August 26, 2004

MUSIC MAN

Local musiciantravels the world after starting journey in Almaden

By Steve Dini
Staff Writer

Pianist Alan Chang with his parents Alex and Doreene

“I cried the first day of piano lessons.” With that one revealing statement, local pianist Alan Chang begins to tell the story of how he went from a frightened 6-year-old to a music director for one of Warner Brothers up and coming young singers.

It wasn’t an easy journey, but one he’s enjoyed every note of the way. His first piano teacher was Ann Steh, who saw Chang’s potential very early. “A young boy begins taking piano lessons,” says Steh. “He never dreamed 17 years later he would be touring the world as musical director and jazz pianist for a hot new singer.”

During those early years, Chang played for Almaden’s Sterling Dance Studio, played in countless recitals and accompanied full-blown Broadway musicals. But, it was a bit later in life he decided music might be his vocation.

“I think my first real thought of being a professional musician started when I was a sophomore in High School,” Chang says. “My mom was taking me from choir rehearsal to band rehearsal and then to play for a musical. It dawned on me that this could really be a rewarding career.”

Now in his early 20s, Chang started playing piano “for real” at Castillero Middle School under the direction of Ken Roberts, Jane Earle and Shirley Gardner. Chang then anchored jazz bands and combos at Pioneer High School, again under the direction of Ken Roberts. As a senior at Pioneer, he made the NorCal Grammy Band and realized he was hooked on music. “I really loved it,” he says with a smile.

After graduating from the University of Southern California in 2002 with a bachelor of music degree in jazz studies, (one of only two piano students nationally chosen for this special program at U.S.C.), Alan split his time between Los Angeles and San Jose. Along the way, he found time to join former high school pals Greg McFall, Tom Jackson and Brad Ranola in recording Jackson’s original songs in a group called The Cosmic Giggle. But, recording with his old pals is no laughing matter. Their fourth CD is due out soon and Chang beams when he talks about the experience. However, making beautiful music together is not without sacrifice. “We make great records,” says Chang. “And, we’re learning to accumulate debt!”

Chang’s big break came, as most big breaks due, pretty much by random accident as he calls it. “I was playing for a friend’s drum recital and there were only about 30 people in the audience,” says Chang. “Eleven months later, I get a call from Warner Brothers Records asking if I want to audition to play piano for a new singer named Michael Buble.”

After playing through a cold read of music for about 30 minutes it was over, but the next day, Chang got the call.

Buble’s producer, Grammy winner David Foster, wanted to meet him. “Within a week I was visiting David Foster’s house and it was incredible,” says Chang. “It was so big, we took a golf cart to the recording studio on the other side of his property.”

From there it was a one-week shakedown cruise at Michael Feinstein’s Cinegrill at the famous Old Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles and then to New York for a stint at the venerable Blue Note Club in New York. “In my wildest dreams I thought someday I would play at the Blue Note,” says Chang. “Suddenly there I was. I still thought I was dreaming.”

A long world tour followed (14 months on the road) with one-day concert trips to London, Sweden, Germany, Paris, Milan and many other cities. Buble’s DVD/CD “Come Fly with Me,” featuring Michael, Alan and the singer’s young band, chronicles the trip and has sold well here at home and internationally. “I had a camera in my face for two weeks,” says Chang.

Michael Buble, a 29-year-old Italian crooner from Canada, is huge in Europe and is just now starting to find a solid following in the United States as he revitalizes hits such as “Kissing a Fool,” “Moondance” and “How do you Mend a Broken Heart.” Buble’s voice has been compared to such greats as Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Bobby Darin. “He’s a great entertainer,” says Chang. “He has been blessed with an amazing talent.”

Taking over as Michael Buble’s music director means Chang joins Michael in getting the tour ready. “It’s a tight show,” says Chang. “I believe Michael and I have put together a well-paced production that the audiences really seem to love.”

Even mistakes add to the adventure. Chang recalls the time during a concert in L.A. when Buble’s microphone went out in the middle of “My Funny Valentine,” the show’s big finishing number. Without missing a beat, Chang kept playing his piano and Michael did an acoustic version of “My Funny Valentine” that brought down the house.

During the thunderous applause, Buble and Chang exchanged glances. “From then on,” said Chang. “We ended the show every night just like that!”

We caught up with Chang spending a few days with his Almaden parents Alex and Doreene and brother Devin before heading back south to the recording studio to work on Buble’s next album, which is due out in February, 2005. After that will be another tour, hopefully with a stop in the South Bay. “I would really like to play a concert close to home,” said Chang. “That would really be a lot of fun.”

For a boy who cried before his first piano lesson, “fun” is the perfect word to describe Alan Chang’s exciting musical adventure that started right here in the Almaden Valley.