\ BURLINGTON \

One of the most versatile piano players you’ll hear anywhere, Michael Keys is a member of the U.S. Blues Hall of Fame but is equally adept on Pop, Boogie Woogie, Swing and Jazz tunes.

I’ve been following this musical maestro for over 20 years now and have always regarded him as woefully under-rated, perhaps because he has often appeared as part of combos featuring headlining performers like Pop/Jazz/Blues singer Danny B and Blues-Rock icon Mike McKenna.

Even when he was hosting a weekly showcase on Sunday afternoons at a high-profile club in Oakville a few years ago, Keys had a tendency to let the other talents take the spotlight while he sat off to the side providing the support the frontmen need to really do their thing effectively.

Whether solo, with a full band or in duo mode, as you’ll find him these days in Burlington Thursday evenings, this veteran wizard of the ivories knows how to read an audience and has the repertoire to deliver whatever will suit their vibe.

Utilizing various supplementing effects, and playing bass with his left hand, he can make his piano sound like a band, while his vocals area also adaptable, working for rockin’ party numbers or more soulful, mood pieces.

In addition to seemingly infinite adaptability, he brings an intelligence to his shows, honing set lists for each performance to suit the vibe the club is looking for, whether it’s a rollicking dance-oriented Boogie show or more laid-back but still lively Pop such as you’ll find at his Thursday duo residency, designed as a smooth “easy-listening” show.

For these early evening Thursday shows, which take place at Burlington’s Black Bull pub at 1124 Guelph Line, he’s teamed up most weeks with another versatile player who similarly also usually plays more of a supporting role than acting as the draw: sax man George Baumann.

Not only, by the way, is Baumann a talented horn man who regularly plays with Dave McManus as part of his Junction City All-Stars Blues combo, he’s also a highly skilled drummer also adapt to a variety of genres.

There’s no cover for the Black Bull shows, which start at 7 and run till 10 p.m..

-Gary 17, TorontoMoon.ca

SHOW LISTINGS for Thursday, January 28, 2022

Listings are organized by area in which the shows occur and within each area field shows are listed chronologically.

Listings preceded by an asterisk (*) are repeating weekly events. (Double asterisk indicates repeating event with different hosts/guest/etc.). Events preceded by question mark (?) usually take place but have not been confirmed. Admission prices followed by a slash and minus (/-) after the amount indicates door charge with availability of cheaper rates for some purchases. /+ indicates stated price is minimum.

Names of subscribers appear in bold and underlined and, where applicable, include a live link to their websites or event page. Advertisers’ listings are in larger type and highlighted, include a live link to their website and also have a copy of the ad included in listings.

416 - Toronto Central

5:30> Same Same But Different @ Dominion Pub, 500 Queen St. E., TO ~cover Pop Rock

6> Corin Raymond @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Roots-Pop

6-8> LJ Folk @ 120 Diner, 120 Church St., TO ~Jazz; $10

6:30> Kevin Quain @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~moody Blues

7> Nags Players present “Alice In Wonderland” @ Tranzac Lounge (Main Hall), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

*7> open mic with Derek Mok @ Kensington Lodge, 21 Kensington Ave., TO

*7:30-9:30> Bluegrass Thursdays with Houndstooth @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

8> 4^th Thursdays open mic with Hold The Bus featuring Kevin Jeffrey on bass @ Grossman’s, 379 Spadina Ave., TO ~

8> The Cashews; Cousin Jack; Space Case @ Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W., TO ~indie; $6

*8-1> open mic with Alicia Porter @ The Local Gest, 424 Parliament St., TO

8> African Star; Jeffery Kafinal Williams; more @ Rivoli, 334 Queen St. W., TO ~$10

8-12> R&B/Blues @ Nawlin’s, 299 King St. W. TO

8:30> White Spaces; Stray Bullets; Brady Harding @ Silver Dollar 486 Spadina Ave., TO ~indie

9-12> The Yeomans; Elegance; Zorton & The Cannibals @ The Cavern Bar, 76 Church St., TO

9-12> Russ Little Quintet @ Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St., TO ~Jazz

9> Paint; The Fern Tips; Sad Boys Glee Club; Geary St. Groove Band @ Horseshoe Tavern, 370 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock; $

*9-1> Blackburn @ Jo Mamas, 317 King St. W., TO ~Blues

9> Soulidified @ Alleycatz, 2409 Yonge St., TO North ~Funk/Soul; $5

9:30> Stephen Stanley Band @ C’est What, 67 Front St. E., TO

9:30> Dave Young Quintet @ The Rex, 194 Queen St. W., TO ~Jazz; $

*9:45> Mary McKay @ Reservoir Lounge, 52 Wellington St. E., TO ~Jazz/Blues; $

10> Brady/Bassett featuring Shawn Brady @ McSorley’s, 1544 Bayview Ave., TO North ~Pop Rock

10> Brendt Diabo @ Cameron House (front), 408 Queen St. W., TO

10> Special Interest Group @ Tranzac Lounge (Southern Cross), 292 Brunswick Ave., TO

10> Pretzel Logic @ Orbit Room, 480 College St. TO ~Steely Dan tribute; $

10:30> Parkside Drive @ The Hideout, 484 Queen St. W., TO ~indie Rock

416 - Toronto East

7-9> Coe Hill Girls @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East ~indie

*8:30-10:30> Jerry Leger & The Situation @ Castro’s, 2116 Queen St. E., TO East ~Folk-Rock/Country

9> Hatchetmen @ Linsmore Tavern, 1298 Danforth Ave., TO East ~Rock

*9:30> open jam @ Sportsters, 1430 Danforth Ave., TO East

*10-2> karaoke with Shane Taylor @ Relish, 2152 Danforth Ave., TO East

416 – Toronto Etobicoke

7:30> Richard Whiteman Trio @ Old Mill Inn, 21 Old Mill Rd., Etobicoke ~Jazz; min table charge

9> Kimberley Wetmore band @ Timothy’s Pub, 344 Brown’s Line, Etobicoke South ~Pop Rock

*9:30-2> Skip Tracer @ Southside Johnny’s, 3653 Lakeshore Blvd., Etobicoke South ~Rock/Pop

416 – Toronto Scarborough

7-11> jam night @ The Birchmount, 462 Birchmount Rd., Scarborough

9:30> Straight Shooter @ Black Dog Pub, 87 Island Rd., Scarborough ~Pop Rock

416 - Toronto West

5-8> Grateful Sunday @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Jazz

8> K.C. Roberts & The Liver Revolution; Static Gold; Funny Funk @ Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W., TO West ~Funk; $10

*8-11> Tinderbox Thursdays open stage with Michael Keith @ La Revolucion, 2848 Dundas St. W., TO West ~eclectic

8> Melanie Peterson; Redlight Ranch @ The Tennessee, 1554 Queen St. W., TO West ~indie Pop

*9-12> open mic night @ DeSoto’s, 1079 St. Clair Ave. W., TO West

9> Lynne Kent @ The Roncy, 390 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~acoustic

*9-1:30> open stage with Jay Pennell @ Dave’s On St. Clair, 730 St. Clair West, TO West ~eclectic

9-12> Mayhemingways @ Gate 403, 403 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West

9> Dutch; Ossington Rippers; The Autumn Stones @ Junction City Music Hall, 2907 Dundas St. W., TO West ~$5

9> Wood and Howl Fort York; Gestures @ Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W., TO West ~$10

9> Zachary Lucky @ The Local, 396 Roncesvalles Ave., TO West ~Americana Folk

9:30> Red Hot Ramble @ Fat City Blues, 890 College St., TO West ~Blues; $

10> Freeman Dre & The Kitchen Party @ Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., TO West ~alt-Country indie Pop; $

519

*7:30-12> open mic with K.M. Smith @ Molly Bloom’s Guelph, 91 Wyndham St. N., Guelph

7:30> Nicole Robertson @ Fionn MacCool’s Orangeville, 75 Fourth Ave., Orangeville

*8-11> open mic with Sandy MacDonald @ Williamsburg Arms, 1187 Fischer Hallman Rd., Kitchener

705

*7:30> Rob Phillips Luianchuk @ Black Horse Pub, 452 George St. N., Peterborough ~Jazz/Blues

*9> jam with Ted Rusk @ The Sauble Dunes, 11 Southampton Parkway, Sauble Beach

9> Peterborough Poetry Slam @ The Spill, 414 George St. N., Peterborough ~spoken word

10> $2 Punk Show @ The Garnet, 231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough

905 - East

*5-8> Nelson Denis @ Frank’s Pasta, 42 King Street E., Cobourg ~eclectic mix (Folk, Jazz, soft Rock, Latin)

8-11> Quisha Wint & Richard Wilson @ Rum Diaries, 368 Bayly St. W., Ajax

*?> jam with Darren Smith & Shayne Thomas @ The Corner Pocket, 45 Prince St., Oshawa

*9> jam @ The Wee Pub, 371 Wilson Rd. South, Oshawa

*9:30> jam with Billick @ Harp & Crown, 300 Kingston Rd., Pickering

*10> Karaoke with Rob MacArthur @ St. Louis Ajax, 11 Harwood Ave., Ajax

10> Barley & Hopps @ Tartan Tavern, 555 Rossland Rd. E., Oshawa ~Pop

905 - North

*8> open mic with Kevin Ker @ Duchess of Markham, 53 Main St., Markham

9> Steve Peconi @ Fionn MacCool’s Newmarket, 17315 Leslie St., Newmarket

905 - South

9> LMT Connection @ Doc Magilligan’s Irish Pub, 6400 Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls ~R&B

8> Benjamin Munoz; Emay @ This Ain’t Hollywood, 345 James St. N., Hamilton ~$

8> The Olivanders record release party with guests The Zilis; Olivia & The Creepy Crawlies @ Casbah Lounge, 306 King St. W., Hamilton ~indie; $

*9> open mic night with rotating hosts @ Coach & Lantern, 384 Wilson St E., Hamilton

905 – West

*7-10> Michael Keys & George Baumann @ Black Bull Burlington, 1124 Guelph Line, Burlington ~easy listening Swing/Boogie Woogie

8-12> Freedom Train @ Roc’n Doc’s, 105 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Rock/Pop

8-12> Jeff Scott @ Black Swan Pub Burlington, 4040 Palladium Way, Burlington ~Buddy Holly tunes

*8-12> jam hosted by The Personics @ Carrigan Arms, 2025 Upper Middle Rd., Burlington

*8> Celtic Night @ Fionn MacCool’s Burlington, 2331 Appleby Line

8:30> John Marlatt & Friends with Danielle Donville; Cosima Grunsky; Chris Snow; Tim McNabb @ Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. Oakville ~songwriters showcase; $5

*8:45> open mic with Matt Zady @ Failte, 201 City Centre Dr., Mississauga

9> Johnnie X @ Fionn MacCool’s Clarkson, 970 Southdown Rd., Mississauga

9:30> Glenn Groves @ Shore Grill, 71 Lakeshore Rd. E., Port Credit ~Honky Tonk

*9:30> jam with Jack B Nimble @ Abbey Road Pub, 3200 Erin Mills Parkway, Mississauga

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