Photo by Patrice Raplee
Lutes &
Keller
Top-notch
duo evokes emotion
from audience at Sweetbrier
Inn
by Patrice Raplee
A shiny black baby grand piano silently stands in the corner of the
Sweetbrier Inn lounge as if awaiting the touch of a gifted muse. Unobtrusively
taking his place at the piano beside duet partner Marilyn Keller, Dana
Lutes is that muse.
Born in Springfield, Ore., Lutes began taking the obligatory piano
lessons at an early age. After a few years, it was evident that structured
piano lessons did not garner much success. Fortunately, the abundance
of natural talent that Lutes possesses allowed him the ability to imitate
what his teacher played.
Mainly self-taught, this evocative singer and multi-instrumentalist
received his first major inspiration at the age of ten after seeing
The Music Man. Sure that trombone and trumpet were to be his musical
vocation, Lutes admits that he was a rather poor student and ended up
playing by ear. Within the same period of time, his mother brought home
a guitar and a new interest was spawned. Lutes practiced with bands
in junior high and comments, "We were really bad; in fact you have
no idea how bad we were unless you could hear a recording." Perhaps
not all that bad; his first paying gig was at a friend's wedding where
he earned five dollars. He has that five dollar bill to this day.
After high school, Lutes worked at a camera store, traveled to Europe
and began performing professionally. He performed with Ernie Carbajal
24 years ago at a country club in southern Oregon for his first professional
gig. Carbajal, a flugelhorn and vibe musician, still performs with Lutes
on occasion and filled in for Marilyn Keller at the Sweetrbrier Inn
on Thursday, April 8.
The Sweetbrier Inn, located in Tualatin on Nyberg Road, is the perfect
venue to experience Lutes and Keller's fluid harmonization. This pair
blend their melodious voices so well together, it is inconceivable that
they are not internationally known. Lutes' voice has a fluid smoothness
to it that will pull at your heartstrings while he croons out a love
song. Keller's voice can sound jazzy or portray the upbeat Motown quality
that most singers never obtain.
Effortlessly switching from piano to guitar, Lutes plays a variety
of standards and jazzed-up pop tunes that sound better than the originals.
Declaring himself the "King" of the inappropriate quote, Lutes
will play a James Taylor medley and slip in guitar riffs from a Sting
tune. The guitar work is so transitionally balanced; one would have
to be paying fairly close attention to realize what had just occurred.
Lutes and Keller share a three-and-a-half year history of working together
at the Sweetbrier lounge. Ballads are often heart rendering; this pair
will have the listener riding on a wave of mood and emotion that is
perfect for the love stricken. Their subtle humor flows with a natural
charm that combines beautifully with the presentation of medleys chosen
for the evening's set.
The environment of the Sweetbrier is classic and comfortable; all the
seats have a wonderful view of the performers. If you prefer to have
dinner while staying in the lounge, the volume or intensity won't chase
you off.
While accompanied by two chefs, this writer had the opportunity to
get an unbiased opinion of the food. The consensus is excellent! Fine
dining with very reasonable prices impressed both chefs. Imaginative
creations such as Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Warm Spinach Salad contain
an interesting mix of goat cheese and candied walnuts with balsamic
vinaigrette. The Sweetbrier menu lists lamb, pork, pasta and seafood
with an out-of-the-ordinary blend of delicacies.
The service is beyond reproach; restaurant manager Joseph Dallal is
detail oriented and keeps an elegant calmness about him that assures
a high-class, properly-run establishment. After commenting on the splendor
of Dallal's necktie, he inquired when it would be convenient for this
writer to pick one up. Jokingly, this writer replied, "in 20 minutes."
He replied,"I will have it here in 20 minutes." Indeed he
did. Mr. Dallal gave the proverbial shirt off his back, gift wrapped
no less.
Even though Lutes entertains at local clubs, he generally prefers private
engagements; the obvious a smaller, more intimate audience with the
benefit of a lower volume. Inspired by artists such as Bill Evens and
Wes Montgomery, Lutes reflects those influences in his music. The jazz
community in Eugene, Ore., during the '70s was a fruitful atmosphere
for young Lutes to be exposed. In 1985, he studied with recognizable
names such as jazz guitarist Larry Coryell and pianists Hal Galper and
George Cables.
Constantly expanding his skills as a musician and songwriter, Lutes
has produced CDs for other musicians and singers, as well as himself.
East of the Sun...West of the Moon is his current release published
buy Lutesongs (his own company). The line-up of musicians on Lutes'
CD is impressive: Dana Heitman, trumpet (who now performs with the Cherry
Poppin' Daddies); Kevin Dietz, bass; Jeff Holman, sax; Forrest Moyer,
acoustic bass; Mark Curry, clarinet; and Alan Keown, drums. East
of the Sun is jazz-based with an outstanding version of New York
State of Mind by Billy Joel.
Plans for a CD with Marilyn Keller are already in the works. From musician,
producer, photographer, to restoring British cars and working as a licensed
massage therapist, Lutes has the quintessential "busy life."
Working out of his home and at the Lloyd Athletic Club, Lutes reflects
on his massage therapy techniques and states, "It feels like important
work to be doing; it won't save the world or anything, but it might
just possibly save somebody from a nasty case of road rage."
It is somewhat difficult to gauge the humor and warmth of an individual
by reading an article about them; even more so when they appear larger
than life with all their accomplishments and talents. Dana Lutes is
that rare sort of personality that combines humor, talent and warmth
to express the very essence of an entertainer...So sing us a song piano
man. (See Sweetbrier ad and Music on Tap for dates of performances.)
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