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Calvin Keys

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1943, Calvin Keys' musical legacy began early with his father Otis Keys, a man who is still described as Omaha's greatest natural drummer. Early on in his own musical career Calvin auditioned and played guitar with such greats as Eddie Cleanhead Vinson and bassist Gerald Holts. At age 17, he first hit the road with sax player Little Walkin' Willie and then followed in his father's footsteps to Kansas City, where his first gigs were with Preston Love of the Count Basie Orchestra and The Frank Edwards Organ Trio. That foundation led to working with one of the greatest organ trios of all time‚ The Jimmy Smith Trio, and then on to working with several other organ greats: Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, and Groove Holmes.

In 1969, Keys headed for Los Angeles. In 1971, he cut his first album, Shawn Neeq, on what was then Gene Russell's new highly acclaimed Blackjazz record label. Soon afterwards, he was hired to record and tour with Ray Charles. It was then that Calvin's career began blossoming in full swing as he toured Europe for the first time as the guitarist for Ray's Big Band.

In 1973, Blackjazz released his second solo album, Proceed With Caution. At this time, Calvin also began also using his newly given African name, Ajafika. Appearing on the album cover in an African robe and holding a spear, Calvin was in step with the African- American independence movement with a new identity and a raw roots musical direction. Shortly thereafter, Keys was called to work with legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal. Keys spent most of the next seven years recording six albums and performing with Ahmad.

By 1975, Keys had relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and become an avid participant in its local jazz community, working on a regular basis with John Handy, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Marshall, Leon Williams, Bob Braye, Ed Kelley, Eddie Duran, Bruce Forman, Junius Simons, Eddie Moore and others. In the 80's, Calvin performed with big name players such as Tony Bennett, Pharoah Saunders, and Sonny Stitt. By this time, Keys realized he wanted to reestablish his solo career, so he returned to the studio to record. In 1985, Olive Branch Records released tracks from these sessions as the album entitiled, Full Court Press. The album that followed, Maria's First, featured samples of the first cries of his newborn daughter, Marela.

Working with his own trio, Calvin released Standard Keys on Lifeforce Records in 1992. After undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1997, Keys bounced back with a memorable debut on dissent's eponimous release on Wide Hive Records. A year later, Keys followed up with his widely heralded solo album on Wide Hive Records, Detours Into Unconscious Rhythms. Since then, he has performed with Blue Note Records organist Big John Patten, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and most recently, Taj Mahal. In 2005, Calvin's latest release, Calvinesque, rose to #30 on the Jazz charts.

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Album Review

Calvin Keys: Vertical Clearance

Read "Vertical Clearance" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Guitarist Calvin Keys has accumulated a five-decade career of playing and recording with some of the biggest names in American music. From Omaha, Nebraska to Kansas City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and other stopping points, Keys made the acquaintance of such luminaries as Frank Edwards, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, King Pleasure, Jack McDuff, Damita Jo, Oscar Brown, Jr., Bill Cosby, Tony Bennett, Joe Henderson, Stanley Turrentine and Donald Byrd.

In 1969, Keys made the move ...

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Performance / Tour

Calvin Keys Celebrates His 70th Birthday

Calvin Keys Celebrates His 70th Birthday

Source: Tompkins Square

Guitarist Calvin Keys will celebrate his 70th birthday on February 6th, 2012. To mark the occasion, Calvin will play a special birthday show Feb 6th, 7-11pm, at 57th St. Gallery, 5701 Telegraph Ave., Oakland CA. Tickets are $20 at the door. Keys' very first album,'Shawn-Neeq, originally released in 1971 on Black Jazz, has just been reissued on 180g vinyl by SF-based label Tompkins Square. It's a stone classic waiting to be re-discovered. The funky, deep grooves and Calvin's singular guitar ...

47

Recording

Calvin Keys "Shawn-Neeq" Reissued on 180g Vinyl

Calvin Keys "Shawn-Neeq" Reissued on 180g Vinyl

Source: Tompkins Square

Calvin Keys' debut Shawn-Neeq will be reissued on 180g vinyl LP tomorrow, Jan 10, on Tompkins Square. The LP is now available for purchase at tompkinssquare.com Originally released on the influential label Black Jazz in 1971, guitarist Calvin Keys' debut is a stone classic waiting to be re-discovered. The funky, deep grooves and Calvin's singular guitar stylings, coupled with a heady collaborative feel that inhabits so many early '70's jazz recordings, are all on beautiful display. 40 years later, Tompkins ...

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Event

Guitar Lion Calvin Keys to play weekend set at Jazz at Pearl's, December 15-17

Guitar Lion Calvin Keys to play weekend set at Jazz at Pearl's, December 15-17

Source: Rocket Words

Soul/Jazz Master takes the Pearl's stage in San Francisco's historic North Beach District

Soul, funk, jazz, virtuosity, depth of experience, lightness of touch and intensity of spirit. Seasoned, yet young at heart. The words and phrases one could use to describe guitarist Calvin Keys barely seem to scratch the surface of what this great musician has to offer jazz audiences. Keys has had a 40-year career in music, yet plays with the freshness and power of constant discovery. His 2006 ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Vertical Clearance

Wide Hive Records
2006

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Maria's First

Not On Label (Calvin Weston Self-released)
1987

buy

Full Court Press

Not On Label (Calvin Weston Self-released)
1985

buy

Criss Cross

CB Records
1976

buy

Proceed With Caution !

Not On Label (Calvin Weston Self-released)
1974

buy

Gee-Gee Part 1 / Part...

Not On Label (Calvin Weston Self-released)
0

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