Las Vegas-based saxophonist and composer Rick Kelller returns with a powerfully uplifting new release: “Heroes.” This album pays homage to the giants of Jazz that shaped Keller’s identity as a composer and performer, drawing on the styles of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock, Ralph Towner, and many others.
Rather than offering covers or straightforward tributes, Keller builds Heroes entirely on original compositions. The result is a collection that acknowledges its lineage, but speaks in contemporary terms. Across the record’s 14 tracks, Keller’s saxophone is both narrator and guide, weaving melodic lines that are at once lyrical and exploratory.
https://rickkeller.bandcamp.com/album/heroes
The opening track, “For Pat,” is inspired by Pat Metheny and appears to draw inspiration from Latin rhythms as well. It’s a melodic number where Keller’s sax takes center stage and is carried forward by a catchy drum beat to make for a rewarding listen.
On “Ahead of the Curve,” the album’s most overt nod to fusion tradition, Keller pays tribute to the band Steps Ahead. He delivers some incredible saxophone lines, but
it’s Nick Mancini’s vibraphone solo that really steals the spotlight on this single with its color and rhythm.
The album closes out with six tracks inspired by Oregon, which draw heavily from world music influences. Complete with vocal chants and harmonies to accompany Keller’s performance, the final track, “Hymn,” is dedicated to the broader theme of understanding your purpose and mortality, bringing a meaningful close to the album.
The album was recorded at UNLV Recording Studios, with Keller himself credited for sound design and mixing. Mastering by Gil Kaupp gives the final product a studio-polished sheen where every instrument occupies its place cleanly, from cymbal washes to deep bass foundations.
Heroes doesn’t pretend to reinvent the fusion wheel, and that’s not the point. Keller isn’t out to shock or subvert. Instead, he crafts a thoughtful, well-executed tribute, showing how those earlier influences continue to resonate in his own musical language. For fans of melodic modern jazz and refined fusion, this album is undoubtedly a rewarding listen.