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Manufactured for Life Force Records.
2100 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118 – USA
(415) 567-3661
© & p 1997 LifeForce Records
Calvin Keys / Guitar
Tim Hauf / Bass
Bob Braye / Drums
Executive Producers: Dawan Muhammad, Calvin Keys
Produced by: Michael Briseno
Recorded "live" January 10th & 11th 1992 at Big Basin Academy of Art and Music, Saratoga, CA
Recording Engineer: Brian Pendelton
Remix: Joseph Pearson, Pro-byte Sound, San Francisco, CA
Mastering: Tao @ Sonic Images, San Jose, CA
Cover Art: Wayne Manns
Cover Photography: J. Davis Photography, San Francisco, CA
Photographs: Steve de Porceri
Design: Dennis Purcell, djp designs, San Francisco, CA
This musical offering is dedicated to my uncle Ivory, who gave me his favorite guitar when I was sixteen years old, and to my father, Otis Calvin Keys Sr., who’s musical prowess inspired me to become a jazz artist.
Special thanks to my wife and daughter Maria and Marella Keys, for their love and support; and to everyone who helped this idea become a reality.
Calvin Keys
Calvin Keys has been warmly received by audiences throughout the world earning international respect and acclaim as a Jazz master. As listed in Leonard Feather’s "Encyclopedia of Jazz", Calvin’s professional career spans over thirty years and although jazz is his music of choice, he is also noted for his versatility in other music styles, such as Blues, Gospel, Pop, Country, Hip Hop, and Rap, which becomes evident after reviewing his long list of performances and recordings with such greats as: Ray Charles, Carmen McCrea, Jimmy Smith, Gloria Lynn, Donald Byrd, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, M.C. Hammer and Luther Vandross, just to name a few. His years touring and performing with the incomparable pianist Ahmad Jamal, is a special highlight in his career. Calvin was born in Omaha, Nebraska, but now resides in Oakland, California, where in addition to performing in local clubs and festivals, he is very much involved with jazz programming in Bay Area public schools, colleges, music camps, community agencies and organizations, which is how I got the opportunity to work with him.
A struggling young musician and teacher myself, I had a dream of establishing a school for the arts, in a serene and natural environment, where students, teachers and the general public could experience the evolution of aesthetic values together. A place for music lessons, art classes, master classes, art exhibits, recitals, and yes, even live recordings. When the opportunity presented itself, I opened a place called Big Basin Academy of Art and Music in Saratoga, California, located in the hills of Santa Clara Valley (known worldwide as Silicon Valley). In bringing this dream to full fruition, I solicited assistance from many of my friends. Dawan Muhammad, a mentor, fellow musician and close friend, came up f4rom Los Angels to assist me with planning a schedule of events and suggested that I open my jazz concert series with the Calvin Keys Trio. Already a Calvin Keys fan, I agreed to produce a small intimate concert, that turned out to be a major music event for the area.
Saratoga is a thriving artistic community with an array of gourmet restaurants and quaint little shops displaying arts and crafts from all over the world. Yet, those who know the area intimately, can understand how rare it was for this particular kind of artistic explosion to take place there. Fortunately, we have the perfect souvenir from one of those fleeting moments in jazz history…when a "scene" emerged and flourished and everyone there knew that something wonderful was happening. For those who weren’t there and are not familiar with the area, this live recording represents the energy, excitement and creativity captured in a very special time and place. If it wasn’t meant to go on forever, so be it. Thanks to the musicians, production staff and the audience, we have a permanent record of another classic night in jazz. Enjoy it, and feel the magic!
- Michael Briseno
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