Kiefer: Tiny Desk Concert

Bobby Carter, May 13, 2024 For Tiny Desk concerts without a lead vocalist, I usually try to detect musicians nonverbal conversations with each other as they perform. For Kiefers set, theres a bonus show within the show. He plays with a sense of joy that I havent seen in a while and when his eyes connect with a fellow player, its as if hes thanking them each time. With decades clocked behind the piano and a strong catalog, Kiefer Shackelford is primed for the moment. The Los Angeles pianist and producers early instrumental projects were heavily hiphopbased, playing the keys over drum loops and samples. His 2021 project, When Theres Love Around, leaped into fullon jazz, but his latest, Its Ok, B U, finds that sweet middle ground. Between albums, hes made a name for himself in the independent scene and among the majors, booking work with Drake, Anderson. Paak and SiR. For his Tiny Desk, Kiefer brought two ensembles to highlight the best of his work. The Kiefer Trio, comprised of drum