The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic and devastating effect on many different businesses and people in the area. Local musicians have been especially hard hit because of closed venues and being unable to share their talents. Local jazz bassist, composer, and teacher Paul Keller shares his reaction to the global health crisis and how it inspired him to get creative, putting out a new jazz Christmas CD, "Even More Christmas Songs For Jazz Lovers," and talks to WEMU's Lisa Barry about that.
Saline jazz bassist, composer, and teacher Paul Keller recorded a new Christmas jazz CD with a number of local musicians last February. Then the pandemic began. At first, Keller said he was a bit taken aback and uninspired, wondering when he and others would be able to perform again.
After several months, Keller decided making music meant there would be a future. So he began writing songs and organizing the release of his latest Christmas CD, "Even More Christmas Songs for Jazz Lovers," which can be ordered online through his website.
He talks about all the great local jazz artists who joined him on the CD and several of the new locally written songs it includes. Keller, who also teaches at Wayne State University and Hillsdale College, says he will continue to teach, write music, and perform virtually until it is safe to be around people again following the pandemic.
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
