Local composer, Keenan Baxter, will appear Thursday, March 17 from 5-7pm, at Waterford Inn for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Waterford Inn is located between Michigan City and LaPorte at 6466 W. Johnson Rd., LaPorte Indiana. Waterford Inn will have a festive feast available complete with corned beef and cabbage dinners for only $6.25 and dollar drafts.
Influenced by Celtic, Classical, Techno and Jazz, this sensational composer from Valparaiso returns with a powerhouse Celtic album ranging dynamically from the most sensitive and touching Irish songs to hard-hitting reels and jigs. Although Keenan is not from the homeland of Ireland, nor is he Irish, he was always intrigued with the genre, ever since he saw “River Dance,” at Star Plaza Theatre when he was young. He immediately bought the cd and listened to it over and over. He began composing his own Celtic songs about 6years ago.
Keenan’s celtic album (titled “Reminant”) brings festive and danceable reels and jigs to airs brimming with nostalgia and sentiment. Keenan artfully layers harp with bag pipes, accordion, string, fiddles, atmospheric vocalese and electronic undercurrents for an intriguing fusion of old and new.
Why the title “Reminant?” After all, it’s not even in the dictionary! Well according to Keenan, it came to him in a dream. The word actually comes from the 15th century and means, “remnant or remainder.” One can say that this album celebrates the traditional Celtic music from the past and admires Celtic music as still an inspirational and stunning genre of music.
Keyboardist, Keenan Baxter, of Valparaiso, is a Grammy Contender (2006) and also a composer/producer. This “Top 40 Worldwide” young talent offers original compositions in New Age, Blues, Reggae, Celtic and Smooth Jazz styles. He has over a dozen CDs to his credit and has performed in several Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana venues.
Unlike most musicians, Baxter was a composer for 8 years before even playing any instrument, which helped to create his “signature sound” that utilizes multiple instruments and complex melody brilliance with a bass and percussion emphasis. Baxter is a very accomplished composer and musician in his own right, and started producing and composing over ten years ago at the age of 14. He attended the Music Industry Workshop in Chicago and is currently studying composition at Front Porch Music in Valparaiso. His Grammy Contender 2006 was in the categories of Best Album and Best Record with his chart topping album, Crave the Floor! He had a song selected by MTV for their “Sweet 16 show” in 2007. As a producer, he has produced recordings for local rock bands, vocalists, and industry professionals.
You can see Baxter at the Waterford Inn located at 6466 W. Johnson Rd., between La Porte and Michigan City from 5-7pm, as well as the typical beer specials, dollar drafts, giveaways, food and fun. The “Reminant” cd will be available for a special show price of only $10 and you can also enter to win a free cd! If you can’t make it to this event, you can also hear Keenan every Thursday night from 6-8pm, at Martini’s dining room located at 1004 Calumet Ave., in Valparaiso, Indiana.
To listen to this music and to purchase the cd or just your own mp3s you can go to www.cdbaby.com/cd/keenanbaxter. For Information on Waterford Inn, please call 219 879-9083 or visit: www.myspace.com/waterfordinn