Paul Keller House Calls
featuring Ursula Walker, Buddy Budson, and David Taylor
Sunday, JuLY 25th @ 7:30 PM
Paul Keller House Calls is back at KCH, this time live and in-person!
Paul brings with him featured guests and legendary Detroit musical couple Ursula Walker and Buddy Budson, who have a storied career on the Detroit music scene. With a combined performing career of 130 years, the couple were the Legacy Artists at the 2020 Detroit Jazz Festival. Ursula was a star performer on early Detroit TV, radio, commercials, and USO shows. She is a veteran of the Detroit jazz club, concert hall, and festival scene. Buddy toured the world with the likes of Buddy Rich, Earl Klugh, and the Four Tops. Together they have teamed up for nearly 50 years as two of the most familiar figures in the Detroit jazz community. Besides standards and jazz repertoire, they often perform original lyrics to well-known jazz instrumentals.
Rounding out this legendary group of Detroit-based guests is percussionist extraordinaire, David Taylor.
Important Info Regarding The Lot Lounge
The Lot Lounge is an outdoor venue in our back parking lot. A cash beer and wine bar will be available for those 21+.
If this event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather, the show will go on for you at home! We’ll move the artists inside and pivot to a livestreamed concert on the same date and time at a private link that will be shared only with ticket holders. All decisions regarding inclement weather cancellations will be made no later than 2 hours prior to the performance, at which point all ticket holders will be notified by email about the cancellation with instructions for accessing the private livestream.
PLEASE NOTE: Since we have this livestreaming option for our audiences (and the artists we engage), there will be no refunds or exchanges for The Lot Lounge ticket purchases this summer. Thank you for your support and understanding as we work to find innovative ways to continue connecting artists and audiences!
String bassist Paul Keller is a Michigan jazz hero; he loves his life in Saline, MI where he lives with his wife and two kids and performs locally, in Detroit, and across his home state of Michigan. Paul wear many jazz hats: He leads several successful and busy jazz ensembles including his big band The Paul Keller Orchestra; he’s an in-demand side man, a prolific composer, a creative and skilled arranger, an enthusiastic and innovative jazz educator, a recording company owner and producer, and a nationally recognized recording artist. Paul can be heard every week at his home base – Zal Gaz Grotto in Ann Arbor (on Mondays with his PKO big band and on Tuesdays with the Easy Street Jazz Band). Keller spent several years on the road with guitarist Russell Malone and later with singer/pianist Diana Krall. Together with Russell and Diana, Paul recorded Diana’s Grammy-nominated All For You. These days, Paul performs frequently with guitarist/singer and jazz super-star John Pizzarelli – they just toured Brazil for a week. Paul travels the world to play special concerts and festivals with a myriad of jazz stars including Jackie Ryan, Scott Hamilton, Larry Vuckovich, Benny Green, and Warren and Alan Vache.
Ursula Walker has been a mainstay of the Detroit music world for 54 years, beginning at the age of eleven on Detroit television and radio. Pursuing her career in her hometown while raising four children, her outstanding talents as a unique stylist of ballads, standards, and jazz gained her national recognition among her peers.
In the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Ursula fielded many offers to tour nationally with many notable musicians such as Stan Kenton, the Harry James Band, Count Basie, and Tony Bennett. Over the years she has performed at countless clubs, concerts, and festivals, frequently at the Detroit International Jazz Festival. She has opened for many well-known performers, including Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, and Tania Maria.
Ursula has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, among them a Clio Award for best vocal performance of a commercial jingle; election to the Metro Times Jazz Hall of Fame; the Midwest Arts Legends of Jazz Hall of Fame Award; the MCA Outstanding Musicians Award; the Detroit Metro Area Musicians and Entertainers Association Teddy Harris, Jr. Legendary Award; and the 2007 Southern Christian Leadership Conference Aretha Franklin Award for outstanding achievement in the Performing Arts.
Buddy Budson has been playing jazz piano around the Detroit area for the past 46 years, beginning at local clubs at the age of fifteen. In 1973, Buddy joined drummer Buddy Rich’s big band, toured England, Australia, and the United States, and recorded an album with the band. Soon after, Buddy toured with both guitarist Earl Klugh and the Motown group, The Four Tops. He has also backed well-known performers including Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Sammy Davis, Jr., Marlena Shaw, Charles McPherson, and Steve Turre.
When the Fox Television Network debuted in the late ‘80’s Buddy composed and arranged the theme song and much of the transitional music for the sitcom, Duet. He has also done vocal and instrumental arrangements for big band and orchestra.
Buddy is married to noted Detroit vocalist, Ursula Walker, and together they perform at clubs and concerts throughout the Detroit metro area. They have also given many clinics at Detroit-area schools and the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University. Buddy is the recipient of a Metro Times Jazz Award and the Detroit Metro Area Musicians and Entertainers Association Teddy Harris, Jr. Legendary Award.
David Taylor studied percussion performance at the University of Cincinnati/College-Conservatory of Music where his principal teacher was William Youhass. Other teachers include Salvatore Rabbio, Gordon Stout, and Tim Hagans. Since returning to Detroit, David has performed shows at the Fox, Masonic, and Fisher Theatres. In addition, he performs regularly with the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. David has been a member of Wayne Sate University’s jazz faculty since 1991 and has toured Europe and South Africa with saxophonist Chris Collins. He has been on countless recordings, including work with Emmy award winning composer/producer Joseph LoDuca. David has taught at the Interlochen National Music Camp. He is a Vic Firth Artist.
