Jack de Keyzer – That’s The Way

I found this Canadian musician not long ago, and he sounds great. I’ve listened to quite a few songs, and he has a guitar tone that is hard to beat.

Some musicians spend their careers trying to make hit records. Others keep making great music without much attention. Canadian guitarist Jack de Keyzer falls into that second group. Born in London, England, he moved to Canada as a child and became one of the country’s most respected blues guitarists. Since the early 1980s, he has released a string of albums while building a reputation as a terrific live performer, winning numerous Maple Blues Awards along the way. While he never became a household name, musicians have known for years just how good he is.

It was one of the songs that introduced Jack de Keyzer to a much wider audience. Released first as a single in 1990 and later opening his 1991 debut album Hard Working Man, it blends blues, rock, soul, and a little rhythm and blues into a sound that feels both modern and timeless. It isn’t built around huge guitar solos; instead, the song succeeds because of its groove and tasteful guitar work.

Although I’m featuring the original version from Hard Working Man, de Keyzer continued to build his reputation over the years. One of his biggest successes came with The Corktown Sessions, which earned him a Juno Award and introduced his music to an even wider audience, and this song is on it as well. By the time his career reached that point, he’d already spent decades proving himself as one of Canada’s finest blues guitarists.

Before establishing himself, Jack de Keyzer was a member of Toronto’s The Bop Cats in the early 1980s. The band blended rockabilly, rhythm and blues, and roots rock at a time when interest in 1950s-inspired music was enjoying a revival. Featuring energetic performances and tight musicianship, The Bop Cats released several albums, including The Bop Cats (1981), Rockabilly Rhythm (1982), and Bootleg (1983). Although they never became a household name, they developed a loyal following throughout Canada and helped introduce many listeners to de Keyzer’s exceptional guitar playing long before he embarked on his successful solo career. I really like the Bop Cats and will have something coming up on them shortly.

His guitar never overpowers the song, and his vocals fit the music perfectly. The band locks into a steady rhythm and lets the melody carry things forward. You can hear influences from players like Eric Clapton, B.B. King, and Albert Collins, but de Keyzer never comes across as someone trying to imitate his heroes. He has developed his own voice over decades of playing clubs, festivals, and theaters across Canada and beyond.

Sometimes success is measured by longevity, respect from fellow musicians, and a catalog full of songs waiting to be discovered. This is one of those tracks that makes you wonder why more people haven’t heard of him, and that’s usually a sign you’ve found something worth sharing. He has opened shows for artists like B.B. King, Etta James, and Bo Diddley over the years. He may not be a superstar, but the legends certainly knew who he was. That’s often one of the best endorsements a musician can get.

Jack de Keyzer: I’ve done a lot of session guitar playing for live gigs with people. When I played with Bo Diddley and Etta James they were live shows – they weren’t in the studio. In the studio I have worked with a lot of different blues people like Rita Chiarelli, Willie Big Eyes Smith, who was Muddy Waters’ drummer, King Biscuit Boy, Harmonica Shah, David Rotundo, The Shaftmen, Brant Parker and Erin McCallum.

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

22 thoughts on “Jack de Keyzer – That’s The Way”

  1. You know Max that music is right up my alley. Jack de Keyzer who is all new to me sounds mighty sweet!

    Do you know his Canadian fellow blues rock artist Colin James? I saw James open for Buddy Guy in Jersey in April 2022 and was impressed. Check this out! 🙂

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  2. Good jog of my memory, Max! I hadn’t heard his name in years but back in the ’90s he was well-known in Toronto, although mainly for his frequent live shows. I don’t think radio picked him up at all from what I can recall. You probably would like Colin James stuff, as mentioned by Christian. Similar blues guitar to Jack and to Jeff Healey and very good live artist

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      1. I was really impressed with James when I saw him live way back circa 1990. I was only lukewarm on his stuff on radio but he put on a great live set. I don’t think I saw DeKyzer but, I did go to a number of live free shows of artists like him around 2000ish in our city’s ‘Jazzfest’

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  5. Pingback: Jack de Keyzer – That’s The Way – MobsterTiger

  7. It’s a bit odd that I have not followed him because he’s everything I like! Although I didn’t know who he was at the time I spent a lot of time visiting Hamilton in the 80s which is when (memory is a bit fuzzy as to exactly where) I saw the Bop Cats. Great post and a reminder not to just focus on Colin James for killer Canadian Blues guitar!

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    1. And this one isn’t a pure blues song…it has a pop flair to it. Too bad it wasn’t picked up as much. Many of the Canadian readers know him…I didn’t know him either much at all.

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