In 1988 we had the opportunity with the sponsorship of Agfa-Gevaert (HK) Ltd to present and record the "Talking Pictures" project. The idea of combining jazz soloists with a string ensemble and voices was an exciting challenge. The task of arranging all the music fell to the extremely talented and experienced Dave Packer and his tasteful writing is well illustrated here along with his remarkable gifts as a pianist and chromatic harmonica player. Also featured are Ric Halstead on saxes and flute, the ever adventurous Eugene Pao on guitar, the legendary Rudi Balbuena on acoustic bass and Johnny Abraham on drums and percussion. We were also fortunate to entice the seriously wonderful Kenny Wheeler away from the George Gruntz Concert Jazz band for the recording and feature his beautiful trumpet and flugelhorn playing on "El Jammo", "3/4 at 5" and in the "Talking Pictures Suite". A must for all Kenny Wheeler fans!!!!!!!!
The material selected presented unique and diverse settings from the innovative explorations of "El Jammo" and "Friday", the classical undertones of "A Minor Interlude" and "3/4 at 5" to the explorations of colour and mood in "Naked Eyes" and "The Talking Pictures Suite" (which is in five parts).
This album was ground breaking for the Hong Kong scene in the '80s and remains a source of inspiration and enjoyment to this day.