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The following article appeared in L.A. Jazz Scene magazine in February 2005:
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Not as long as Jazz pianist/teacher, Bill Keis, is around. Bill held his annual student recital on Sunday, January 9, 2005 at the Glendale Central Library despite a heavy rainstorm. “The show must go on,” he declared. Actually, it was supposed to be at The Brand Library but was moved at the last moment due to a blown transformer which left the Brand Library dark.
An enthusiastic audience of approximately 120 people said it was like no other recital they
had ever attended. Fifteen students performed ranging in age from 8 to 58. A most unusual event considering that
you heard from beginning students as well as some of the top pros in Los Angeles.
One might think it daunting for the students to have to compete with seasoned pros. Rather, many of the students played together with the pros. For the audience, it was a welcome change to the usual student recital. Well known standards “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “A Foggy Day” were done up front, and classical saw some air time as well with pieces from Bach and Beethoven. However, jazz was the main genre with pieces from Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, and Jobim. Bill Keis, also a very competent composer and arranger, wrote 4 of the pieces that were performed. In fact, the recital ended with Bill performing 3 of his pieces, the standard “Laura,” and “Armando’s Rumba” written by Chick Corea. Ian Irwin’s performance of Bill’s piece “Pitter Patter” and Danny Cochario’s performance of “On the Street Where You Live,” and Glen Doll’s rendition of “Everyday I have the Blues” (on vocals and harmonica) as well as Bill’s playing were among the favorites.
The “house band” that accompanied 8 of the students consisted of bassist Steve Billman (teaches at LAMA, plays with numerous greats such as Frank Gambale) and drummer Frank Marsico (pro vibes and drums leads own band, Martini Kings. Regularly performs at Jax, etc).
Bill is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, musical director, and teacher. He has performed and/or recorded with; Mark Isham, Edgar Winter, Maxine Nightingale, Jay Leno, Chaka Khan, Morris Wade (The Drifters), David Campbell, The Pointer Sisters, Sal Marquez (Trumpet from Tonight Show), Eric Rigler (Bagpiper from Titanic), and others. He has written for the television series General Hospital, March of Dimes commercials and various documentaries.
Keis has performed at countless venues in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Los Vegas, San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Jose, Tokyo, Japan, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico including B.B. Kings, Hollywood Palladium, Ambassador Auditorium, Shrine Auditorium, Paramount Studios, Baked Potato, La Vee Lee, The Comedy Store, The Coconut Club.
His CD Bill Keis, Journey (released in June 1999) is sold at various stores and web sites and has been aired on KLON 88.1 FM and reviewed by L.A. Jazz Scene magazine.
He reached a milestone in his teaching career recently, 25 years and over 30,000 private lessons. “Jazz music is very important to our culture and my purpose is to help forward this wonderful art form by teaching students not only to improvise but also how to perform.”
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