2023 – Tastee Tone Records
By Phillip Smith; Oct. 14, 2023
Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com
With nearly twenty-five years
of recording music under his belt, Dave Keller returned to the studios
again last fall. The studio, however, happened
to be a friend’s cabin ten miles south of the US/Canadian border nestled in the
Adirondacks. It was there, Keller
and his band recorded his tenth album It’s Time to Shine. This record of all original songs brings joy to
me with every listen. His sophisticated
vocals lend an extra layer of finesse to the sleek brand of feel-good
soul-blues he masterminds. With Keller
up front on vocals and guitar, he is joined by Ira Friedman on keys, Jay
Gleason on drums/percussion, Alex Budney on bass, Mark Earley
on sax, Tom Palance on trumpet, and Annika Chambers-DesLauriers
on backing vocals.
It’s Time to Shine breaks open with the infectious bassline of “Waiting for the Sunrise”. A slight Beatles “Come Together” vibe hangs around just out of sight, as cosmic guitar sounds accent Friedman’s steady-rolling keys on this cool-as-hell song. Keller and company deliver a tight and riveting performance on “The Truth of the Blues”. The driving rhythm tightly pulls me right in to this wonderful track. With a suave approach, Keller delivers a soulful, happy love song with “I Wanna Go Back to Memphis”. Hearing him sing about walking by the river and Beale Street, makes me a little homesick since I grew up about sixty miles from the Bluff City. Keller digs deep and conjures up his inner-Eric Clapton for “Full Measure of Pleasure”. Vocally and sonically this song is an absolute gem.
Keller has a sure-fire hit with It’s Time to Shine. It is a splendid listen from beginning to end with a dozen terrific songs which flow effortlessly from one to the next.
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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.davekeller.com/
Check out other
PhillyCheeze reviews for Dave Keller at :
https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Dave+Keller
Available from Bandcamp
