Album Notes

Alexia Gardner's new album - Chasing Hope - was recorded over two, warm, sunny days in the offBeat Studios of Switzerland’s St Gallen region. This is a gentle departure from Alexia’s first two albums. These were recorded in front of a live audience whilst living and touring Asia . With the new album, Alexia has had the luxury of selecting her musicians and musical standards – old and new – and presenting them in a studio setting.

Chasing Hope moves from straight ahead Jazz to smooth Pop Ballads; from Cole Porter’s, 'Love For Sale' to Seal’s, 'Love Divine', from Rodgers and Hart’s timeless 'Blue Moon', performed in a Latin style, to the smooth rendition of Hoagy Carmichael’s, 'The Nearness Of You'. There is also a touch of Gospel and a sprinkling of the Blues!

'Chasing Hope' is the title track and one of the four original tunes featured on the recording. Alexia wrote this tune. It's all about a spunky 8-year old girl called Hope. She wrote this tune with gifted New Yorker, Oliver Von Essen, whilst living and touring in Shanghai, China. Have a read about this fascinating little girl called Hope at www.alexiagardner.com

Alexia is joined by the offBeat Trio on this recording, musicians she has been performing with throughout Switzerland (and neighbouring countries) since her move to this country with her husband in late 2006. They are Marcel Schefer on Piano, Kalli Gerhards on Bass and Beat Fraefel-Haering on drums.

Special guests featured on the album are Pius Baumgartner on Tenor Saxophone. He perfroms on Forbidden Fruit, the opening funky, origianal track written by London based, songwriter and pianist, Alex Webb. Pius Baumgartner is also featured on the tracks - 'The Nearness Of You' and Branford Marsalis' 'Mo Betta Blues'. Alexia wrote some lyrics to go hand in hand with this moody, bluesy instrumental classic.

Paula Gardner and Alexia Hope are guest Backing Vocalists on the tune 'Island In The Sun'. This is a tribute to Alexia's Jamaican heritage. Fittingly, these guests are also of Jamaican origin. Paula is Alexia's gifted, younger sister and Alexia Hope is the very same 'Hope' that is the inspiration for the title track 'Chasing Hope'. Alexia's spunky 8 year old niece!

Enjoy every moment! This is truely a smoking cd! It's as warm, sunny and fun as the two warm, sunny days that it took to record this album over in Switzerland's western countryside!