The Master Keys deliver thesis on the Blues at Columbia U.

We're in the big leagues now. Ivy, that is.  The band was invited to play for the incoming class of graduate students at Columbia University this past Monday and we happily bestowed them with bluesy wisdom as they gnoshed on Columbia branded cupcakes and blue (school colors) champagne!  What a great crowd of bright-eyed PHDs to be, all eager to meet one another and get to know some of their professors. 

You can't see it in these photos but we played for a crowd of about 1,500 people under a huge tent covering most of Low Plaza. 

Thanks again to the folks at Columbia for making this possible!

It's the season for rooftop parties in New York!

"I like New York in June..."  Well it's shaping up to be a beautiful spring in the big city and the Master Keys have been doing more and more gigs on rooftops all over town.  Here's a couple of shots from the Starret Le-High building in Chelsea.  We played there last week for a building wide rooftop event where they screened the classic film, An Affair to Remember.  Later on in the evening we were treated to a beautiful sunset over the Hudson river!

Singing for the Pakistani Ambassador to the U.N.

Working in New York City as a professional bassist and bandleader is a study in contrasts; one night I'm playing blues at a restaurant, another I'm playing New Orleans jazz at a seedy bar, and then I find myself playing in the Upper East Side of Manhattan playing for a select group of UN ambassadors and dignitaries!

It was an honor to play for the Pakistani ambassador to the U.N., Dr. Lodhi, last night. She was extremely gracious and engaging the whole night as she hosted us in Pakistan's beautiful townhouse.  I wasn't sure what to expect; would we just be playing background music? But Dr. Lodhi and her guests were surprisingly attentive listeners and, as the night wore on, they turned out to be terrific dancers as well.  It's not a night I'll forget soon!