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Interview with Angelita Li

 

Recently, local Jazz singer, Angelita Li has released her new album "Caminhos Cruzados (Crossing Roads)".  HKJA would like to take this chance to let the Jazz lovers know more about her views on the new album and Jazz music. 

Date: 9 April 2002

Interviewer: HKJA (Stephen)
Angelita: Here's some information about the album, I think it's meaningful to share it with my fans and Audiences:

I was on another recording project last spring. One day Clarence Chang called and asked if I can send over some demos to Stunt Records in Denmark, he said they're interested in doing an album with me and their local artists. The next thing I know I was on the way to the airport flying to Copenhagen with Eugene Pao and Clarence. The first day we met up with the Danish musicians, we had a few hours of rehearsal in a garage, went through the lead sheets we've prepared, Eugene has specially arranged "So Far Away" before we left for the trip. everyone was throwing in ideas and trying out different things. Then Hans recommended "Good Morning Heartache" and "Inil Paisagem", he played me the melody of both tunes right at the spot and I learned that was the very first time I’ve ever sang those two tunes. The next day before heading to the studio, there's a song on the list which is an old Japanese tune by ANSEN CHITAI's "Wine Red No Cocoro", we're going to do it in Japanese. Clarence came up with this idea to do it in Portuguese and Stunt immediately called up a Portuguese-speaking lyricist to write lyrics to this tune before we bring it into the studio. The second day was a whole day of set up in the studio. the keyboardist brought his own Fender Rhodes and carried it up 3 stories of stairs just for this recording. The third day we finished up 10 songs in about 12 hours time. magical moments were sparkling from time to time, we were feeling each others' energy just through the sounds of music, it's indescribable. It was one of the best musical experience I’ve ever had. "Caminhos Cruzados" (pron. Ga-min-yoosGru-za-doos) means Crossing Roads in English, it's exactly what we did in this album, Asians and Danish musicians playing Brazilian sounds.

The interview:
(1) This is your second personal CD, so what are the significant differences with your first one, I mean the style and approach?

This is in fact my 3rd solo album, my first one was from Thailand and was never released inHong Kong, it's a pop album anyway.  Musically, "MAI" was leaning towards standard jazz while "CAMINHOS CRUZADOS"'s got Brazilian touch to it.  We’ve chosen a mixture of different styles for "CAMINHOS" : Brazilian, Pop, Fusion, R&B and they are all in foreign languages, English, Portuguese and Spanish.  And "MAI" was in mandarin only (my kind of accented mandarin! LOLs!!!), and only contained standard jazz tunes.

"CAMINHOS" is all and all a professional and well done project, the entire productions (thatincludes recording, mixing, sound, musicians, arrangements, studio.. just everything), it was done the way an album supposed to be done. If you really want me to compare, "MAI" still had a long way to go.

(2) Are you happy with this new CD, your new baby? What do you like in this new CD, yourfavorite songs?

I love everything about it.  It was a bunch of beautiful people I’d work with and they made magic to each song.  I am very happy with this album in general, though there're some parts i think I can do better.

(3) Tell me more about your interest in Jazz, when did you start to sing Jazz and why, whoinspired you? What is so good in Jazz to keep you on?

My parents are both musicians, so I was lucky enough to be exposed to many kinds of foreignmusic since probably before i was born, jazz was definitely a big part of it. my first liveperformance doing jazz was actually in Bangkok, Thailand in 1991 with a 20 piece big band. My singing style has evolved throughout the years.  Abstractive sounds and music that allow one to express freely has always attracted me.  Jazz music definitely contains those 2 elements. I can sing the same tune in many different ways because jazz music gives you that freedom, and I love freedom.

(4) So far you have been singing for a long time, what would you like to do at thismoment?

At this moment, I’d like to get better with my singing and music knowledge, and finish up those bits and pieces of originals tunes that I’ve started.

(5) Which Jazz artists/ musicians do you admire? Any reasons?

I admire any musicians and artists that are innovative musically, those who do music for the sake of music, those who make good music, and the ones who make music from their hearts and souls.  Here’s a part of the book of my jazz heroes and heroine: Charlie parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, John Hendrix, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Milton Nascimento, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, Eliane Elias, Maria Jo緌, Pat Metheney, Dianne Reeves, Chick Corea, Bobby Mcferrin, Eugene Pao, Jan Gabarek, Lester Young, Sun Ra and many many more.

(6) What do you think about Hong Kong’s Jazz scenes? Do you have any ideas about Jazz in Taiwan and China?

In my personal opinion, there's no jazz scene in Hong Kong. Yet, for a place that do not haveeducation nor opportunities to be exposed to jazz, i give it up for the people who are trying hard to keep it alive.  Hong Kong is a place that always follows what's hip for the moment. I don't think the Jazz in Hong Kong will either go up nor down until one day the media decided to "hey! Let’s make Jazz a trend!”.  From what I heard, Taiwan has got a healthier music scene and way ahead of us when it comes to music, well just listen to their artists in general, they can really sing. China has a lot of potential because it has just opened up and people are dying for information from the outside world, I believe the Jazz scene out there will grow so fast and big in no time.

(7) Many people like to sing Jazz but don' t know how to get it, do you have any goodsuggestions?

These are just my suggestions from my personal experience, some might find them effective and vice versa. I supposed this question applies to ones who already can sing in tune and in tempo:
  • Spend some serious time with it, say minimum 4 hours a day (including listening, practicing, etc.)
  • Start listening to the artists from the earlier days then move on to the latter ones ( the new ones are mostly inspired by those older ones).
  • Listen to as many different artists and styles of jazz as you can. (That includes both albums and live performances)
  • Listen with your eyes closed and focus on the artists? singing style, sound, tones, approach, etc. and try to absorb.
  • Learn with an open mind. Find the differences between each artist but not comparingneither criticizing. Whether you think they are good or not, that ?  their way of expressing themselves, music is very personal and everyone thinks differently.Start singing along with the albums, trying imitating them and find which ones are suitable for your voice.
  • Record your practice every time and listen back to them, if you got good ears, you willknow what you need to work on and what you are good at.
  • Pick up some jazz music theory books and learn about harmonies, chord changes and improvisations. (to me, if there is no improvisation that is not jazz) my favorite book is "The Jazz Piano Book" by Mark Levine.
  • If you can play any instrument, it is best to practice both at the same time.
  • Hang out with the people who share the same interest, form a band, practice together andmake yourself comfortable to perform in front of people.
  • Be prepared that it will not be an easy task, and it will take you perhaps years before you can handle a tune.

These are just some basic steps for beginners; I hope you will find it helpful.
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