ABOUT KEITH
“A dynamic guitarist with an electrifying stage presence and a soft spot for the blues and world music - but with a smooth jazz base.”
If you’ve followed the career of SF Bay Area-based guitarist Keith Andrew, you’ve undoubtedly noticed a free-spirited approach in his music and the titles of his projects--especially among his recent works. Naturally taking advantage of consumer tastes that, today, demand a more eclectic and diverse output, Andrew is playing to his strengths and celebrating his passion for life. This has never been more apparent than on his latest radio single Cielo, (Spanish for “Sky”), his Innervision Records label debut and the new single from his forthcoming album Soul Expedition. Enlisting the help of hit guitarist and composer/producer Chris Standring, Keith weaves his way through a sultry mix of fiery electric guitar lines (including a tasty solo from Standring), and a flourish of acoustic picking set amongst a bed of spicy Latin rhythms and textures. True to its name, Cielo invokes the sky's spacious and often turbulent and lively beauty!
Cielo comes on the heels of Keith’s 2018 hit single release Higher Ground/Funky Good Time -- the fusion of the Stevie Wonder and James Brown classics. Keith teamed up with Darryl Walker--master vocalist, saxophonist, and a vital member of the contemporary jazz group, East Bay Soul.
“Contemporary jazz would be more interesting if artists would dig deeper into more dynamic styles like Keith does. He perfectly balances instantly hummable melodies, funky grooves and crisp, soulful playing with crazy-fun excursions to unexpected places.”
Keith is an avid outdoorsman and when he’s not touring nationally or performing at local wineries in Sonoma and Napa, he loves hiking, scampering on rocks and mountain biking. Passionate about exploring new cultures, Keith has traveled to Thailand and Cambodia, where they explored the 12th Century Buddhist and Hindu Ruins that are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. More recently, hiked a 15,000-foot mountain near Quito, Ecuador and visited Peru, trekking around the incredible Inca ruins of Machu Picchu.
Andrew’s previous album Adventurous Soul (2014)--again a reference to his wanderlust personality--including six tracks produced by top genre hitmaker and fellow guitarist Nils and others co-produced by Andrew with Nils. Adventurous Soul draws on Keith’s foundational love for blues, rock, jazz, and fusion while also exploring Latin and world music. Among the 11 originals (mostly penned by Andrew, Nils or a collaboration of the two) are explosive re-imaginings of R&B classics by The Isley Brothers (“Work To Do”) and James Brown (“Pass The Peas”). Artists on the project include Jessy J, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Lorber, Johnny Britt, and late drummer Ricky Lawson. Other releases include Blue Funky Blue (2010), whose single Pookie’s Groove Revisited received significant contemporary jazz airplay and Contemplation (2007).
FROM THE BEGINNING
Originally from Baltimore, Keith began playing guitar at 10 years old and as teenager moved with his family to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he was exposed to the rich and diverse SF music scene. His musical passions eventually led him to Los Angeles, where he had the opportunity to study with some of the world’s greatest jazz and contemporary guitarists, including Robben Ford, Joe Pass, Buzz Fieten, Scott Henderson and Joe Diorio.
While attending college in Los Angeles, Keith was a featured soloist with the Chaffey College Jazz Ensemble, earning several awards for outstanding musicianship from the National Association of Jazz Educators. He later went on to attend the world-renowned Guitar Institute of Technology. Graduating at the top of his class, he subsequently joined the faculty as a staff instructor. Shortly after graduating from the Guitar Institute, Keith teamed with keyboardist and composer Morris Beeks, with whom he formed the jazz/R&B band Himalaya. The Himalaya sound was soon defined by Keith's unique compositions, which made them one of the most popular and dynamic groups on the L.A. circuit. Himalaya’s debut album Friend to Friend received national airplay. Shortly thereafter, they embarked on a nationwide tour with notable appearances at the Santa Barbara Jazz Festival as well as major nightclubs and venues in New York, Washington D.C., Memphis and San Diego.
Since moving back to the Bay Area, Keith’s style has gravitated towards world jazz fusion. His taste for world music was also inspired by performing at some of the top bay area venues with the popular South African band Zulu Spear. It was with that band the he teamed up with two great musicians from Austin Texas, multi-instrumentalists and producers, Cecil (P-Nut) Daniels and Carlton Lowe, who have been at the core of many of Keith's SF based recording and live performance projects. They have also formed the popular groups Sound Minds and P-Nut and The Apocalypse.