Album Notes

John Keyser is a guitarist whose love of music stretches back to his toddlerhood. His dad’s guitar and voice on renditions of classic railroad songs, and The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” loom large in his memory, as does Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunters”. Jimi Hendrix became his first big musical hero at about the time he was beginning to play electric bass as a young teen.
John gradually switched to guitar and simultaneously was drawn more and more to jazz. In college in his adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon, he examined the styles of Wes Montgomery and Charlie Christian to fulfill his thesis requirement. Those players and Grant Green and so many others became new idols to John, and great Portland jazz players like Ron Steen, Ed Bennett, Dick Berk, Dan Faenhle, Tony Pacini, Dave Weinstock, and others too numerous to mention provided invaluable inspiration and musical fellowship.
Time in New York provided more great playing and listening experiences. John played upright bass in a trio with Dmitry Baevsky and Renaud Penant, and guitar in a trio with pianist John Coates, and John’s dad on bass. A bit later in his stay he earned a Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, and learned from and played with an incredible slew of folks that already were or are becoming “name-brand” cats (Jack Wilkins, Chris Rosenburg, Gary Dial, to name just a few). John also met his wife, a delightful jazz singer named Yuko, with whom he works regularly in a duo or trio context.
John has been back in Portland for several years now and is part of the vibrant scene there. He is extremely proud to offer a CD packed with original compositions and guitar playing that represents a career peak. Dick Berk on drums, Ed Bennett on bass, and Tony Pacini on piano provide solos and accompaniment that are exciting, inspiring, and jazz-textbook worthy. Please check it out!