- 2023-10-05
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MUSIC
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Donate to support families affected by the crisis in Ukraine ➔ Alan Chang Releases New Album “Check Please”
Los Angeles-based jazz pianist and singer-songwriter Alan Chang released his sophomore album “Check Please” on September 6, 2023.
It is his first album in six years since the 2017 debut album “Say What I Got to Say”.
The album comprises 10-track, featuring guest appearances from Dave Koz, Inara George, Sam Gendel, and Jean Caze.
The first half of the album was produced by Ryan Lerman, while the second half of the album was produced by Chang and Adam Greenholtz.
The album represents a bold departure from Alan Chang's previous endeavors, a fusion of his jazz foundation and his innate love for soulful melodies.
Comprising of ten exquisitely crafted tracks, this album weaves a tapestry of endearing sounds that traverse themes of love and life, while conjuring a sense of nostalgia and tranquility.
Alan Chang said of the album, “This is a singer-songwriter album steeped in jazz. I'm trying to write simple songs that are a vehicle for improvisation and can be expanded live with solos.”
He continued, “It took me a long time to find a sound that speaks to as many of my influences and strengths. I finally started writing for my voice while blending my years of foundation in jazz piano and my love for songs.”- Alan Chang told Scenestr about the album, “This batch of songs was only arrived at after a bit of a purge. During the pandemic, a group of songwriter friends and I would have to email a song we wrote and recorded every Tuesday morning. My first half a dozen weeks were still writing songs that sounded too commercial and felt like they were for someone else. I think it was an important step to get those uninspiring songs out of my system and start writing for me, not for commerce.”
He continued, “These songs bring together my jazz roots and my love of songwriting. I think of the songs as vehicles for improvisation. They could work in a variety of contexts. Or they can work as little, three-minute nuggets where you walk away whistling the chorus. As if the Nat King Cole Trio was 'indie'. This album has been called indie jazz by others, which I feels right to me.” -
“Natalie Explain” featuring Dave Koz
“'Natalie Explain' was a fun exercise to write about a fictional character and try and imagine myself as a delusional potential lover. Then I realised that I've been him at some point of my life. Let's say elementary school."
Dave Koz was someone who I wanted to work with for years. We have a mutual friend who tried to connect us years ago but it took the right song to make it happen.”
“Love As A Weapon”
“'Love As A Weapon' was written a few days after telling Michael Bublé that I no longer wanted to tour with him after 19 years. Though he and I are close friends, and he's given me so much, it was tough to ignore some negative feelings that came up, whether they were justified or not."
Photo by Robbie Jeffers - source : Apple Music
