Dave Keyes has been plying his skills as a vocalist and master of Blues and American Roots music for more than thirty years, as a valued band member and leader of his own group. He is a member of a musical community which includes some of the best players in the Metro New York area, who are at the top of their profession. Over the last two years, since the passing of his wife of 37 years, Pat Cannon, he has immersed himself in his music. In addition to touring around the world, he gathered a number of his musical brethren together to create his latest work, “Two Trains.” It’s a ten-song collection which was co-written with Mark Sameth, the title, one that every blues lover will know, is a shortened version of the Muddy Waters song, “Two Trains Runnin’,” which Dave uses to represent the “love and the pain in the world” he has felt since Pat’s passing. If the most powerful and inspirational music comes from deep and personal feelings, then Dave has accomplished that here in words and music.
The opening cut, “Blues Ain’t Looking for You,” is driven by Bernard Purdie’s signature beat, Jeff Anderson’s steady bass line, John Putnam’s stinging slide guitar, and flavored by Rob Paparozzi’s harmonica, with his unmistakable “woops.” Add in his newest member, Hasan Bakr’s percussion, a bevy of background singers, including Frank Pagano, Alexis P. Suter and Vicki Bell, with Dave’s powerful vocals and piano on top, and you have a number that literally jumps out of the speakers!
“Boogie Till the Cows Come Home,” finds Dave in his happy place, with that boogie woogie piano he has become known for, accompanied by a room full of hand clapping to help keep the beat, this is a fun song with some complementary guitar from John that will have you clapping along as well. The title track, “Two Trains,” slows things down for the cautionary tail of two trains on the same track in opposite directions. Punctuated by Rob’s tasty harmonica fills, it seems a little too upbeat for the story told, but it certainly gets the message across.
Dave switches to the organ for “I’m Alright,” a gospel flavored number which uses Alexis’ strong background vocals to accentuate the positive lyrics. Some nice slide guitar from John precedes the last minute of the song which goes into a full out rave up, bringing the message home. Next up is “A Long Way From Right Right Now,” a slow blues duet that showcases Dave’s piano, in counter point with Rob’s plaintive harp, to stunning effect. You can feel the personal nature of the song through Daves words and the emotion that both of them bring to this tune.
“What Just Happened,” is a marriage of music and social commentary, driven by Frank’s beat with a liberal amount of Alexis voice framing Dave’s biting lyrics. Mix in Rob’s backing harp and both piano and organ along with some urgent guitar from John, and you have a song that doesn’t mince words about the state the world we live in. “Boogie for Patty” is a solo instrumental love letter displaying the sound that has propelled Dave throughout his career. Listening to his mastery of the piano, you can understand why he has been in demand, playing and recording with many musical giants during his career, with Pat by his side.
“Trust in Love and Fate” features Chris Bergson on slide guitar and couples this upbeat mid-tempo number with some great lyrics which we would all be wise heeding. It’s some good medicine that goes down easy! Woody Mann is featured on both guitar and vocals on the following duet with Dave. “Worried in Mind Blues,” the only non-original track, was written by Big Bill Broonzy, and is played in a crisp folk style blues that harkens back to another age, when the music was a nascent style, sung on porches after a hard day’s labor, and they nail it.
“Rest in Peace,” is Dave’s heartfelt tribute to his fallen partner. It is an eloquent ode to her, and a fitting track, putting a punctuation mark on a union that is over, but will remain in his heart forever. Out of sorrow has come one of Dave’s finest collection of songs, which I highly recommend.
Look for all things Dave Keyes on the following link: https://www.davekeyes.com.