Joe Keyes & The Late Bloomer Band

Joe Keyes is equal parts front man, poet, and conductor, Keyes draws on the influences of Miles Davis, Gil Scott-Heron, Sun Ra, and early Parliament-Funkadelic when bands were led by strong, almost otherworldly leaders. As the nine-piece band grooves through the musical spectrum, Keyes cues the horns and the solos and directs the dynamics from epic crescendos to soft melodies. Add to the mix his deep, commanding vocals, which are punctuated by tales of love, family, and addiction from Keyes’ six decades on earth.

The band’s vibe is one of Keyes’ own mash-ups. Alongside the band’s original music are concoctions that often draw horn lines from one song, guitar parts from another, and bass and drums from yet another. It’s a way for Keyes to honor his musical heroes while putting his original spin on their classic sounds.