Rich Crandall’s “Buddy Nowhere” leads listeners through a secretive time corridor to the 1930s in this intimate jazz noir solo piano album of re-imagined and subtly shaded melodic fantasies.
Crandall’s style of playing piano is clearly jazz, but there’s a warmth that pervades his playing—when performing “live”, on his trio albums, his daughter’s vocal albums, and now on his new solo album, “Buddy Nowhere” 1930s.
It began in the Midwest heartland of the U.S.—specifically Chicago where first raised—with the nurturing encouragement of his music-loving, piano playing father, Robert. Maybe “Buddy Nowhere” is a return to musical roots of sorts for Rich, who went on to forge his own jazz path through Wisconsin and Michigan before breaking loose to San Francisco and finally Honolulu. That’s where he settled, married, and passed the musical torch to daughter Angela.
“Clear melodic lines, good time, and rich chords are what communicate best for me,” says Crandall. “Popular appeal’s a trap. Playing in a way that seeks—that reaches out beyond one’s ego—is what’s crucial for musical language to communicate, I think.”
Crandall adds…“Music is fantasy—and I believe ‘Buddy Nowhere’ subtly and concisely captures my own fantasies surrounding these song favorites…from a time period way before my own.”
Crandall’s albums include “Solo Travel”, trio albums “Soothsayer”, “Til Further Notice”, and “Last Takes with Rory.” He also produced and his trios performed on Angela Crandall’s “Shine” and “Malaika.” All were recorded on the Music Formats label—more information available at www.music-formats.com.