Davell Crawford’s latest release, Piano in the Vaults, Vol. I

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

Davell Crawford, the Piano Prince of New Orleans, has said that he’s “never stopped” documenting himself. His fans – and future admirers – will be grateful for his dedication to this task on listening to Piano In the Vaults, Vol. I. As the title suggests, it is the first in a series of six CDs of music that Crawford recorded from 1996 to 2013. The entire project is being released on the locally owned Basin Street Records label.

On all but one cut, Crawford is alone in a recording studio, often his own, just soloing on piano or singing and playing. The format will be the same at Crawford’s record release party on Friday, July 29, at Snug Harbor. Though Crawford aficionados dig the hugely talented pianist, vocalist and composer in whatever setting or instrumental configurations he chooses, his solo sets remain special for many as they offer the opportunity to fully appreciate his many roots and nuances. Few in attendance will ever forget the night at Snug Harbor when Crawford did a solo tribute to the late great James Booker while sporting a curly black wig. At the time, the club’s owner, the much-loved, late George Brumat exclaimed with a laugh, “All he needs is an eye patch.”

DAVELL CRAWFORD

The focus of Friday night’s gig, however, will be on Crawford’s new release that does include the original, “Booker Days,” that offers a fine nod to the legendary genius. In the lyrics, Crawford asks, “What would he say, what would he do, if I said mister I can sing and play a little bit too? Surely the world be a better place if Booker was still around today.” It’s a slow tune full of piano flourishes executed with a sense of mournfulness at the loss of one of New Orleans’ most-gifted musicians. Crawford demonstrates he’s up to carrying on the piano legacy for which New Orleans has long been renowned.

Though it’s understandable that the first cut on Vol. I, “Song for James,” also might be viewed as a tribute to Booker. Crawford, however, has explained that it was actually written for his grandfather, the late James “Sugar Boy” Crawford of “Jock-A-Mo” fame. He admits that stylistically, it sounds more like Booker than his grandfather while quickly adding that his grandfather was a great piano player too. Later in the disc, Crawford pays homage to his famous kin by including Sugar Boy’s “Morning Star,” that was written for his wife, Davell’s grandmother. The tune does have lyrics though Crawford chose to record it as an instrumental. There’s something about its overall light-heartedness, lilting quality, sincerity and piano trills that echos of days gone by. Sugar Boy’s pen was also at work for the wonderfully romantic ballad “You Gave Me Love.”

The rhythm picks up on another tune from Crawford’s busy pen, the inspirational “What Is a Home Without a Mother?” It has a playful feel with the pianist’s and vocalist’s deep gospel roots on display particularly by utilizing story-telling type lyrics that are often at the core of gospel music. He’s testifying.

Crawford goes to a source in choosing to include Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton’s classic “Buddy Bolden’s Blues” complete with his unique take on stride piano. It’s done at a slightly quicker pace than the original and minus the vocals though its richness compels one to go back to Morton’s as well as banjoist/guitarist/vocalist Danny Barker’s versions. That’s a plus in itself.

Crawford, 40, is one of those musicians who was born blessed with an old soul. (Trumpeter Nicholas Payton also comes to mind.) He can reach stylistically into the past as heard on his self-penned “Teana Titty” or be of today as experienced on 2013’s expansive and fully orchestrated album My Gift to You. Not only does Crawford’s voice and piano playing evoke different eras, his compositions – six originals are included on the disc – do too.

As mentioned, Crawford has company on one cut, “Fine Brown Frame,” with his longtime friend, Louisiana native Carol Fran joining in on vocals. These two camp it up with Davell throwing in some humorous jive. He ends the album with a passionate version of Percy Mayfield’s familiar “Please Send Me Someone to Love.”

It’s encouraging that as this CD ends, Crawford fans can anticipate the next five editions of the series that are said to be in a similar, solo settings. To hear more of Crawford’s rarely performed original tunes will be an additional treat. Those self-penned songs on Vol. I are some of the album’s highlights. He plans to perform much of the material from the disc at his gig at Snug Harbor plus favorites from My Gift to You. It’s been promised that the rest of the series, which is said to be ready to go, will be released soon – one by one over a period of time.

“This is the bare bones of Davell Crawford,” the Piano Prince of New Orleans declared on the release of the album.

Piano in the Vaults, Vol. I holds a certain sense of timelessness with classic material performed by the always inventive, spontaneous and creative Davell Crawford. Simply put, it’s just good listening.

This article originally published in the July 25, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.