Everything on the front cover of Scot Crandal’s Now & Again evokes vintage music, from the sepia tone photograph of Crandal seated at a piano, head in hand and pen to paper, to the font type and “stereo” insignia in the upper right corner. Even the CD itself has been designed to look like a vinyl platter. Frankly, one could be forgiven for assuming the disc was a reissue of “an album of fresh, original jazz songs” (as described on the front cover) recorded decades ago.
Since Crandal’s wide-ranging musical exploits as a singer, pianist and composer include classical, jazz, rock and liturgical music, it makes perfect sense that such thought would go into preparing the listener for the eleven songs contained on Now & Again. In fact, in conveying his inspiration for the project, a collaborative effort between Crandal and lyricist Nancy Jerrick, he makes it clear the intention was to write and record a body of songs that sounded familiar. To capture the quality and spirit of such contributors to the Great American Songbook as Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald was the more specific objective. With the use of just piano and vocals, the melodies and lyrics are brought into the spotlight, and the results are rather good.
As one might expect, romantic love, whether experienced and appreciated, yearned for or lost, is the lyrical heart of Now & Again. The wistful “Any Day Now” effectively sets the tone with Crandal’s smooth, soulful and powerful vocals. Jerrick’s lyrics beautifully capture hope undimmed by the pain of longing and loneliness; “Always standing at the sidelines, wondering how it would be / Any day now, I just know it, love will finally find me.” Crandal’s satisfying piano accompaniment is spot on, providing perfect support and framework.
“Now You’ve Heard It from Me,” with its spry rhythm and melody, would certainly sound at home if it were sung by Tony Bennett. Crandal’s magnificent vocal embraces lines such as “Some things, like the breath we take, seem to need no mention / But just so there is no mistake, I will state my intention.” Jerrick’s poetry here is linear yet thoughtful, radiating with a sense of joy and relief at being able to express love once concealed but now welcomed and free to communicate. The piano blues of “Bad Storm Comin’ In” is a lively number in which Crandal cathartically asserts his disinterest in reuniting with a former love who once left but now desires to return. As he sings, “You’ve got a soul like frozen sleet and a heart made out of ice / Now you’re left out in the cold, and I’m not even thinkin’ twice” it’s clear he feels better off without her. Crandal adds grit and fervor, coming across joyful rather than bitter.
Then arrives the contrite “Now and Again,” with its aching articulation of the sorrow and desolation experienced after a break up. Jerrick’s lyrics provide a vivid and intimate glimpse of one still in the process of healing and moving on, still prone to occasionally looking back at what might have been. Once again, Crandal, with both voice and piano, delivers with emotive substance and musicality. The bouncy confessional “I Guess I Need A Second Chance,” clocking in at less than two minutes, is a confident yet humble plea for, as the title would suggest, a second chance at love.
Tinged by melancholy, “No Regrets” is Crandal’s genuine attempt to reach an amicable conclusion to failed love, as difficult as it is. As he sings, “No regrets, this is just the way it turned out to be / No regrets, as you said, love’s tide can change like the sea,” it’s clear he’s still working through it all. In her lyrics, Jerrick thoughtfully conveys sadness without resentment, resolving that it’s best for both parties to move on. In terms of musical structure, “No Regrets” certainly keeps to the tradition of countless American standards.
“So Much, So Fast, So Soon” is fun, daring and brisk, but Crandal is once again up to the task. Jazzy vocal phrasing and sprightly piano would seem to make for a musical tightrope, but it all holds together nicely.
The theme of coping, healing and moving on after the dissolution of a relationship, familiar to Now & Again, once again surfaces in “Can’t Seem to Find My Way.” As Crandal sings, “Sleepless past midnight, still up at dawn / Swear by the first light, today’s the day I’m moving on,” the sentiments are utterly convincing. Similar emotional territory is explored in “Summer Heat,” albeit with a more upbeat musical approach. The twist here is that rather than being satisfied with a split, Crandal passionately longs for and expresses his hope and desire for love to be rekindled.
With joyful confidence and abandon, Crandal melds the pretty poetry and dancing piano of “Until You” into something smile-inducing. The warm sincerity of “Loving Just You” takes on just a touch of modern flair with Crandal’s soulful delivery and enthusiastic approach to the piano. These final two songs serve nicely to break through emotional clouds to offer a sunny conclusion.
As ambitious as Now & Again is in its pursuit of the lofty goal of finding a fitting and comfortable place within the canon of American standards and jazz vocal pieces, it succeeds in a marvelous way. Rather than mine the trove of recordings and compositions of yesteryear, Crandal and Jerrick have produced an album of fresh and inspired songs that nonetheless serve as a tribute to an era they aspire to capture.
Review by Mike Roots
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
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