Uncle Frank - Smiles For Miles (2014)

‘SMILES FOR MILES' is the debut album from UNCLE FRANK, multi-instrumentalists and producers Frank Benbini (drummer with Fun Lovin' Criminals) and Naim Cortazzi.

'SMILES FOR MILES' is the culmination of the years Benbini and Cortazzi's have spent playing and absorbing music, writing and honing their craft and cultivating their sound. Their love of music – sourced from their incredibly diverse record collections – has led them to create an album that is an eclectic mix of soul, pop, jazz, funk, old-school hip hop, easy listening and a love of Disney soundtracks.

The name UNCLE FRANK is in part inspired by the importance of family life to Benbini and the fact he is a big brother, not only to his own kin, but to many people in his community. It's a concept in which they combine all their passions and influences, including their massive, diverse record collections, love of TV, radio, films and growing up in multi-cultural families in a multi-cultural city.

Recording over an intensive three-month period in their home studio, Benbini and Cortazzi arranged and played the majority of instruments themselves, as well as actually engineering and recording every part of the record. They then added even deeper layers of sound by inviting an array of particular players, ranging from classical harpists to full brass sections, to perform on the album.

The resulting album captures Benbini and Cortazzi's musical passions, perfectly distilled into a heady brew, the larger than life character that is UNCLE FRANK: imagine a young Ray Winstone, meets Biggie Smalls, with a side order of Dean Martin.

The album was mixed by Grammy Award winning mixer and producer Tim Latham (Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, The Rolling Stones and Erykah Badu). Benbini first met Latham during a Lou Reed session at Quad Studios in New York. They immediately hit it off, and when it came to mixing the Uncle Frank album, Lathan believed in the project so much, he committed to it before UNCLE FRANK even secured a record deal.