We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keith Vivens. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keith below.
Keith, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Keith was voted “Best Bass Player in Houston,” 1998, by the critics poll in Public News Magazine. He co-leads the two-time Houston Press award-winning Funk Horn Band TKOh.
Keith is currently working on his second jazz fusion CD with the group Solar Wind. His first recording with the band will be available for sale at the concert with his original composition “Kemah Rita” on it. For the past few years, he has been hosting his steady gig every Monday evening at Eddie V’s restaurant City Centre location. He is also hosting his larger five piece band at the historic Sambuca restaurant and nightclub downtown Houston.
Keith is a devoted husband and father to wife Liz and kids Thalia and Matthew.
He has performed and recorded with artists Phil Woods, Wayne Bergeron, Enders Bergcrantz, Vincent Hearing, Anita Moore, Yolanda Adams, Yvonne Washington, Donny McCaslin, Shelly Berg, Bernd Konrad, Vincent Gardner, Chris Dave, Tom Garling, Dave Taylor, Mark Soskins, Dennis Montgomery, Victor Lewis, Dave Catney, Fritz Renold, Valero Ponomarev, Howard Hewitt, Shelly Carol, Bobby Lyle, Rayford Griffin, Peabo Bryson, Ricky Lawson, Paul Jackson, Jr., Everette Harp, Page Cavanaugh,Kirk Whalum, Mindi Abair, Branford Marsalis, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Randy & Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, George Coleman, Joe Lovano, Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws, Michael Manson, Joe Sample, Grammy Award winning “La Mafia”, Scott Gertner Band, The Franchise, Stanley Turlentine, Kyle Turner, Les McCaan, Above the Rim, Horace Alexander Young, Carl Fontana, Ben Vereen, Project KDK band, Dwight Sills, V. Michael McKay, Little Joe Hernandez, Archie Bell, Mickey Gilley, and Roy Head, just to name a few.
Keith is the first electric bassist to ever play and record with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and is currently in the recording studio working on his first CD of all original compositions.
Keith, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
KEITH VIVENS INDUCTED INTO
KINDER HSPVA JAZZ HALL OF FAME
At DocFest Benefit Concert
September 7, 2019, was a very special evening in the history of DocFest on several levels:
• DocFest’s debut concert in the spectacular new Denney
Theatre on the spectacular new Kinder HSPVA campus
Highly-anticipated Houston CD-release concert for Chris
Walker’s superb new recording, We’re In This Love Together –
Celebrating Al Jarreau And, last, but not least:
• Induction of Keith Vivens into the Kinder HSPVA Jazz Hall of
Fame!
Keith Vivens had perhaps the most interesting student journey in the history of the HSPVA Instrumental Music program. He auditioned for Edward Trongone as a classical flautist and was accepted for the school’s Wind Ensemble/Symphony curriculum, enrolling in the fall,
1977. Of course, he acquired many new school friends who were jazz. musicians and he became increasingly intrigued by this genre offered
at PVA. Gradually, during the late ’70s, Keith transitioned from flute to the drum set, and his name may be seen as drummer in jazz concert printed programs from March and November 1979 and March 1980. But there was to be one more metamorphosis! At first in the background, later most-definitely in the foreground, Keith Vivens became a bassist, emerging during his senior year (’79-’80) as the strongest bassist in the HSPVA jazz program. For example, he was an audience favorite during Jazz Ensemble I’s southern tour in April 1980, climaxing in a command performance for the Music Educators National Conference in Miami.
After HSPVA, Keith attended McNeese State University, San Jacinto College and the University of Houston (all on scholarship) before settling-in to one of the most successful freelance careers in the history of Houston musicians. The list of artists with whom he has shared the stage and/or recorded is endless; a few of the more notable:
Duke Ellington Orchestra; Brecker Brothers; Joe Henderson; Bobby Lyle; Branford Marsalis; Harvey Mason;
Kirk Whalum
And, two of the most significant and popular “club bands” in the city’s modern history:
The Franchise and TKOh! (Co-director)
In addition, Keith’s significance among Houston musicians goes far beyond the bandstand, in that he served for three years on the Board of Directors of the Houston Musicians Union. Given that this is an elective position with a constituency not just from the jazz/popular music community, but from symphony, opera, ballet, etc., underscores the personal and musical respect with which Keith is regarded by hundreds of diverse colleagues. He is especially proud of his role in establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official holiday for Union musicians.
Congratulations, Keith Vivens, and a second Welcome to the Kinder HSPVA Jazz Hall of
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Www. Keithvivens.com
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
YouTube
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.keithvivens.com
- Facebook: Keith Vivens
Image Credits
Keith Vivens