Full Court Press (RSD 2022)

Jazz guitarist Calvin Keys is a legend among soul-jazz-funk fans for both his work as a session & touring musician and for the catalog of classic releases under his own name. Key's playing style is lean & muscular and his unique phrasing balances sophisticated jazz harmonics with funky R&B & soul grooves. Since the 1960s Calvin Keys has performed/recorded with renowned artists such as Ahmad Jamal, Ray Charles, Pharoah Sanders and Joe Henderson. He is also a mentor to young talent, offers private lessons, and is a frequent teacher at the yearly happening `Jazz Camp West'.Calvin Keys was born in 1943 in Omaha, Nebraska. His first musical influence was his father Otis, a well-known drummer in the city's music scene_he passed the music bug on to Calvin, who picked up the guitar early. Keys landed his first notable gig as a member of Eddie ""Cleanhead"" Vinson's band when he was 17 and then went on to play with Preston Love (of the Count Basie Orchestra). Later on, he would also join The Jimmy Smith Trio and then worked through the rest of the 1960's with legends such as Jimmy McGriff, Richard ""Groove"" Holmes and Brother Jack McDuff.After moving to Los Angeles in the 1970's, he signed to Gene Russell's now-legendary Black Jazz label where he cut his first two albums: Shawn-Neeq (1971) & Proceed with Caution (1974). Next to his own output on Black Jazz Records, Calvin Keys also did session work for the label and played on several of its hit records. At this point in time Keys also auditioned for the Ray Charles Orchestra_his unique phrasing and his ability to balance sophisticated jazz harmonics with tough R&B and soul grooves were showcased nightly in Charles' band. Before relocating to San Francisco in 1975, he also played on Billy Brooks' jazz-funk classic `Windows of the Mind' (1974) and focused on more live and session work. Keys then joined Ahmad Jamal's group and spent close to a decade with the pianist, touring the globe and recording six albums with him...