Photo Credit: Stefan Falke
Art Garfunkel, known as one of pop music’s most outstanding contributors considering his decoration status–eight Grammy wins, 13 nominations, and innumerable gold and platinum awards–is back with a new collaborative album, the aptly titled Father and Son. The aforementioned set, released in full today, finds two generations of Garfunkels, the acclaimed voice, and his namesake applying their talents to revered material from the last century, using various borrowed songs to capture their intimate sonic interplay.
Father and Son serves as an intersection between Art Garfunkel and Art Garfunkel Jr.’s musical interests. Comprised of 12 tracks, the collection leans into choice cinematic string arrangements that hold particular reverence for the pair, relying on classics from a series of jazz standards: “Nature Boy,” Jo Stafford’s “You Belong To Me,” 1930s first-class composition “Once In A While,” and the stunning “Blue Moon,” beside the Garfunkle Sr.-selected The Everly Brothers’ “Let It Be Me.”
The set’s melodic, dream-like presentation carries over on 1980s originated music, turned Father and Son covers, “Here Comes The Rain Again” (Eurythmics), Ph.D.’s 1981 hit “I Won’t Let You Down,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time.” Elsewhere, the pair dive into other timeless selections, like Don McLean’s ode to Vincent van Gogh, the so-called Bach-inspired “Blackbird,” and another favorite of the elder Garfunkel, “Old Friends.”
Perhaps the most fitting feature is the pair’s interpretation of Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son.” Positioned as the LP sendoff, the cover functions as an epic in its own right; the precision of the lyrics, when traded between generations, prompts new meaning from the original 1970 presentation.
“It felt like a dream. It was quite wonderful. I love working with him. I like to say my son is a better singer than I am. I mean, I’m pretty good… but he is better…it’s very thrilling to record with him now,” says the elder Garfunkel. “The new album is a love letter. It brings us together.”
“It’s truly a father-son project,” continues Garfunkel Jr. “I brought more of the 80s influences into the project, and my father brought more of the Great American Songbook – wonderful songs from the 1940s and so on. These two influences came together in a pretty exciting way. So, it’s definitely an expression of our bond.”
To mark the release of their new set, father and son will perform a residency at NYC’s The Carlyle (Rosewood Hotel) from November 12-16. Tickets are on sale now.
Scroll down to listen to Father and Son.
Father And Son Tracklisting:
1. Blue Moon
2. Vincent
3. Blackbird
4. Old Friends
5. Time After Time
6. Once In A While
7. I Won’t Let You Down
8. Let It Be Me
9. Nature Boy
10. You Belong To Me
11. Here Comes The Rain Again
12. Father And Son