Maria’s First

What makes a man go smooth? Calvin Keys cut jazz-funk titles for the legendary Black Jazz imprint back in the 1970s, but pivoted towards more relaxed fare in the ‘80s. As the title of his 1987 album attests, named for his “girl child” as seen on the back cover, maybe it’s just a mellowing that comes with fatherhood and age. Keys’ electric guitar tucks in nicely with raindrop percussion programming and twinkling keys, including some chicken-scratch moves amid the spidery funk of “Back Door Keys.” Earl Klugh and Lee Ritenour might have gotten most of the recognition (and sales) in this world, but Keys’ dextrous one-string runs suggest a happy medium between Grant Green and smooth.