Calvin Keys

American jazz guitarist (1942–2024)

Calvin Keys

Born| (1942-02-06)February 6, 1942
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died| April 14, 2024(2024-04-14) (aged 82)
Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres| Jazz, soul jazz
Occupations| Musician, composer
Instrument| Electric guitar
Years active| 1969–2024
Labels| Black Jazz, Wide Hive

Musical artist

Calvin Keys (February 6, 1942 – April 14, 2024) was an American jazz guitarist, known for the several albums he released for Black Jazz Records.[1]

Keys performed and recorded with Ray Charles, Ahmad Jamal, Jimmy Smith, John Handy, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Marshall, Sonny Stitt, Pharoah Sanders, Joe Henderson and Leon Williams.[2]

Keys died from a stroke in Berkeley, California, on April 14, 2024, at the age of 82.[3]

## Discography

[edit]

### As leader

[edit]

* Shawn-Neeq (Black Jazz, 1971)
* Proceed with Caution! (Black Jazz, 1974)
* Criss Cross (Ovation, 1976)
* Full Court Press (Olive Branch, 1985)
* Maria's First (Olive Branch, 1987)
* Standard Keys [live] (Lifeforce Jazz, 1992 [1997])
* Detours into Unconscious Rhythms (Wide Hive, 2000)
* Touch (Olive Branch, 2000) compilation
* An Evening With Calvin Keys [live] (Lifeforce Jazz, 2003) 2-CD
* Calvinesque (Silverado, 2005)
* Vertical Clearance (Wide Hive, 2006)
* Hand Made Portrait (Silverado, 2007)
* Electric Keys (Wide Hive, 2013)
* Close Enough For Love (Lifeforce Jazz, 2015)
* Simply Calvin (Lifeforce Jazz, 2022)
* Blue Keys (Wide Hive, 2022)

### As sideman

[edit]

With Ahmad Jamal

* Recorded Live at Oil Can Harry's (Catalyst, 1976)
* Steppin Out with a Dream (20th Century Fox, 1976)
* One (20th Century Fox, 1978)
* Night Song (Motown, 1980)
* Live in Paris 1996 (Birdology/Dreyfus, 1999)

With others

* Gene Russell, Talk to My Lady (Black Jazz, 1973)
* Billy Brooks, Windows of the Mind (Crossover, 1974)
* Doug Carn, Adam's Apple (Black Jazz, 1974)
* Doug Carn, Higher Ground (Ovation, 1976)
* Gene Russell, Listen Here (Ovation, 1976)
* James Newton Howard, Dying Young (Arista, 1991)
* Denise Perrier, I Wanna Be Loved (Chezz Perrier, 1996)
* Dissent, Dissent (Wide Hive, 1999)
* Azeem, Mayhem Mystics (Wide Hive, 2004)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ AllMusic Discography
2. ^ Calvin Keys at Totally Guitars. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
3. ^ Meline, Gabe (April 15, 2024). "Calvin Keys, Jazz Guitarist With Endless Soul, Dies at 82". KQED. Retrieved April 15, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official site
* Calvin Keys discography at Jazzlists
* Calvin Keys Page at Wide Hive Records
* "Electric Keys" Page at Wide Hive Records
* "Vertical Clearance" Page at Wide Hive Records
* "Detours Into Unconscious Rythms(sic)" Page at Wide Hive Records
* Calvin Keys discography at Discogs
* Calvin Keys at IMDb

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Catalonia

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* IdRef