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The Dave McKelvy Trio by Jerry Smith Fresh from the recording studios of Los Angeles with their latest album, The Dave McKelvy Trio has become widely recognized for their professional talent and musical innovations. Their highly energized and entertaining performances have electrified audiences across the nation with their unique style and sound that magically blends as they perform many of their new arrangements of well-known classics in the areas of POP STANDARDS, SWING, JAZZ, BLUES, COUNTRY, and LIGHT CLASSICS. Their show is one of high energy featuring great harmonies, audience participation, humorous antics, and a performance that never fails to delight crowds both young and old alike. As McKelvy explains: “We choose music that has energy, moves people, and gives the audience a lift”, as the trio’s recent performance at Hollywood’s prestigious El Rey Theatre proved, bringing the audience to its feet with several standing ovations, and a demand for two encores. Each artist comes from his own unique and diversified background within the field of professional musicianship, making for a sensational trio combination of style that’s a hit with every audience. Danny Wilson on bass harmonica is the anchor for the band. His virtuosity includes having played with the famed “Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats”, and is widely known as the best bass harmonica player in the world with his solid rhythms and bass patterns that create the foundation for the trio’s rhythmic harmonies. Michael Burton, a man of extremes, plays the world’s largest and smallest harmonicas - the two-foot long chord, and the one-inch mini. Having played with the famous “Johnny Puleo’s Harmonica Gang”, Michael’s international acclaim leads the way in the history of harmonica greats. David McKelvy, with his imaginative solo techniques, is in constant demand and can be heard on TV, radio, and motion pictures both as soloist, and session player in recordings with such notables as Brian Wilson, Stanley Clark, Nelson Riddle, Terrence Blanchard, etc. Having played with Michael Burton for 10 years in the “Original Harmonica Band”, they along with Danny Wilson, blend their individual virtuosities into a dynamite ensemble of spacious sound. Their show-stopper “Orange Blossom Special” demonstrates that this is truly a three-diesel train, with each pulling its own weight in their contribution to the trio. As accomplished professional musicians, their unique harmonies and musical arrangements remain a positive influence on the ever-changing sounds of today’s music, and will get you out of your seat and really movin’!

Live From Boulevard Music CD Review by Jim Scancarelli Creator of the famed comic strip, Gasoline Alley Generally, many albums have but a few memorable cuts on them and, after a listening or two, they are condemned to the shelf in perpetuity. Not so with the Dave McKelvy Trio CD. This album remains exciting, hearing after hearing! David McKelvy is one of those remarkable performers who not only possesses good tone but good taste and who puts on a terrific show. This new CD is from a live performance at Boulevard Music in California before a live appreciative audience. David's sidemen are Danny Wilson on bass harmonica and Michael Burton on chord - and, boy, do these guys click! The renditions and arrangements are all flawless and the recording is so well done it's like being there. I'm impressed with David's dexterity and versatility on both chromatic and diatonic. He plays a wonderfully fluid chromatic with zesty trills and sensuous intonation ("Stardust") and his blues harp is out front and gutsy on "St Louis Blues." You'll really enjoy Michael's "12th Street Rag" as he puts down the huge chord and picks up the tiny Little Lady harmonica. Nice! The "Orpheus Overture" is reminiscent of Johnny Puleo's version (originally arranged, I believe, by Dave Doucette) and the way these guys do it - Offenbach would roll over in his grave and applaud! There's not a bad selection in the bunch and my only 2 cent criticism is that it's not long enough. But as the old saying goes, leave 'em wanting more. I hope we won't have to wait long for another album from David, Michael and Danny.

Swingin' Reeds Liner Notes by Tommy Morgan I've followed the Dave McKelvy Trio from the beginning (formed in 1997). With this album, they have tackled some interesting material -- especially four selections originally recorded by the great Stagg McMann Trio in 1950. These tracks aren't rerecorded "sound alikes", but rather the DM Trio went to the original arrangements and brought the tunes up through their own sound. Of course they're similar to the originals, but these tracks sound like the Dave McKelvy Trio. Danny Wilson is a great bass harmonica player, known for his distinctive electronic enhanced (amplified) sound, and for being an "in the pocket" player. Michael Burton is amazing with his percussive rhythms and great "split chord" playing. David McKelvy is equally at home on chromatic and diatonic harmonicas, and is without limitation (anyone tackling the Stagg McMann arrangements is fearless!). I've known them all, individually, for 15 years or more, and with this album they have really become more than the "sum of the parts." There's a synergy evidenced in their playing off of each other that takes this new album (their second) to that next level. I've seen them in person, and I can tell you that the only thing better than listening to this album is seeing and hearing them perform live.

Swingin' Reeds Production Notes by Drew Daniels Recording Engineer The technical challenge of preserving artistic intent with microphones and three harmonicas is not trivial. I used three Shure SM-81 condenser mikes spaced 69 centimeters apart along the circumference of a circle with a 69 centimeter radius, in the center of which I placed an AKG 426 stereo mike configured in MS mode. I moved the recorded signal of the stereo mike ahead 2 milliseconds in time so that the whole mike array would more closely approximate a single point stereo pickup. "Inertia" is a description of how things like to stay where they are unless they're shoved into motion. It's not hyperbole to say that simply playing a bass harmonica is a technological achievement. To swing when you're waiting for the heavy reeds to start vibrating must be a sign of genius. In fact, the whole Dave McKelvy Trio is a technical marvel, particularly for a group of musical sophisticates so thoroughly entertaining.

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