Artist:     Dave Keller

Album:     Every Soul’s a Star

Label:     Catfood

Release Date:     10.19.2018

90

BUY DIGITAL

BUY PHYSICAL

Born, raised, and musically-schooled in the colorful environs of Massachusetts and Vermont, Dave Keller recorded his fifth album in Texas, and it beams with the passion of a man deeply affected by the classic, steamy soul music of Alabama, Memphis, and on up to the Motor City. As produced by the renowned Jim Gaines, Every Soul’s a Star reveals every flickering facet of this star on the rise.

On the cover, Keller seems unassuming, but the ten originals and a funky spin through “Baby, I Love You”—a loving tribute to Aretha Franklin, who popularized the tune in 1967—absolutely sizzle by the extraordinary talent found inside. Keller proves himself a magnificent soul singer, his luxuriant voice bending notes and rising flawlessly to every occasion. Right off in the resolute “Don’t Let Them Take Your Joy,” he also shows himself to be a writer capable of disclosing personal conviction with total class. Over a supple, heated bed of rhythm and brass, Keller sings of today’s political discourse, reminding in the process that we all have our internal constitutions to stand by. That positive tone continues with the smooth and spunky “Every Soul’s A Star,” which celebrates all the people who work hard to do whatever it is they do to the best of their abilities.

Catfood Records hooked Keller up with their house band, The Rays, whose large ranks include soul-steady rhythms, sumptuous horns, fluid B3, backing vocalists, and a legendary Motown guitarist in Johnny McGhee. Rightly, McGhee solos with elastic snap on the aforementioned Aretha tune, plus two more. Otherwise, Keller takes the lead on five, playing the guitar with the same appetite in his fingers that he has in his heart. Urgency rings as much from his strings as his voice he addresses the troubles of immigration during “Freedom is Ours.” That song’s “drum beating” metaphor, cleverly applied to type, and as an exclamation, works to great effect, making listeners think. These are songs and performances that clearly emanate from élans of true musicians, the soul of a man, and as well, from the here and the now. Stellar, Mr. Keller.

—Tom Clarke