Jeff Bujak may be best known for his stint laying down keys for nationally touring prog-jammers Somebody's Closet. A piano student from the age of six who claims to have penned more than 200 original compositions by 18, the Syracuse, N.Y. native-cum-current Noho resident appears far too prolific for any one musical entity to contain.
Your friendly neighborhood Nightcrawler caught up with Bujak before his CD release party at The Elevens this Friday, Feb. 8 in celebration of his new solo offering, Building: An Arsenal. The following represent some of the wunderkind keyboardist's insights into his musical migration across the country, Arsenal's assembly, and his emergence from Somebody's Closet.
Nightcrawler: At the risk of sounding like a psychoanalyst, I wanted to start at the beginning. How did a New York native end up in the Tempe, Arizona-based Somebody's Closet?
Bujak: In high school, I actually played guitar in a few bands. But after college, I moved out to Arizona and joined them as a piano player. They were looking for a new bass player and maybe a keyboardist. I ended up taking on both jobs by playing left-hand piano-bass and playing piano organ with my other hand.
What is the current status of "SoClo" and why did you feel the time was right to venture out of the Closet now?
My solo career has always been brewing, but from my lessons and trials with working with the band, I've learned how to sustain and grow as a touring solo musician. As for Somebody's Closet, the band has had more than 13 members since its inception in 1997. And none of us left are original members. I've had some of the best times of my life with them and would do it all again if I could. The band isn't as active as it once was, maybe playing out once a month. But we are all doing solo projects and other musical endeavors to find out who we really are.
Did any of them collaborate with you on the disc, and will you bring other musicians to The Elevens Feb. 8 to fill things in live?
I perform alone on all my CDs. Every programmed beat, every piano-bass line… performed by myself. I didn't even let anyone hear any of the album until it was completed! When I play live, nobody joins me. Eventually I will form a small touring band to do select, special shows with percussion, guitar and cello, but for now, I want to keep this project to myself.
In other news, it hasn't been that long since Led Zep rock 'n' rolled—the band's official reunion show was Dec. 10, 2007. Still, fans salivating for more from the wielders of the Hammer of The Gods may want to plant themselves in front of the boob tube at 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11. It won't be a Zep set proper, but rather a performance by singer Robert Plant with bluegrass beauty Allison Krauss recorded for the Country Music Channel's Crossroads series. In addition to selections from the duo's critically acclaimed release Raising Sand, the pair reportedly tackled Zep classics "Black Dog" and "When The Levee Breaks."
Lastly, Signature Sounds and Elmer's Restaurant in Ashfield report that they've come up with a considerably easier—and less expensive—proposition for celebrating Mardi Gras this year than an actual trip to The Big Easy. The Ashfield alternative will feature the haunting blues/country stylings of Eilen Jewell and New Orleans-oriented savories including crawfish pasta, muffulettas and shrimp etouffee upstairs at Town Hall, 101 Main Street, Ashfield on Sunday, Feb. 9. Tickets for the show and dinner can be purchased separately. For more details, visit www.elmersstore.com.?
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
