Marshall Keys, Saxohpnist, Plays in Conakry

April 29, 2005

Marshall Keys, an American saxophonist, will arrive in Conakry on April 3, 2005 and will perform during the opening of the Guinea Jazz Fetival at the French-Guinean Cultural Center on May 12, 2005.

During his two week stay in Guinea, Marshall keys will lead a music workshop for Guinean musicians at the American Center on May 5, 2005 from 2 to 4 p.m.  He will travel to Dubreka in order to lead a music workshop for students from the Fine Arts Institute May 6 and 7, 2005.  He will also visit with youth learning to play saxophone at the Maison de Jeunes in Matam Lido May 9 and 10, 2005 from 10 a.m. to noon.

According to Mike Sager, a freelance journalist for Esquire Magazine, "The suave tones and structured compositions of Marshall Keys evoque the spirit of past and future jazz musicians... He plays saxophone with grace and emotion, avoiding clichés."  

Originally from Washington, D.C., Keys debuted in the DC Youth Orchestra Program, then continued with the Jazz Studies Program at Howard University.  He made his first marks on the jazz scene by playing with local groups, before launching his professional career with the soul/jazz group, The Blackbirds.  Keys also maintained a long working relationship with the legendary blues pianist Jimmy McGriff, with whom he produced numerous recordings.  Keys worked and recorded with many other artists, including Lionel Haptom, Stevie Wonder, and Sonny Still.