Kiefer
Biography Kiefer
Kiefer
is a pianist and producer. Aside from his solo released on Stones Throw, he is also a frequent collaborator with Mndsgn's live trio, among others. He began playing piano as a child and producing beats at around age twelve, moving from San Diego to L.A. to study under renowned jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell at UCLA’s Jazz Studies program. There, he started thinking about the connection between the jazz piano he studied and the beats he created outside of school. While his peers were performing over live instrumentation, Kiefer produced electronic beats free from sampled melodies or drum breaks.
Kiefer began playing piano as a child and producing beats when he was twelve. His father was a New Orleans-style blues pianist with a love for Miles Davis and John Coltrane. He also has a sister and brother with musical talent.In an interview with Bandcamp, Kiefer spoke about his early days playing the piano: "I remember the first song I ever learned how to play was a song me and my sister made up called "The Haunted House Song." My job was to play two notes: an E-flat and a D-flat, and her job was to play three-notes: a G-flat, a G and an A-flat.We’d play them at the same time just to make noise, and it was scary-sounding. I also remember my dad taught me how to play ‘Blue Monk’ by Thelonious Monk. I was really little—I must’ve been four or five. He also taught me how to play boogie-woogie stuff and blues-style piano when I was really young."
He moved from San Diego to Los Angeles and was an understudy to jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell as well as flutist James Newton and pianist Tamir Hendelmanat at UCLA’s Jazz Studies program. Kiefer actively studied Ethnomusicology with a concentration in jazz studies. His style sprang to life when he began applying what he was learning at school to the beats he was making as a hobby. He has played with Mndsgn, Jonah Levine, Terrace Martin, Moses Sumney and others.He used to frequent LA's popular Low End Theory club, and saw Anderson Paak perform as Breezy Lovejoy.
Kiefer released his debut album, Kickinit Alone, on Leaving Records last year, which netted him a Best Jazz Album nomination from A2IM.He followed it up with an album called Happysad that was released on Stones Throw Records and inspired by Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Karriem Riggins, Knxwledge, among others. In 2019, Kiefer released his EP, Bridges.
