The Legendary Jazz Guitarist Who Still Jams

By Dinah deSpenza

February 12, 2012

Legendary guitarist Calvin Keys brought the house down on his 70^th birthday at the 57^th Street Gallery’s Blue Monday Night Jam Session on February 6^th.

Packing in a full house, the session was co-hosted by Calvin Keys and Melvin Butts, saxophonist extraordinaire.

For jazz musicians and enthusiast, the 57^th Street Gallery is the place to show up with your instrument, your voice, or just to enjoy the music and jam with the Bay Area’s best.
The 57th Street Gallery is highly supported by the jazz community in the Bay Area; one can never tell what stars will show up at the sessions, as no musicians and singers are turned away regardless of stature.
The gallery is the brainchild of Floyd Pellom, who to this day personally greets every guest who enters the door.
His friendly down to earth staff pours generous sized glasses of wine.

“This is a very special place. This space creates an atmosphere that’s international without trying to impress," said Heshims, bassist.

According to classical singer Yolanda Rhodes, who showed up with an entourage of musicians from Argentina, the event “ was a wonderful night."
"The 57th Street Gallery should be more well-known," proclaimed Rhodes.

“Tonight was everything coming together to celebrate Calvin, said Heshims.”

Calvin Keys is well known for performing with the Ray Charles band for many years.

A deity among guitarist, Keys is a shinning star of the West Coast Jazz scene. Keys’ eclectic style encompasses soul, gospel, R&B, funk, bebop, deep blues and even hip-hop.

Like most jazz guitarists near his stature, Keys has history with the bay area and beyond, but with special ties to Oakland, some of it preserved for posterity.

Crediting well-known ax men amongst his fan base, most notably jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, Keys is known as a "guitarist's guitarist."

Metheny pays homage to Keys with the original composition “Calvin's Keys” on the 2008 album “Day Trip.”

Keys has performed alongside such luminaries as Jimmy Smith, Taj Mahal, Jimmy McGriff and Ahmad Jamal.

With a sound that's as big and as an American Cadillac, his velvety smooth jazz chords prove to be one of jazz's most durable styles that feed naturally into dance music.

Playing more like a saxophonist or pianist than a guitarist, Keys generates a fierce swing.

Keys’ let his fingers flicker on his guitar and clearly know how to make music as art.

With an overwhelming virtuosity to jam every chorus with ideas, Keys plays with an ice-pick sharp tone.

Keys jumpstarted the set, joined by Butts on saxophone. Butts also performed at Keys’ 50^th birthday jam session 20 years ago.

With Heshims on bass, New York’s Keith Saunders on piano, Keys let them talk back and forth while Lorca Hart tapped away furiously on drums, shadowing the action.

According to Butts, “Celebrating Calvin Keys’ 70^th birthday here tonight is the greatest thing ever. All he stands for has paid off professionally. It’s all in the pudding and validates the greatness of Calvin Keys.”

 “I didn’t even think I’d make it to age 50, let alone age 70. God loves me and has blessed me. God is love. I am worth something,” said Keys.

“Everybody’s happy,” said Alex Friedman, a bass maker from Russia.

The night ended with the fabulous jazz singer, Lady Sunrise singing her rendition of “My Funny Valentine.”