Rand

“In Tall Buildings” is The third track on the H is for Hartford record I’ve just released. The song is a melancholy ballad that I learned years ago in the Telluride Town Park with from some of my Hartford afficiando friends. The character of the song laments at the end of his life about all for all the lost time that was spent commuting to and from his job and away to home and family. I found joy in knowing that I will never be that person. Although I had day jobs come and go over the years, I have managed to get by primarily as a “broke” musician and have reenable to make my own schedule and spend much time with my family and friends. Musically speaking, the chord structure of this song is very similar to Jerry Jeff Walker’s song “Mr. Bojangles” and maybe even Pachelbel’s Canon. In either case it is a fun song to mess around with re-harminization and chord substitutions as you may notes I have taken some liberties on my arrangement.

This is the tune that got this whole Hartford album project started. It would not have happened at all without Megan Aho!
I first met Megan Aho at a backyard jam at somebody’s Lanikai beach estate in pre-covid times. I had played with most everyone else at the jam already for many years, but I had never met Megan. I had only heard stories of her and her vocal and musical prowess and boy she did not disappoint! We found common ground in the music of Gillian Welch and John Hartford. We jokingly said we would start a tribute band called John and Gillian, whereas I dress up as the latter. Fast forward to a couple years ago, Megan and I along with a few other people at a Bluegrass Hawaii campout sitting on a park bench under a tree. I started playing my “In Tall Buildings” arrangement and she sang it perfectly. I got chicken skin and a tear in my eye and I decided right then and there to cut that song with her and to make this record.

now available on all streaming platforms!

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Hulabilly show last week at in Waikiki. Clip 1 - Barry Flanagan ( Hapa ) and Rand “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”
Clip 2 - Island Time Band “Longshot”
Clip 3 - Alex Gray and Island Time Band “Whale In The Moonlight”.