latest set, “The Healing.,” nine originals and two righteous covers. If you check out our review for Popa Chubby’s latest set, (posted December 4), you’ll notice that Dave Keyes is all over the keyboards on that album, and Popa returns the favor here, swingin’ his mighty axe on five cuts.
The party starts with a harp riff from Rob Paparozzi on the clarion call for “Change” everywhere, “if you don’t like that view,” and be sure to “keep on heading toward the light!” Vaneese Thomas plays the female lead while Dave is the tomcat on the prowl, as our two paramours “head straight for dessert,” ’cause “I Ain’t Looking For Love!” Rob’s on the harp here, with Popa on guitar, too. A cool horn section gives Dave’s original, “Dance In The Dark,” the feel that it coulda been a long-lost gem from Allen Toussaint, while Dave’s mean left hand takes us thru a swingin’ instrumental, “Boogie For Stefan.” “Come To Me,” a lovely ballad written by Dave and Popa, features Popa’s guitar as Dave pleads for a lover to leave a bad situation. He stays in that poignant moment for a definitive call for healing through “Faith, Grace, Love And Forgiveness,” this one backed by the voices of the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir.
This one was full of favorites. Chubby’s slide glides over a Diddley beat as Dave sings of being “tired of living for what I’ve settled for,” “Not So Nice Anymore.” Dave and Chubby get on down to the bidness of the blues, with a six-minute ride to the Crossroads by way of Robert Johnson’s iconic “Traveling Riverside Blues.” Then, just as sure as Sunday morning follows Saturday night, Dave’s vocal and piano and the backing chorus do some sweet trstifyin’ on Sister Rosetta’s “Strange Things Happening every day!”
Dave Keyes knows the only way for things to change starts within all of us. On the music contained within “The Healing,” he offers up some excellent social commentary and sends a message of hope to a troubled society, and, Dave, for this we thank you! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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