A Philosophy of Optimism: “When There’s Love Around” by Kiefer
Kiefer (Kiefer Shackelford) is a pianist, producer and composer from the independent scene in Los Angeles. He combines the unsparing wonkiness of Dilla-inspired hip hop beats with the tensions of jazz harmony to form a uniquely uplifting and easy-going sound. His proficiency on the piano have led him to Grammy-winning contributions to work by megastars such as Anderson Paak’s and Drake. He recently released his third full-length album, When There’s Love Around, on Stones Throw Records.
By Bob Juburi
It isn’t easy to come across “optimistic” philosophers. People that assess the landscape and say, “hey, this is nice.” Thinkers aren’t in the business of appeasing existential stresses; they’re attempting to accurately describe the world, valuing being “right” at the risk of seeming “crass.” I would describe Kiefer’s sound, forged by hundreds of hours transcribing the jazz greats and programming dusty drum loops, as “optimistic,” and his latest release on Stone’s Throw Records, When There’s Love Around, which takes Kiefer’s sound to a full band set up, has struck me particularly deeply in its unashamed joyousness.
I caught myself smiling, or as is the case with instrumental music sometimes, drifting into a cheery dream. A tear might be shed on that sudden precipice where happiness and sadness meet. Regardless, don’t let Kiefer’s glee distract from the foundations this work: musicality, technique and emotion.
The album’s overall theme is love for family and friends: the cover depicts a young Kiefer with his sister and their childhood pet bunny. The B side tackles the loss of his grandmother, but it seems that even in the face of tragedy, Kiefer remains closely pinned to life’s silver linings.
“i remember this picture” is a perfect example of the types of techniques that have made Kiefer so successful—he won a Grammy for contributions to Anderson Paak’s album Ventura, and more recently was featured in the outro of ‘Knife Talk’ on Drake’s latest album—repetitive low-tempo riffs laced with awe-inspiring jazz piano chops. I find this so refreshing, since I think that traditional Jazz often fails to capture the intoxicating repetitiveness of hip hop, and hip hop often fails to brave away from a single looped idea.
Unlike in the past, this album isn’t a solo performance. Kiefer brings on board some amazing musicians: Will Logan on drums and Andy McCauley on bass and guitar, in what sounds and feels like a live recreation of his previously self-produced lo-fi tunes, always at a West Coast, stoned, sun-kissed pace.
Keifer
“earthly things” highlights Kiefer’s growth. Everything about it, from the saw-tooth synth lead to the wonky groove is unequivocally his, but as with much of this album, there’s more percussive detailing and texture, and I am a sucker for texture. Small mistakes and bum notes have been kept, true to the jazz records of the past and in defiance against modern-day precision editing. The mix feels dynamic and alive, largely staying out of the way of the musicians’ performances, many of which took place at Jazzy Jeff’s LA studio.
The title track, When There’s Love Around, is an interpretation of the Crusader’s 1974 song and comes towards the end of the album’s B side. The single largely stays true to the original, barring its slower pace and fuller sound. Guitars and saxophones are shunned for more layers of keys; shells, cymbals and shakers wash over the gaps, joined later by an arpeggiated synth that feels as though it was born there.
Even the song titles are cosy. “Loving,” “love,” “kiss,” “lift,” “friends”; words that warm.
Kiefer reminds me that it isn’t enough to be right. One has to be effective. And no matter how right you might be in your assessment of the world, optimists and enthusiasts give us the will to assess anything at all. I love Kiefer for that.
Bob Juburi is a jazztronica music producer, guitarist, sound designer, and writer based in Madrid. He was recently featured in Music Business Worldwide as one of the Hottest Independent Artists of 2020.