When There's Love Around is
Kiefer Shackelford's second full-length from
Stones Throw in 2021. The first,
Between Days, appeared in April, and showcased a more elegantly detailed, laid-back presentation. This set differs in approach yet underscores it overall.
Kiefer enlisted -- for the first time -- a live band to work with him at
Jazzy Jeff's studio. His cast includes saxophonist
Josh Johnson,
Will Logan and
DJ Harrison on drums,
Sam Wilkes on bass, and
Andy McCauley on electric bass and guitar.
The set is divided into halves. The first meditates on his often-lonely childhood, while the second grieves for his recently deceased grandmother. Despite the melancholy emotion, the vibe here is blissful and sunny.
Kiefer composed all but one of the set's 12 tracks. The title cut is a cover of
the Crusaders' tune recorded in 1974.
Kiefer pays a lovely homage to their pianist
Joe Sample's timing, phrasing, and open, assonant lyricism, melding electric and acoustic pianos above a ticking, skittering beat, a slowly wandering bassline, and layers of cascading synths. Another standout is the contemporary jazz vibe in "Lift Somebody Up," wherein
Johnson's lyric sax playing meets
Kiefer's maximal piano while the band erects feel-good grooves -- and funky breaks -- behind them. "Crybaby" is a hypnotic midtempo ballad that weds Latin percussion, piano, harp, and a dubwise bassline in a trancey cadence that follows a gentle winding vamp. It's eerie, haunting, and utterly lovely. "Curly" recalls
Three Sounds' pianist/keyboardist
Gene Harris' graceful take on jazz-funk. Sampled strings pulse along with synth and kick drums before a bluesy piano and sax melody emerge, then melt into the progression. "Areti's Love" is a glorious ballad wherein Theremin, synth, and acoustic piano dovetail in a detailed harmony that could have been penned by
George Duke. Throughout the tune, spacy psychedelic production effects frame the poignant, even spiritual lyricism in
Kiefer's piano playing. Closer "I Love My Friends" is spidery jazz-funk with a head-nodding beat framed by hi-hat, snare, and ride cymbals that pulse under vamping guitars, a loping bassline, and a gritty keyboard progression from
Kiefer worthy of vintage
Herbie Hancock. A meaty yet gloriously expansive acoustic piano break near the end amplifies that impression.
When There's Love Around sounds like
Kiefer's first fully formed outing. These deceptively complex, melodic tunes are beautifully written, arranged, and presented with organic-sounding production that balances the lyric center of each composition with texturally spacious warmth and imagination. This is easily his finest outing to date. ~ Thom Jurek
