Album Notes

Ted Gioia is a pianist, composer and one of the founders of Stanford University's jazz studies program. He is the author of several acclaimed books on jazz, including West Coast Jazz. His book The History of Jazz was selected as one of the 20 best books of the year by The Washington Post, was honored as a notable book of the year by The New York Times and was chosen as best non-fiction book of the year by the Bay Area Book Reviewers' Association. His book The Imperfect Art was a recipient of the ASCAP / Deems Taylor Award, and was named a Jazz Book of the Century by the Jazz Educators’ Journal. His most recent books are Work Songs and Healing Songs, both published by Duke University Press.

Gioia is a successful pianist and composer whose recordings include The End of the Open Road and Tango Cool. He has also produced recordings featuring Bobby Hutcherson, John Handy, Buddy Montgomery and others.

Gioia holds degrees from Stanford University and Oxford University, and is the owner of one of the largest collections of research materials on jazz and ethnic music in the Western United States.

"The City is a Chinese Vase" represents a blending of jazz, popular music and art song.