An invitation to the music.

That’s what Paul Keeling wants to provide, and that’s why the jazz musician’s latest album, The Farthest Reach, features a cover photo of Maligne Lake, which, like his music, has an “epic look to it”, with a “sense of distance, grandeur and magnitude.”

The Vancouver-based musician was last in Jasper for shows in 2006 and 2007, but at one time, spent an extended period of time living in, and exploring Jasper while befriending locals.

Who knew the outcome, some years later, would result in long-time Jasper resident and friend of Keeling, Peter Lynch, photographing the cover art that appears on the album.

Keeling, originally from San Diego, lived in Jasper years ago, still visits with his wife when he can. He said the music isn’t about any one thing in particular, but there are some obvious mountain references, such as the album’s opening track, Alpenglow.

“There is a sort of a common force of inspiration, I think, that has kind of an exciting feeling of exhilaration. When you see one of these high, lofty peaks burning with that rose-coloured tint, and you get that feeling of exhilaration and excitement, you get that inspirational feel to it. There is an inspirational connection, I think, to that, and to mountains in general. Jasper is particularly dear to my heart, that’s for sure,” said Keeling.

For Keeling, what interests him as a writer and composer of jazz music is trying to connect with people who aren’t necessarily jazz fans. A lot of times, explained Keeling, the label jazz is a signal telling people that the music is in a way inaccessible or difficult to follow or understand. What Keeling had tried to do is to connect with people who aren’t necessarily into jazz.

 “I think what’s neat about the record is that it is pleasing to purists, people who really are jazz aficionados, or purists in terms of the jazz tradition – but it’s also I think winning over people who don’t necessarily have jazz in their music collection. So I think people can really relate to the music, it has a certain appeal and accessibility I think, even while at the same time, it’s not elevator music. It meets the criteria for a serious jazz record, but it’s also accessible,” he said.

Keeling said he hopes to put together a western tour in the upcoming year where he will make a stop to play a show or two in Jasper and revisit the area that he says means a lot to him as a welcoming place, both the landscape and back-country of Jasper National Park.

Paul Keeling’s album, The Farthest Reach, is available at Nutter’s in Jasper, as well as through his website at www.paulkeeling.net.