Album Notes

It all started when Bob played me a recording he did with Gigi in the studio early this year. With just a piano and a voice, it was something they cooked up on the spot with no preparation, a demo if you will. But what I heard was purely magical.


Piano/vocal duet always fascinates me, the purest form of musical dialogue tends to bring out the best of both artists and leave listeners in trance, that's what happen to me when I listen to Bill Evans/Tony Bennett, Fred Hersch/Janis Siegel, or more recently Brad Mehldau/Fleurine. It is no secret that I like to include a piano/vocal duet tune in the albums I produced throughout the years, more often than not as a closing track, so recording an entire album of such is always on the card. I guess I was just waiting for the right time to do it. I talked to Bob about the idea and I guess we both jumped at the chance.


It is a challenge nonetheless. Do we have enough varieties? Do we have enough colours? Do we have good enough materials?


First we decided to collaborate with different vocalists to broaden the sound and style. Obviously, the first name to come up was Gigi, the songbird who grew up near Detroit now residing in HK. If you have caught her act around town in the past year I think you will still be mesmerised by her stellar performance. She doesn't just sing perfectly, she tells you her stories through her songs. Next we have Ela Alegre from Manila, whose voice you may have heard on numerous commercials, and Angelita Li, who needs no further introduction. I have worked with Angelita long enough to know that she will bring something extra to spice up the project, and many thanks to her for coming back specially for the sessions. Last but not least I am happy to have Mimi Lo to complete my dream team.


You can say that Mimi is the wild card in the pack as she is more recognized as a TV personality or a pop singer rather than a jazz singer. But I worked with her on her last album and I know that she has so much more to offer. And she absolutely sings for fun and will take up any challenge we throw at her!



With the personnel settled, we have one last hurdle to jump: what about the repertoire? We want a common theme in the music, and tunes that everyone can relate to but yet sounding so different. The answer was there all along: The Beatles.


There can be well over a hundred Beatles tribute albums in the market, to make another one differently is a challenge on its own. We already have Beatle Jazz topping the jazz trio format with four excellent CDs: Laurence Juber has an excellent solo guitar tribute, John Pizzarelli gains mainstream success with "Meet The Beatles", and the two-volume highly original jazz guitar anthology “Come Together”. And believe me, I've heard Beatles' music played in blue grass, metal, reggae, bossa or any musical style imaginable. That being said, listening back to our “Liverpool Stories”, I still think that we have done something fresh and “original”. Thanks to Bob's creative yet truthful arrangements, and the singers' honest interpretations, these stories are brought to life for your enjoyment.
Clarence Chang