Charles, Play! CD

"When children play, they pretend. They try out different personas, give themselves arbitrary constraints to force themselves into creativity, and move in as many fast and exhilarating ways as they can. Play is a test of our imagination and abilities, and although we can play alone, it’s much more fulfilling and interesting to play in a group. It’s fitting that the English verb for making music is ‘to play’, and other languages like Mandarin and French agree.

For Charles, Play!, I wanted to play with some of my favorite jazz legends. You can recognize Ralph from listening to just three notes---he has a bright, direct sound and has a knack for playing solos that sound like they could be melodies on their own. Peter and Kenny have worked together on hundreds of albums as the go-to guys for straightahead jazz---you can feel their long relationship through the precision of their interplay. They worked with Ralph many years ago, before Ralph moved to Los Angeles to work on The Tonight Show. This album is a rekindling of old friendships and the beginning of new ones, showcasing the joy of creation and the fun of play."

Charles Chen

Comes in gatefold card case.