Soul Blues journeyman Dave Keller has played with some of the best of the genre, and it is paying dividends in his performance.
Having worked with Ronnie Earl and Johnny Rawls, the Vermont-based Keller’s soul blues pedigree is well established. In 2009, Keller composed with Ronnie Earl the song “Love, Love, Love,” which appeared on Earl’s Living in the Light, and he frequently tours with Rawls.
But with Keller it’s not about his resume. It’s about his excellent vibe and his spirited songwriting, which may remind listeners of somewhat more established soul blues musicians like Eric Lindell and Peter Karp.
Keller has released a handful of previous albums, including Play for Love in 2007 and Soul Changes in 2013. His work evidences a deep love for Southern soul and blues, and he is known for passionate performances. You can check out his earlier work below.
From the first notes of “Don’t Let them Take Your Joy,” it is clear that Every Soul’s a Star is offered as a celebration. The album is comprised entirely of original songs, except for a cover of Aretha Franklin’s classic, “Baby, I Love You.” Other great songs include the title tune, the somber “Freedom Is Ours,” and “Ain’t Givin’ In.”
Joining Keller on the album are the Rays, which are comprised of Bob Trenchard on bass, Johnny McGhee on guitar, Johnny Ferguson on keyboards, Richy Puga on drums, Mike Middleton on trumpet, and Nick Flood on sax. Also, Janelle Thompson and Shakara Weston provided background vocals and Christopher Serrano played percussion.
About the author: Bill Wilcox is a roots music enthusiast recently relocated from the Washington, DC area to Philadelphia, PA and back again.