When There's Love Around Kiefer

• 1 introduction 00:51
• 2 i remember this picture 03:34
• 3 lift somebody up 04:43
• 4 earthly things 05:04
• 5 crybaby 04:47
• 6 curly 04:38
• 7 a wish for you 01:49
• 8 loving hands 02:07
• 9 Areti's Love 03:52
• 10 with you where you are 02:05
• 11 when there's love around 05:04
• 12 i love my friends 04:13
• Total Runtime 42:47

Info for When There's Love Around

Kiefer’s new album sees the acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning artist team up with several other musicians for a full live band sound. When There’s Love Around is an album of two halves. The first is “about feeling small and insignificant and stressed,” Kiefer says. “It’s about things that cause me to worry, but at the end of the day, are probably unimportant from a larger cosmic perspective.”

The nostalgia of looking through old childhood pictures in one of the lead tracks, “I remember this picture,” is reflected on the album cover, a Polaroid of Kiefer and his sister, painted by Mikey Yates.

The album’s second half is more reflective and spiritual, its cathartic mood occasioned by the loss of Kiefer’s beloved grandmother. While grief and loss are main themes, the tone is still largely positive – Kiefer describes himself as an optimist.

Kiefer assembled a band of his favorite musicians, including DJ Harrison, Andy McCauley, Josh Johnson, Will Logan, Sam Wilkes and other jazz luminaries. They laid the album down in three sets of sessions over 2020, including one stint at Jazzy Jeff’s studio after the DJ invited Kiefer to record there. Several songs were recorded in one or two takes, with any mistakes left in, true to Kiefer’s preference for music that feels spontaneous and from the heart. Kiefer has long performed with a live band, and found the setup suited the communal spirit he was striving for on this album: “I find something about the Herculean type of jazz performer really alienating. I want to celebrate human connection,” he explains.

The track “When there’s love around” is Kiefer’s take on The Crusader’s song from 1974.

"Kiefer has gathered around him some of the best jazz musicians from the west coast including Will Logan and DJ Harrison on drums and Andy McCauley on electric bass and guitar. The album was recorded in three sets of sessions in 2020 at Jazzy Jeff’s invitation in his studio, and many songs were recorded in only one or two takes, to ensure that the final result retains its freshness and intimacy. This is an album unafraid to display emotion and sentiment and will appeal to those who appreciate music that is deceptively easy on the ear but rewards close listening." (Graham Spry, londonjazznews.com)

Kiefer, Fender Rhodes, keyboards
Andy McCauley, bass
Will Logan, drums
Josh Johnson, saxophone
Jacob Mann, piano, synthesizer

Kiefer Shackelford
Kiefer is an American pianist, producer, and composer whose music bridges modern jazz, hip-hop production, and expressive solo piano traditions. His work has earned the rare distinction of being signed to both Stones Throw Records and Blue Note Records, two of the most influential labels in hip-hop and jazz, signaling his legitimacy and impact in both scenes. A Grammy Award–winning producer for his contributions to Malibu by Anderson .Paak, he has collaborated with artists including Dr. Dre, Kaytranada, De La Soul, Pete Rock, Terrace Martin, Kenny Beats, Walter Smith III, and Nate Smith. Drawing from influences ranging from Herbie Hancock to Los Angeles beat-makers like Madlib, Kiefer’s music balances technical sophistication with emotional immediacy, pairing lush harmony with minimalist, hypnotic grooves.

This album contains no booklet.