(August 19, 2021) Some people just get it, and pianist, keyboardist, producer and composer Keith Slattery is one of those people. His natural talent was obvious at an early age when his mother heard someone playing the piano in the family’s Brooklyn home. She thought the family had a visitor, but she went into the room to see her four-year old son playing. The classically trained pianist has lent his talents as a player, producer and arranger to a host of talented individuals, most notably the great jazz vocalist Lindsey Webster.
But one thing Slattery never did is step forward as a band leader in his own right. That changes with his new project Duality. Slattery said that after years of playing, producing and engineering for artists like Webster and Kanye West, it was time for him to perform under his own name. “I decided about two years ago I wanted to finally put out some music as a solo artist.
“The Last Minute,” the track featured in this First Listen, finds Slattery building on the jazz, R&B and pop stylings that helped to make his collaborations with Webster so appealing.
“The Last Minute” showcases his work as a improvisor on the piano while also fusing those jazz chops with a mid-tempo steppers groove. Slattery’s reputation as a top flight pianist, producer and composer allowed him to recruit top flight talent for this project. Sidemen include, Vinnie Calauita (drums), Luis Conte (percussion), Lenny Castro (percussion), Nathan East (bass), Mike DeMicco (guitar), Everette Harp (saxophone), Eric Valentine (drums), Darryl Williams (bass), and Rick Braun (trumpet). Check out Keith Slattery’s “The Last Minute” here.
By Howard Dukes
Keith Slattery – “The Last Minute”