After a week of hotel accommodations and rented rehearsal spaces, the musicians arrived early in the evening for soundcheck. In the absence of three group members [keyboard, guitar, and trombone, unavailable for various reasons] - the band was in a state of perpetual anticipation. Matanda's Father, Darryl Keyes, stepped in to fill the role of keyboardist.
On stage, seconds before the curtain begin to rise:
Matanda, wearing a suede blazer from a New York boutique, that he had ripped the sleeves off the night before, and his father, wearing a vintage wool suit, made for him in Hong Kong years ago, shared words,
"Lets burn em up mane.
Is the Moog on? Mmhm. Its gon be big...
I don't have time to experiment.. the organ sound is halfway decent, but it could be a little loude-"
"-GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. FROM OAKLAND CALIFORNIA, PLEASE WELCOME, THE MATANDA KEYES SEPTET!"
PRELUDE
CONTRA
BODIES OUT
NEPAL
POSTLUDE
MATANDA KEYES - Drums
KENSHAY GOODEN - Electric Bass
DARRYL KEYES - Organ
CAMERAHN ALFORQUE - Trumpet/Flugelhorn
EMILIO MODESTE - Soprano Saxophone/Bass Clarinet
