Jazz, seasoned and spiced. That’s one way to describe *FATHERS*, the debut album by the collective of the same name led by producer Kenny Bates, featuring Kiefer on keyboards, Carrtoons on bass, and Nate Smith on drums. Complemented by saxophonist Nicole McCabe, guitarist Paul Castelluzzo, singer Genevieve Artadi, and Yasmeen Al-Mazedi with her string arrangements, the trio-quartet blends jazz with hip-hop, funk, soul, and electronic influences—or perhaps just a touch of them?
“It all sounds kind of the same,” criticized the neutral ear that was a guest in the listening room and had settled into an armchair. Jim Hynes had made a similar comment on glidemagazine.com when he wrote, “The concept works on the whole, even if a certain uniformity creeps in.”
What both are presumably referring to is the restrained mid-tempo, which is hard to do without as the foundation for groovy music. And perhaps also the midrange-heavy sound that evokes the early experiments in fusion and prog-rock up through the mid-1970s. And possibly the fact that the tracks show relatively little variation within themselves, not to mention briskly changing solo passages. That’s hardly surprising, though, given that the eight tracks together don’t even last 28 minutes.
“Eye Level” kicks things off with a laid-back slow groove, which “Patchwork” follows with a nod to Weather Report. “Pearl” greets the listener with South American rhythms, which “Stub” counterbalances with echoes of hip-hop and dub. In “The Leak,” the organ takes over for a while, giving way to the grand piano in “Tomorrow, Again,” which is the only track that feels more intricate and complex. “Front Yard” keeps things simple and straightforward, before “Figure 8” closes the album with a classic fusion vibe.
FATHERS—actually written in all caps—performs on a rather compact stage with little depth. This brings the instruments closer together and creates an intimate, almost cozy atmosphere in the listening room. The music remains transparent, however, and every sound source can be clearly pinpointed. Nevertheless, the recording is presumably designed less for analysts and more for those who simply want to enjoy the music. And you should accept this invitation:
Just enjoy it! (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)
Nate Smith, drums
Kiefer, keyboards
CARRTOONS, bass
Guests:
Nicole McCabe, saxophone
Genevieve Artadi, vocals
Paul Castelluzzo, guitar
Yasmeen Al-Mazeedi, strings arranged
Produced by Kenny Beats