“…a veteran keyboardist who has always infused his funky rhythm and jazz with a touch of elegance and improvisational spirit.” Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Bobby Lyle © Andrea Canter

He’s back! Keyboard prodigy-turned music director and bandleader Bobby Lyle comes home to the Dakota for two nights of trio magic as only a true master of funk and blues can conjure, on July 10-11, days after releasing his new recording, Hands On (Heads Up).

Bobby Lyle was born in Memphis, moving north to Minneapolis with his family. He started piano lessons under his mother’s tutelage at age six, noting that “growing up in a climate where you had six months of winter every year provided lots of practice time.” Influenced primarily by Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Erroll Garner, and Art Tatum, as a teen in the early 1960s, Lyle was the talk of the town. At thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, he was burning up pianos and Hammond B3s, soon gigging in clubs that couldn’t yet serve him. Eventually he quit college to go on the road with Red Holt and Eldee Young, soon coming to the attention of Jimi Hendrix, with whom he worked a short time before Hendrix’ death. His family moved to LA and Lyle toured for a while with Sly and the Family Stone, then Ronnie Laws. After making a few recordings for Capitol, Lyle joined forces with George Benson, later touring with and serving as Music Director for Al Jarreau, Bette Midler, and Anita Baker. From the late 80s to mid 90s, Lyle made six recordings for Atlantic, still touring with his own bands and with Bette Midler.

Bobby Lyle © Andrea Canter

Three decades into a prolific career as composer, arranger, band leader, and recording artist of fusion as well as straight-ahead, Lyle released Straight and Smooth (Three Keys) in 2004 as an overt declaration of his dual keyboard personality. Anyone expecting him to give equal time to “straight” and “smooth” during his last two Dakota appearances (winter and fall 2005)was in for a surprise as Lyle and his trio provided rousing, thundering originals and standards that joyfully define straight-ahead jazz. Lyle’s amazing stylistic range was on full display, as was the compatibility among Lyle and his bandmates—bassist Brennan Nase and drummer Clyde Adams.

Bobby Lyle's sets at the Dakota will help raise funds in support of African-American literature. Archie Givens, President for the Givens Foundation for African American Literature and a long-time friend and fan of Bobby Lyle’s, has announced, “Bobby and the Dakota have graciously offered to contribute a portion of every ticket sold each of those two nights to the Givens Foundation to support our efforts educating the public about African American literature and writers.” The mission of the Givens Foundation for African American Literature is to enrich cultural understanding through programs that advance and celebrate African American literature and writers.

Bobby Lyle Trio © Andrea Canter

On this visit, we can expect that Bobby and his trio will preview material from Hands On—uniquely blending acoustic piano jazz and contemporary smooth sounds as only Bobby can. Given the performances I attended last year, I am more than eager for the next installment of Bobby Lyle at the Dakota. Straight or smooth, he’ll swing the night away.

The Dakota is located at 1010 Nicollet Mall, downtown Minneapolis; reservations at www.dakotacooks.com or (612) 332-1010. Bobby Lyle information is available at his website at www.bobbylyle.com

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