— DAVID CHEN
Chang Kai-ya (張凱雅)
Jazz Promenade (記憶漫遊)
E-Wise Records (彗智唱片)
Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy are among a list of classical composers who receive a jazz treatment from pianist Chang Kai-ya (張凱雅) on her first solo effort, Jazz Promenade (記憶漫遊). While Chang is far from the first to put some swing into classical music, her compositions reflect a genuine appreciation of both genres and are performed by a cast of accomplished musicians.
To be sure, this album is thoroughly rooted in jazz. Those not paying close attention will probably only hear Latin and be-bop grooves, but keen ears pick up familiar melodies such as Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique, which Chang gives a light swing feel on Sunset In Bonn. She remains faithful to the original melody of Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 in Chopin: Ballade, which sways to a jazz waltz rhythm and features beautiful clarinet playing by American musician John Ruocco. Classical purists might have a harder time connecting with Orbit, Chang’s abstract interpretation of Jupiter from Holst’s The Planets suite, which is performed with a modern swing feel on piano, bass and drums. While Chang doesn’t try to match the celestial majesty that Holst conveys, her arrangement still manages to express a sense of awe and wonder, albeit in a snappier rhythm.
Overall the album has an accessible sound and targets general audiences. But this work also has an underlying goal. As educators, Hsieh and Chang aim to demonstrate jazz’s sophistication and versatility to music students, particularly those with classical training. As such, the CD is accompanied by a book with musical scores for each track and musings from Chang on her path from classical to jazz.
— DAVID CHEN
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