What was the inspiration for your new album, Romance Language?

I wanted to create beautiful music with optimistic lyrics. My goal in music has always been to write music that can add more beauty to the world. And in this crazy world we're living in, beautiful, peaceful music is needed right now!

Romance Language is my first album in eight years. The album took about a year and a half to complete. I composed all the music and wrote all the lyrics for the album. It's jazzy music with international flavor, complete with loads of tasteful trumpet and, of course, my purposely understated keys, crafted to be a calm backdrop for my vocals. I wanted the voice and the trumpet to be the instruments that told the stories. The interplay between the voice and the trumpet become the main focal point for Romance Language.

What are you referring to when you say, Romance Language?

Several meanings come to mind. One, many songs on the album are in romance languages. Several are in Spanish, one (Si Bon) is in French (and English), and there is a smattering of Italian (See if you can find it!) for good measure, too.

Two, there was a famous Twilight Zone episode that featured a down-and-out trumpet player (played by Jack Klugman) who said, “This horn is half my language.” The title track on the album (“Romance Language”) is dedicated to MGM studio trumpet player Uan Rasey, who coincidentally played the trumpet parts for Jack Klugman on that episode.

And three, the album’s focus is on romance – the romance of love, life, and even nature itself.