Calvin Keys born 6 February 1942

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

Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1943, Calvin Keys’ musical legacy began early with his father Otis Keys, a man who is still described as Omaha’s greatest natural drummer. Early on in his own musical career Calvin auditioned and played guitar with such greats as Eddie Cleanhead Vinson and bassist Gerald Holts. At age 17, he first hit the road with sax player Little Walkin’ Willie and then followed in his father’s footsteps to Kansas City, where his first gigs were with Preston Love of the Count Basie Orchestra and The Frank Edwards Organ Trio. That foundation led to working with one of the greatest organ trios of all time‚ The Jimmy Smith Trio, and then on to working with several other organ greats: Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, and Groove Holmes.

In 1969, Keys headed for Los Angeles. In 1971, he cut his first album, Shawn Neeq, on what was then Gene Russell’s new highly acclaimed Blackjazz record label. 

Soon afterwards, he was hired to record and tour with Ray Charles. It was then that Calvin’s career began blossoming in full swing as he toured Europe for the first time as the guitarist for Ray’s Big Band. 

In 1973, Blackjazz released his second solo album, Proceed With Caution. At this time, Calvin also began also using his newly given African name, Ajafika. Appearing on the album cover in an African robe and holding a spear. With a new identity and a raw roots musical direction, Keys was called to work with legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal. He recorded six albums with the pianist, beginning with Genetic Walk and 1976's Live at Oil Can Harry's, and followed important creative shifts in the pianist's creative direction on albums such as Steppin' Out with a Dream, Intervals and Night Song. 

                                   

When not touring with Jamal, Keys worked in live settings and recorded sessions with luminaries John Handy, Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Marshall, Leon Williams, Bob Braye, Ed Kelly, Eddie Duran, Bruce Forman, Junius Simmons, and Eddie Moore. In1977, Keys released Criss Cross for Ovation. He also cut One and Night Song with Jamal to close out the decade. The '80s proved similarly fruitful for Keys. He was a first-call studio and live sideman. He amassed credits and touring bona fides with Tony Bennett, Pharoah Sanders, and Sonny Stitt. 

By this time, Keys realized he wanted to reestablish his solo career, so he returned to the studio to record. In 1985, Olive Branch Records released tracks from these sessions as the album entitled Full Court Press. Keys continued playing sessions and performing with touring acts in the Bay Area as well as the occasional Los Angeles gig. After releasing a few solo albums he worked with his own trio and released Standard Keys on Lifeforce in 1991. He settled down in the Bay area and played his own trio gigs for several years. He made a tour of Europe that resulted in Jamal's Live in Paris 1996. An Evening with Calvin Keys, taken from a radio broadcast, was released that same year. 

After undergoing quadruple heart bypass surgery in 1997, Keys bounced back with a memorable debut on dissent’s eponymous release on Wide Hive Records. A year later, Keys followed up with his widely heralded solo album on Wide Hive Records, Detours Into Unconscious Rhythms. Since then, he has performed with Blue Note Records organist Big John Patton, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and most recently, Taj Mahal. In 2005, Calvin’s latest release, Calvinesque, rose to #30 on the Jazz charts.His second Wide Hive release, Vertical Clearance, was issued in 2006. In 2007 Keys released Hand-Made Portrait on Silverado. 

In 2012, Tompkins Square Records re-released Shaw-Neeq exclusively on vinyl. Keys supported it by touring with a band, performing the album in its entirety. In 2018, he released the single "Nigerian Marketplace" with his own quartet, and the following year he played on Marty Krystall's Liquid Krystal Displayed with bassist Buell Neidlinger and drummer Peter Erskine. In 2021, Shawn-Neeq appeared again in Real Gone Music's ambitious Black Jazz catalog reissue program. 

In August 2022, Wide Hive released Blue Keys, a star-studded sextet date. Its lineup included bassist and former Black Jazz labelmate Henry Franklin, saxophonist Gary Bartz, trombonist Steve Turre, and conguero Babatunde Lea. The set was produced by Throttle Elevator Music's Gregory Howe. It proved to be his last album. Calvin Keys died from a stroke in Berkley, California on April 14, 2024, at the age of 82. 

(Edited from Wide Hive Records, AllMusic & Wikipedia)