Kiki Baba

KEITH ANDERSON & KIKI BABA is an eclectic mix of Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Americana and Electronica . Spearheaded by long-time Seattle singer-songwriter Keith Anderson (Head man for No Excuse Records & UNITED CITIES OF AMERICA) and Ballard-born and bred sax man/multi-instrumentalist Keith Nordquist (sax player/keyboardist for Seattle’s ultimate party band of the 90’s; The Fanatics), KEITH ANDERSON & KIKI BABA are here to enhance many of your listening pleasures.

2011 sees two more singles from the boys, GROOVIN' and I CAN DREAM. GROOVIN' shows the boys kickin' the groove old school, bottom-end way, with their King Curtis meets Rasta percussion up under the mango trees version of the classic Rascals tune. I CAN DREAM is further exploration by the boys into charted and uncharted territory, mixing that warm 80's techno sound with a gin and tonic and some funky-ass keyboard leads by KIKI BABA hisself!

Speaking of funky: KING BEE (2010), the boys' first single, is party-funk-jazz to the fullest with some great horn lines and a hilarious rap! Think of Junior Walker & Bootsy Collins transported to Seattle with a full supply of helium!

The initial CD from KIKI BABA & KIKI BABA, “WHAT’S YOUR HURRY?”(2010) was a capsule version of some of the boy’s favorite interests; from the reggae horns romping with Wynne C. Blue’s (Wynne C. Blue & Her Troublefakers) southern-drenched heart-pulling vocal on COULD’VE BEEN YOU OR ME , to the rock-solid electronica arrangement of ONE TOUCH by Jake Perrine (long-time Seattle Art Institute instructor), to the sly, big-band blues of PEACHES ON THE TREES, KIKI BABA music is like a solid dinner with just the right dessert and some great conversation to boot. Joining the party were more gifted musicians, including drummer Stuart Monsma (from Seattle’s Bobby Medina Band), violinist William Boyd (who’s played with everyone from Rod Stewart to Johnny Mathis), and guitar-wizard James Howard (James Howard Band).

Sitting on top of this mix was one of Keith Anderson’s most powerful songs of recent years; the thought-provoking meditation on the effects of physical violence, COULD’VE BEEN YOU OR ME. Inspired by the deaths of Seattle-based music engineer/educator Tom Phaffle and community activist Teresa Butz in separate murders over a three day period in July of 2009, COULD’VE BEEN YOU OR ME will make your hair stand on end while chillin’ you out at the same time.

NO EXCUSE RECORDS recording artists have had a banner year, with downloads selling all over the word; including Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada as well as the US through itunes, Verizon, Rhapsody and Amazon, as well as hundreds of paid plays per month via Spotify, Zune, Napster and Rhapsody. 2010 and 2011 has also seen tracks from KEITH ANDERSON (MORE THAN WORDS, LITTLE VICTORIES, I CAN MAKE BELIEVE) and UNITED CITIES OF AMERICA (ALL BECAUSE OF YOU) licensed multiple times for use by Animoto, zwinky.com and Plum Television through the efforts of AUDIOSOCKET.