Keys to the City is a studio album by American jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, released in May 1987 on Columbia Records. The album peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 11 on the Cashbox Top Jazz Albums chart.
Background Keys to the City was recorded at E & S Studios in Los Angeles, California; Home Sweet Home Studio in Evanston, Illinois; and Streeterville Studios in Chicago, Illinois.
Critical reception
Frank White of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted "Veteran jazz piano player, Ramsey Lewis, who gave us the steamy, bluesy "In Crowd" so many years ago, still has one if the most engaging lyric conceptions in contemporary music. He lets the fire roar to the surface here." Jerry Shin of the Charlotte Observer in praise of the album wrote, "Is this jazz? You'll have to decide for yourself. When Lewis improvises on the Steinway, it's jazz. But there's a lot going on that demands some other definition. Jazz-flavoured Pop Rock, perhaps. But whatever you call it, it's bright, listenable, rocking and sometimes swinging music. If you're already a Ramsey Lewis fan, you'll probably love it."
Track listing
Personnel Ramsey Lewis - DX-7, Piano Roland Bautista - Guitar Tony Brown - Bass Chris Brunt - Drums, Percussion Chris Cameron - Synthesizer Larry Dunn - Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Percussion Steven Dunn - Drums, Percussion Byron Gregory - Electric guitar Luisa Justiz - Vocals Brenda Mitchell-Stewart - Background vocals Don Myrick - Saxophone Joe Pusteri - Percussion Bill Ruppert - Electric guitar Robyn Smith - Drum Programming, Percussion, Synthesizer Morris Stewart - Synthesizer, Background vocals Wayne Stewart - Drums Maurice White - Percussion
Charts Chart (1987)PeakpositionUS Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums22US Cashbox Jazz Albums11
References