Jon Fishman Appears On Daughter’s Debut Album ‘Good Years’ By Cynthia Ruth

Vocalist Ella Fishman, the daughter of Phish drummer Jon Fishman, recently released her debut album, Good Years. Jon Fishman plays drums on the record, which Ella issued under the name Cynthia Ruth last Friday, December 1 via Anonymous Noise.

Ella’s gorgeous singing and impressive songwriting is at the heart of Good Years. She and her father are joined on the LP by guitarist Daniel Yoong, multi-instrumentalist Carter Sanders and bassist Colin Dinnie. Sanders co-produced the record with Ella Fishman. “My dad is the world’s greatest drummer, the world’s greatest drummer is my dad,” Ella wrote of her father in an Instagram post about Good Years.

While 10 of the 11 songs featured on Good Years were written by Ella Fishman, the album also includes a cover of Phish’s “Wading In The Velvet Sea.” The version of the ballad is a stripped-down rendition consisting of just Ella’s ethereal vocals and Sanders on piano.

Ella and Jon Fishman shared the stage earlier this year on April 21 and 22 at The Roxy in Los Angeles as guests of The Dude Of Life Band. Additionally, Ella was among the children of Phish members who sat in a bathtub while the band performed “Brother” at their Father's Day concerts in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Read Ella Fishman’s full Instagram note regarding Good Years below:

In my mind, this record takes place at a visually appealing but otherwise upsetting carnival. Lethal doses of nostalgia around every corner, spun-sugar nausea in the funhouse mirror reflection hall. There are pixelated home movies projected on every peeling paint wall. The dart toss prizes are your lost childhood toys. The thrill rides are rickety and you might die.

I’m legitimately a little sick of this place. But I’m not sick of the songs. I’m very excited for them to be out in the world. I’m excited for the landscape to take on new forms.

I was stupidly lucky to work with incredibly talented and kind people, who each helped to bring these songs out of their primitive demo forms and into more than I was capable of imagining them to be. I’m so grateful to @danielyjk on guitar, Colin Dinnie on bass, @cartersandersmusic on guitar and shakers and keys and mixing and all excellent ideas, Mike at @plaiddogrec for mastering, and to daddio for the drums.

Good Years is out now wherever you get your tunes, under Cynthia Ruth. Welcome to the carnival. I hope it makes you feel anything at all.

Stream the Cynthia Ruth album Good Years below: