Dave Keyes paint the town blue. 22/23/24/25 July. France

-Published in the New York Waste, September 2004 issue-

I first saw Dave Keyes in January 2004 when I went to see the David Johansen Rock'n Roll band.

Actually, Dave Keyes is responsible for putting this great combo together.

Pianist and bandleader , he is a fixture on the New York City scene, but his spiritual roots are in the Southern sounds of blues, soul and classic boogie-woogie - as evidenced by his 3rd and latest release, Covered in Blue on Keyesland Music. Covered In Blue is a rambunctious set of mostly-original material that ranges from New Orleans second-line funk to slow, sensual blues, and swaggering shuffles. Interestingly enough, the album features a song co-written by David Johansen, who also plays harmonica on one track.

In January 2000, the Dave Keyes band won the Blues Foundation's International Blues Competition defeating 53 other bands from around the country and winning the proclamation for the Dave Keyes band as the best unsigned blues band in the country. They were also the house band for the nationally syndicated TV morning variety show The Ainsley Harriott Show seen on NBC by one million households throughout the country 5 days a week.

Dave has also backed up such roots-music masters as Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Sleepy LaBeef, Big Joe Turner, Percy Sledge, Carla Thomas, Big Jay McNeely, Eddy Clearwater, Deborah Coleman Tracy Nelson and Ruth Brown, to name just a few - both on the road, and in the studio. He has also accompanied such diverse artists as Gladys Knight, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Pam Tillis, David Johansen, Tanya Tucker, James Carr, Darlene Love and Billy Vera. In addition Dave worked as the pianist and conductor for the popular Broadway production of Smokey Joe's Cafe, featuring the music of legendary songsmiths Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. Keyes also appears on the show's Grammy-winning soundtrack album.

This summer I went to support Dave who was performing solo at the Blues Passions Festival in South West of France.

Dave opened the festival-which lasted for 4 days- and he got a full page article in the local press on the next morning. Following to his great performances- one gig/day everyday- Dave was asked by another band to join them on their show, and by the president of the festival to play in the VIP lounge on the last day. Do I need to mention that he got offers to participate to other festivals, and will certainly be back next year.

Well, you might not be a Blues fan, but where do you think Rock comes from?

I can tell you that I was blown away by Dave's performance, and impressed by many of the artists that I discovered during those 4 days. Talented musicians trying to keep alive a very important, diversified, and influencial music genre. I wish more kids who want to make music these days would be open minded enough to take the time to listen to Blues artists, they would learn a lot.

Its the anti-thesis of MTV. It's essential, no matter what you want to do, you need to know those stuff.

I had to travel 7 hours in a train to get there, but I can assure you it was worth the trip. When Dave plays in your neighborhood, which is more than likely to happen if you live in NY, you should really go check that out. And if you're not a Blues fan, you will for sure change your mind.

I got hypnotized watching Dave's fingers running on the keyboard all night long, wishing I could do the same.

And if his 'Dave's Boogie' doesn't rock you, then I don't understand