Calvin Keys

Jazz guitarist Calvin Keys was a legend among soul-jazz fans for his appearances as a session and touring musician and a catalog of releases under his own name. His 1971 Black Jazz debut, Shawn-Neeq, and his sophomore outing for the label, 1974's Proceed with Caution, are both considered jazz-funk classics. Keys' playing style was lean and muscular. His unique phrasing balanced sophisticated jazz harmonics with funky R&B and soul grooves. From the '60s onward, Keys worked as a session and touring player with Ahmad Jamal and others. His own recordings, including 1985's Full Cou...