Chiming with the coincidence – or is it? – of Father’s Day arriving in both the UK and the US this Sunday, a new high profile quartet is preparing for the July release of their debut album.
The signs are good from what I’ve heard today. Formed initially for a 2023 residency at the Montreal Jazz Festival before playing subsequent tours of the US and Japan, the Fathers lineup brings together producer Kenny Beats (Kenneth Blume), keyboardist Kiefer, Carrtoons (Ben Carr) and drummer Nate Smith.
Aside from Smith, who is recognised internationally for his on-screen appearance as the street drummer in Alejandro Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning film Birdman – I also liked his work with Michael Mayo on Fly – the other members aren’t on my radar so far much. The Smith involvement was enough for me!
According to issuing label Blue Note the musicians recorded the eight tracks over a 48-hour period at Beats’ Putnam Hill studio in Los Angeles, where a “casual session to test a new custom-built console” led directly to a full album tracking session.
Lead single ‘Pearl’ introduces the record – it’s got a Brazilian pop-jazz feel. Think of the tune landing somewhere between Airto and Flora & Mark Ledford’s input to the Pat Metheny Group. Beats acts as creative director and album producer. San Diego born Kiefer Shackelford who was on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy and Anderson Paak’s Ventura blends jazz and electronic keys, while it’s Carr on bass. Guests incude saxophonist Nicole McCabe, who was good on Anthony Wilson’s House of the Singing Blossoms last year, singer Genevieve Artadi and guitarist Paul Castelluzzo.
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