Kevin Keller (composer)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kevin Keller

| image = Kevin_Keller_with_Brian_Eno,_May_2013.jpg

| caption = Kevin Keller with Brian Eno, May 2013

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|04|27}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, United States

| origin =

| instrument =

| genre = Contemporary classical, ambient, electronic

| occupation = Composer, Producer

| years_active = 1986–present

| associated_acts =

| website =

}}

Kevin Keller (born April 27, 1967){{cite web|title=California births, 1905-1995|url=http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/calbirths?c=search&first=Kevin&last=Keller&spelling=Exact&4_year=1967&4_month=4&4_day=27&5=&7=&SubmitSearch.x=41&SubmitSearch.y=15&SubmitSearch=Submit|publisher=Family Tree Legends|accessdate=12 August 2012}} is an American composer and recording artist known primarily for "ambient chamber music",{{cite web|title=PRX - Kevin Keller's Ambient Chamber Music|url=http://www.prx.org/pieces/48374-kevin-keller-s-ambient-chamber-music|accessdate=11 August 2012}} a style that combines live instruments with electronic effects.{{cite web|last=Amorisi |first=A.D. |title=Kevin Keller |url=http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/060800/cw.pick.kevin.shtml |publisher=Philadelphia City Paper |accessdate=12 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101002154/http://archives.citypaper.net/articles/060800/cw.pick.kevin.shtml |archivedate= 1 January 2014 }}

Biography

Starting out as a guitarist in his teen years, Keller turned to the piano while attending Jesuit High School,{{cite web|last=Foster|first=Michael|title=Interview with Kevin Keller|url=http://www.ambientvisions.com/kevinkeller.htm|publisher=Ambient Visions|accessdate=12 August 2012}} inspired by the music of Claude Debussy, Brian Eno, and Harold Budd.{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Rick|title=Review: "Gathering Leaves" by Kevin Keller|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/gathering-leaves-mw0000140978|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=12 August 2012}} As a composition student, Keller composed ballet scores and chamber music, including a string quartet premiered by the Kronos Quartet at the 1986 Festival of New American Music.{{cite web|last=Van Zyl|first=Chuck|title=Profile: Kevin Keller|url=http://www.starsend.org/kevinkeller.html|publisher=Star's End|accessdate=12 August 2012}} Keller later studied Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music under the tutelage of Pinar Toprak.

Keller's first solo recording "The Mask of Memory" (1994) came to the attention of radio producer Stephen Hill, who included several tracks on a Hearts of Space program titled "Digital Planet"{{cite web|title=Program 381: Digital Planet|url=http://www.hos.com/#program/0381|publisher=Hearts of Space|accessdate=12 August 2012}} in 1995. This was followed by a Living Room Concert and feature on Echoes, whose host John Diliberto named Keller's second CD "Intermezzo" as one of the Top 25 records of 1996.{{cite web|last=Diliberto|first=John|title=Essential Echoes|url=http://www.echoes.org/de.essential01.html|publisher=Echoes|accessdate=12 August 2012}} In total, Keller has released 13 full-length recordings{{cite magazine|title=Billboard.com - Kevin Keller Discography|magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/kevin-keller/discography/albums/343941#/artist/kevin-keller/discography/albums/343941|accessdate=11 August 2012}} and several EPs and compilations, working with musicians such as cellist David Darling, guitarist Jeff Pearce and Keller's own chamber ensemble of strings, woodwinds, percussion, and piano.{{cite web|title=AllMusic - In Absentia|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-absentia-mw0001875865|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=11 August 2012}}

Keller currently resides in New York City,{{cite web|title=PRX - Ambient Chamber Music|url=http://www.prx.org/pieces/48374-kevin-keller-s-ambient-chamber-music#description|accessdate=11 August 2012}} where he composes music for choreographers such as Dwight Rhoden,{{cite web|title=YouTube - Precious Blood| website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPBY1rAWa-w|accessdate=11 August 2012}} Elisa Monte,{{cite web|title=Arrow's Path and Kevin Keller |url=http://elisamontedance.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/arrows-path-and-kevin-keller/ |accessdate=11 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213065706/http://elisamontedance.wordpress.com/2009/01/09/arrows-path-and-kevin-keller/ |archivedate=13 December 2009 }} Amy Marshall,{{cite web|title=Amy Marshall Dance Company|url=http://www.amymarshall.com/media-2/|accessdate=11 August 2012}} and Ray Sullivan.{{cite web|title=Miami Contemporary Dance Company presents Kevin Keller|url=http://meetthecomposer.org/awards/2011/miami-contemporary-dance-company-presents-kevin-keller|accessdate=11 August 2012}} Keller's works are administered by BMI. His 2012 album "The Day I Met Myself" was produced by Russel Walder; the album won the ZMR Music Award for [http://new.pitchengine.com/pitches/c1f4dd29-b07f-4e15-8703-acd616a2f075 Best Neo-Classical Album of 2012]. Keller and Walder teamed up again in 2015 for their follow-up album "La Strada", which also won the ZMR Music Award for Best Neo-Classical Album of 2015.

Keller's work "A Star in a Stoneboat" (from his album "Across the Sky") was featured on Season 13, Episode 9 of So You Think You Can Dance, in a piece choreographed by Tyce Diorio.

Keller's 2021 album "Shimmer" was named CD of the Month{{cite web|last=Diliberto|first=John|title=October CD of the Month|url=https://echoes.org/2021/10/03/echoes-ocotber-2021-cd-of-the-month-kevin-keller-shimmer|publisher=Echoes|accessdate=24 October 2022}} for October 2021 on the syndicated radio program Echoes.