Well….from seeing Jack de Keyzer in concert at many gigs over a long period of time, the musical identity of Jack de Keyzer is a guitarist/singer/songwriter who's got impeccable taste in music, uses this good taste to draw from the best musical influences of every era and style - then with the class A talent which is his as a musician, conveys the diversity of these musical influences to the public with originality, conviction, and superb musicianship. The talent Jack picks to be in his great band are also musicians of the highest calibre, who choose the best influences coming their way to help them grow as musicians, as well as being able to interpret those influences to get the best out of each and every performance they take part in.

The musicians playing on 6 String Lover are a Who's Who of local talent, some of whom have international recognition from other music endeavors they've been involved in over the years. Complimenting Jack on guitar is another guitar virtuoso, Peter Sabourin, better known as Sab, who besides having his own great band, is lead guitarist for Ronnie Hawkins. Alec Fraser, Jack's bassist, is also the owner of Liquid Sound Studio, that recorded this fantastic CD. Alec is chief Engineer and Sound Mixer on the CD, ably assisted by bassist, Shane Scott as Assistant Engineer. Besides being a first-class bassist (upright and electric), Shane is also a knowledgeable Sound Engineer, who owns Bass Line Studio, where Jack's highly emotional harp player, David Rotundo recorded his own rousing, award-nominated CD, Blowin' For Broke, recently, which has had much critical acclaim. Shane is also David's upright bass player in his own band, David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians. (How's that for music connections who help each other out.) B3 master, Michael Fonfara of the Downchild Blues Band (who was in Electric Flag and Lou Reed years ago), goes wild on several tracks on Hammond B3 organ and electric piano. Tony Ajo's energetic drumming is indispensable and right on cue, as is Perry White's rousing sax. Talent like this can make any album a success.

The first cut, Deal Me In, deals the listener into this musical game with a bang - but it's no gamble because the whole CD is a winner from start to finish. Pleasure Is My Business, is the rebel rouser of the bunch. The scorching leads played with wild abandon by Jack, along with Mike's rousing B3 and Perry's equally scorching sax licks, is guaranteed to have any dance floor hoppin', or any musician running for his guitar to play along with it at home. (Air Guitar also works on this one!) If Delta Blues slide is your bag, If You Were My Woman (And I Was Your Man) is made to order. Jack's fantastic slide technique is complimented by his nasal tone vocal styling, altered from his usual clear vocals, to help create the mood of gators 'n' catfish. Michael's keys have a feeling of Sunnyland Slim about them. King Of The Blues has a very B.B. feel to it. Fonfara's B3 imaginatively replaces the fullness of B.B.'s horn section. Jack's lead guitar intricacies are heard to great effect here.

Rock 'Til We Drop, rocks with the best of 'em. Rock 'n' Roll got it's name from this kinda stuff. Sab's superb lead guitar soloing, along with Jack's, is all any guitar aficionado could ask for. Two of the best guitarists, in high gear, jammin' their ever lovin' guts out, backed by Shane's big bad drivin' bass lines. There's almost more raw energy here than can be contained -- guaranteed to bust the most passive listener's soulful bonds loose. Jump Right To It says it all in the title. The best in Up tempo Blues is in this winner, featuring fast, spirited guitar licks by Jack, Mike's B3 and David's harp racing alongside, as well as Tony's drum thing keeping it all in the groove. Funk This, a de Keyzer original, admirably pays tribute to the genre epitomized by it's innovator, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. Funk it, you'll dig it! Making Love To You, is a slow, romantic ballad, full of good feelings and emotional yearnings.

Engine Trouble offers up the best slow Blues around. Jack's bluesy soul cries forth from it's depths on guitar leads and vocals, backed with equally bluesy sympathy by Sab's rhythm guitar complimenting the musical mixture perfectly. Another "car" song, Drivin' Home rocks up the joint the best it can be with infectious rhythms, rousing guitar leads, and Jack's vocals "drivin' home" this winner all the way. The last tune (unfortunate because we could do with 100 more) is Jack's tribute to the Father of the Blues, Robert Johnson. The very rootsy and early guitar stylings and vocals evocative of Mr. Johnson and his contemporaries are exemplified in this de Keyzer original. This is the only solo cut - just Jack himself, his acoustic guitar and lots of talent and conviction to back him up on it. So well done, with sounds of scratches from an old and often played B.B. King record added for realism, you wouldn't know this title track wasn't done by a black guitarist of the early Blues type, from a hitherto unknown and just discovered "lost" recording.

All the music Jack plays and writes is of the finest taste, imagination and execution. His love of the 6 string instrument known as guitar, and the magic it can create, shows itself best in able hands like his. Lyrics like "my fingers slidin' down her back" on the title track, describes the magical and sensuous nature of guitar music, coming from an instrument with an hour-glass body, and a back (neck) that a hand can slide up and down, tapping into it's musical "erogenous zones", bringing the beauty of the "spiritual muse" to the ears of all the lucky listeners who hear Jack's 6 String Lover sing her praises on his new CD. This is also true anytime we're lucky enough to be witnessing live, the genius that is Jack de Keyzer and his very special band.

Artist: Jack de Keyzer
CD: 6 String Lover
Label: Blue Star # CD 2503
www.jackdekeyzer.com

Your purchase through this Amazon.com link helps to support this website.
Simply click on the cover at left or the Amazon buy button (if there is one) to order this CD NOW!

This review is copyright © 2003 by Joe Curtis, and Blues On Stage at: www.mnblues.com, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.

CLICK HERE to find out HOW YOU can make money on the internet!

Web Design SPECIAL, get your own website for just $50.

You can help support this blues website by making a contribution (click on the banner below for details).
Or mail a donation to: Ray Stiles % Blues On Stage, PO Box 582983, Mpls, MN 55458. Thanks!