A native of Newfoundland, Keith’s traditional song repertoire is based in Eastern Canada and Quebec as well as his current home, Vermont. His direct and intimate style of traditional singing in English and French infuses old ballads and songs with a powerful immediacy while his rhythmic and percussive finger style of guitar playing brings new shape and color to his songs. His 2005 album, Bound for Canaan showcased his refined sense of balance between innovation and tradition while Suffer No Loss (2014) is a beautifully spare recording in the style of early classic recordings of the traditional English and Celtic music revival. Land of Fish and Seals (2018) – an ever tasteful mix of traditional and tradition-inspired songs in English and French includes an impressive list of guest artists – Becky Tracy, Yann Falquet, Pascal Gemme, Hanneke Cassel, Mike Block, Rani Arbo and Mark Roberts.
Keith continues his thoughtful approach to song arranging with his most recent recording, Bright As Amber (2023) even as he now incorporates electric guitar (Anand Nayak, Daisy Mayhem), drums (JT Bates, Bonny Light Horsemen) and acoustic bass (Reed Sutherland). There remains a clear commitment to keeping the integrity of the original songs at the forefront while the sensitive musicianship of these players brings new layers of depth and beauty to these songs.
All these songs have a special connection to Keith and his history as a singer. This version of Tarry Trousers comes from Keith’s native Newfoundland. Oak and Ash and Thorn is originally a poem by Rudyard Kipling who for several years in the late 1800s lived on the outskirts of Keith’s current home, Brattleboro, VT. Reynardine was a song Keith sang for years with his neighbor, friend and traditional song icon, Tony Barrand. Tony was also the source for Keith’s singing of the English song, Tom of Bedlam. This version of Black Eyed Susan comes through the collecting work of Helen Hartness Flanders in Vermont while Un Canadien Errant is a Canadian classic folk song of exile that would resonate especially for any Canadian who have left home.
In addition to the inimitable Anand Nayak, who is a Grammy nominated producer, the live version of this band includes Richie Barshay who has played with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Natalie Merchant, Bobby McFerrin and is member of the Klezmatics. He is a drummer of astounding range and musicality. Ty Gibbons is an acclaimed composer for film and TV and a member of the Vermont indie folk band, Red Heart the Ticker. As an acoustic bass player, he melds an understanding of traditional folk song with his other wide ranging musical talents. The combination of these talents brings an incredible depth to a wonderful repertoire of traditional songs in an original yet respectful way.
Keith was a founding member of Nightingale, a trio which broke new ground in its sophisticated approach to traditional music. He is a mainstay of the Boston fiddle extravaganza, Childsplay and has also worked extensively with Tony Barrand on the song repertoire from the early twentieth century of the Atwood family from Dover, Vermont. He also appears frequently with his wife, fiddler Becky Tracy as well as part of the Hanneke Cassel Trio.
Keith is an accomplished composer and arranger in the realm of traditional music and has also composed for theater and film. He is a featured performer on well over a dozen recordings and a guest musician on numerous others. His versions of traditional songs have inspired recordings by other groups including Solas, Uncle Earl and Great Big Sea. Several of his compositions have been featured on the recent Ken Burns’ documentary on the Roosevelts.
Keith is a faculty member of the Brattleboro Music Center (BMC) and the artistic director of the BMC’s Northern Roots Traditional Music Festival in Brattleboro Vermont which he founded in 2008. He was a featured performer in the Boston Revels 2016 Christmas show and he is the music director for the WGBH Boston public radio’s annual Celtic Sojourn St Partick’s Day concerts held at Sander’s Theater and elsewhere in New England.
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