Dave Keyes - Two Trains (2025)

Tracklist

01. Blues Ain't Looking for You
02. Boogie Till the Cows Come Home
03. Two Trains
04. I'm Alright
05. A Long Way From Right Right Now
06. What Just Happened
07. Boogie for Patty
08. Trust in Love and Fate
09. Worried in Mind Blues
10. Rest in Peace

‘Two Trains’ features Keyes co-writing eight of its ten songs with songwriting partner Mark Sameth, who has penned hits as a Nashville writer for Loretta Lynn, and Bettye LaVette among many others. “I’m especially proud of the collaboration with Mark on this disc,” says Keyes. “The songs are topical, both on a personal level and on a world level. There is something here that everyone can relate to: love, loss, joy and pain and how we deal with it all.”

The album features special guest and legendary drummer Bernard Purdie, plus appearances by harmonica ace Rob Paparozzi, (Blues Bros.) Mike Merritt (Jimmy Vivino, Conan O’Brien) Chris Bergson and vocalist Alexis P. Suter in addition to long- time Dave Keyes band stalwarts, drummer Frank Pagano and guitarist John Putnam. A special recording with the late acoustic guitar legend Woody Mann is an added treat. ‘Two Trains’ was mixed by multi-Grammy Award-winning engineer, Dae Bennett.

“For me this album is about coming home to my roots and paying tribute to all the styles that have influenced me since I was a kid,” adds Keyes. “Blues, boogie, country blues, urban blues, gospel and some funky stuff. From Ray Charles to Leon Russell and everyone in between. I’m not a purist, but I respect my roots and I stand on the shoulders of those that have gotten me here.”

A native New Yorker, keyboardist, singer and songwriter, Dave Keyes is a 40-year veteran of the Blues and American Roots music scenes. His last album, the 2022 release Rhythm, Blues and Boogie, featured legendary drummer Bernard Purdie, who also appears on Two Trains. Having toured the world both as a solo artist and with his own band, Dave Keyes brings his music solidly back to his soulful blues roots on the new disc, along with some electrifying keyboard work. In addition to his Blues Music Award nominations, his band has won the Blues Foundation’s International Blues Challenge and released seven prior acclaimed albums.

For much of the last 10 years, in addition to his own band and solo gigs, Dave worked with bluesman Popa Chubby, and R&R queen Ronnie Spector. Previously Dave had lengthy stints with such iconic and varied artists as Odetta, David Johansen, Bo Diddley, rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef and gospel great Marie Knight.

Dave’s music finds its roots in deep blues, soul and rock and roll. These roots are the foundation of his recent albums and vibrant live shows. His well-received previous albums are rambunctious sets of mostly original material that range from New Orleans second-line funk to slow sensual blues, swaggering shuffles and boisterous rocking boogie-woogie.

He has made numerous festival appearances both in the US and abroad including 3 appearances at France’s prestigious Cognac Blues Festival and annual appearances at Lugano, Switzerland’s Blues to Bop festival among many others. He also worked as a sideman for a who’s who of roots, soul and Rock and Roll music masters such as Eddy Clearwater, Big Jay McNeely, Tracy Nelson, Gladys Knight, Pam Tillis, Darlene Love, and the late great Ruth Brown, Lou Rawls and Levon Helm.

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