🎙️ "Ladies and gentlemen, hold onto your hats, and let's dive into the jazzy, slightly zany world of Keith Canvas, also known as the one-man musical hurricane, Bart Mertens. Born in 1978, and not just surviving but thriving ever since, Keith's a singer, pianist, composer, songwriter, and possibly a part-time wizard. He's a product of the Brussels Royal Conservatory, where he was schooled by the legendary David Linx. Yep, that's the David Linx - a jazz titan, a Chevalier of the Arts and Letters, and a man whose name sounds like a cross between a cool jazz cat and a superhero.
Keith's music is like a jazz smoothie – full of the old masters' flavors but with his own secret ingredients that make it taste unlike anything you've ever heard. His debut album ‘Beyond The Frame’ hit the airwaves in 2015 and, let me tell you, radios loved it more than cats love cardboard boxes. It wasn't just a hit; it was a home run, a grand slam, and a touchdown all rolled into one.
But wait, there's more! In 2020, he teamed up with Latin DJ Buscemi, creating a musical fusion that's kind of like putting hot sauce on chocolate – weirdly wonderful. As a live performer, Keith's as electrifying as a bolt of lightning, collaborating with jazz orchestras, the award-winning Jubilé choir, and the Qsome Bigband, making music that's harder to ignore than a bear in your living room.
His vocal jazz with a modern twist has fans cheering from Belgium to Brazil, and in France, they play his tunes more than they say 'baguette'. He's big in Russia, the US, and even gets fan mail from the Philippines – proving music is the universal language (and possibly that Keith is secretly an international spy).
His second album, ‘Imposter Syndrome’, shows Keith isn't just a one-hit-wonder. He's like a fine wine, getting better with age. The new songs are deeper, more intense, and come with a side of youthful energy, thanks to some fresh musical minds that think a piano is not just for playing Chopsticks.
So, buckle up for a ride through the rollercoaster of Keith Canvas' music – it's jazz, but not as you know it!"