Question of the week: Who is your favorite local keyboard player
The field is not nearly as wide for this one. But there are some daggone fine ones plunking keys around here. Tell us your favorites in the Roanoke and New River valleys.
Isaiah Osbourne of Frontiers, most recently of Burning Bridges. But Isaiah is not just a keyboard player, he can play just about any instrument I've ever seen anyone put in front of his face including a microphone (I guess that's not an instrument but he can still rock it.) *elbows up!*
I definitely have to also give props to David Breeden of Seven Mile Ford. I mean where else in the Roanoke Valley can you find somebody who can pull off rocking a keytar. Yes, a keytar. It's hard to make a keytar look cool, but Breeden makes it look natural. This one is a good singer as well!
Also I used to see James Pace play with The Pop Rivets and he is incredibly talented as well!
For the past couple of years my two favorite local area keys players to work with have been James Pace (Non-Profits, THE SEED) and Jamiel Allen (The Alliens, THE SEED). Not only do these guys approach music professionally but they are also a pleasure to work with both in the studio and on stage. I would recommend either of these guys if you are a local musician looking for a keys man.
As a jazz pianist, Lenny Marcus is terrific. I'm impressed with James Pace, though I've only heard him on organ. William Penn is a very capable pianist, as are James Wise and Jimmy Landry. Roscoe McFadden of the former jazz group Reflections now plays mainly in church. I'm not sure if Alan Watson's still living here, but he had one of the best professional c.v.'s around. David Ferguson of the Kings, like the rest of that band, is a reliable player but seldom creative. Chip McNeil and David Wiley are good performance pianists when the other demands of their musical jobs allow it.
I tend to prefer piano to organ or electronic keys. Especially blues piano, of which this area seems to have a dearth of players, (despite the many visits by Billy Wirtz, Ann Rabson, etc). One of my pet peeves is that fret-centric open mic nights don't often account for piano players. Venues usually don't provide pianos, and other players too often view them as incompatible, though Jeff Little's playing with Wayne Henderson reminds us that piano is both compatible and traditional in old time music. Roanoke has produced some pretty great key players in the past, including one true hall of famer in Don Pullen, plus Fats Wright, and Cedric Lawson, who's still at it.
Lance, how does James Pace play with his "hands down"? Does that mean he plays by ear? (Sorry, couldn't resist; at least it's not another "organ" joke). Ironically, my spell check suggests James Pace might be "jam space"!!
I have seen and known many wonderful key's players, the best i know of in Roanoke would have to be David Ferguson. Not only can he play the key's he blows a mean sax and can transcribe music for a whole band with just a few times listening to a song.
I would have to say hands down, Shirley Steele. She has played in Sage, Pipe Dreem, Tall, Triscale and Tempered Steele. She is one talented lady on the keys!!
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Comments
[July 21, 2008 7:27 PM]
ronbailey : →http://ronbailey.us/blog/James Pace
[July 21, 2008 7:29 PM]
Bndgrl : →http://www.bndgrl.comI have a few!
Isaiah Osbourne of Frontiers, most recently of Burning Bridges. But Isaiah is not just a keyboard player, he can play just about any instrument I've ever seen anyone put in front of his face including a microphone (I guess that's not an instrument but he can still rock it.) *elbows up!*
I definitely have to also give props to David Breeden of Seven Mile Ford. I mean where else in the Roanoke Valley can you find somebody who can pull off rocking a keytar. Yes, a keytar. It's hard to make a keytar look cool, but Breeden makes it look natural. This one is a good singer as well!
Also I used to see James Pace play with The Pop Rivets and he is incredibly talented as well!
[July 21, 2008 8:42 PM]
The Ambassador (S.G. Lewis) : →http://www.theseedsound.comFor the past couple of years my two favorite local area keys players to work with have been James Pace (Non-Profits, THE SEED) and Jamiel Allen (The Alliens, THE SEED). Not only do these guys approach music professionally but they are also a pleasure to work with both in the studio and on stage. I would recommend either of these guys if you are a local musician looking for a keys man.
[July 21, 2008 9:02 PM]
JeffSteve Prusak, The Worx Band.
[July 22, 2008 8:04 AM]
chico : →http://www.thepoprivets.comJames Pace. No explanation needed
[July 22, 2008 8:16 AM]
Lance Smith : →http://www.myspace.com/lancesmithrocksHands down James Pace is the best key plunker.
[July 22, 2008 12:25 PM]
PeteAs a jazz pianist, Lenny Marcus is terrific. I'm impressed with James Pace, though I've only heard him on organ. William Penn is a very capable pianist, as are James Wise and Jimmy Landry. Roscoe McFadden of the former jazz group Reflections now plays mainly in church. I'm not sure if Alan Watson's still living here, but he had one of the best professional c.v.'s around. David Ferguson of the Kings, like the rest of that band, is a reliable player but seldom creative. Chip McNeil and David Wiley are good performance pianists when the other demands of their musical jobs allow it.
I tend to prefer piano to organ or electronic keys. Especially blues piano, of which this area seems to have a dearth of players, (despite the many visits by Billy Wirtz, Ann Rabson, etc). One of my pet peeves is that fret-centric open mic nights don't often account for piano players. Venues usually don't provide pianos, and other players too often view them as incompatible, though Jeff Little's playing with Wayne Henderson reminds us that piano is both compatible and traditional in old time music. Roanoke has produced some pretty great key players in the past, including one true hall of famer in Don Pullen, plus Fats Wright, and Cedric Lawson, who's still at it.
[July 22, 2008 12:49 PM]
PeteLance, how does James Pace play with his "hands down"? Does that mean he plays by ear? (Sorry, couldn't resist; at least it's not another "organ" joke). Ironically, my spell check suggests James Pace might be "jam space"!!
[July 22, 2008 1:42 PM]
JessJames Pace is the best.
[July 23, 2008 7:54 AM]
MitchJames Pace and Brian Crosswhite of Polarity
[July 25, 2008 2:18 PM]
Stacy Hobbs : →http://www.stacyhobbs.comJonathan Barker is one of the most versatile and soulful keyboard players out there! From Chopin to Billy Payne, the boy can play!
[July 25, 2008 5:24 PM]
BarryI have seen and known many wonderful key's players, the best i know of in Roanoke would have to be David Ferguson. Not only can he play the key's he blows a mean sax and can transcribe music for a whole band with just a few times listening to a song.
[July 25, 2008 6:22 PM]
Samantha JI would have to say hands down, Shirley Steele. She has played in Sage, Pipe Dreem, Tall, Triscale and Tempered Steele. She is one talented lady on the keys!!
[August 25, 2008 8:21 PM]
DannyJames Pace Chad Campbell Garry Groff Dave Ferguson