Ken Hirai Ken's Bar CD - Import

In addition to touring for the past decade as a solo artist, she has performed and shared the stage with an impressive list of jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, The Count Basie, Woody Herman, Gunther Schuller Orchestras, Buddy Rich, Joe Williams, Shirley Horn and others. Following are Rebecca's personal liner notes from her newest CD, "The Secret of Christmas." :The Secret of Christmas has always been in the giving. As children, we learn how very nice it is to receive and I think, unfortunately, that feeling grows up to be avarice a lot of the time. However it seems every now and then, a splendid reminder of how generous the humans can be to one another, comes along, and the receiver of their generosity is humbled, indeed.

I must say that when Gene Arnould the Director of the Marblehead Jazz Series approached me with the idea that the association would like to do a Holiday project with me I was both overwhelmed and excited.

I have been performing for MJS for 18 plus years now. This audience has become my absolute favorite. It is filled year after year with respectful, enthusiastic and appreciative listeners. We experience a love fest for the music, and for each other every summer and winter. I leave each concert saying that, 'God waved a magic wand over us all tonight,' and it is magical. There aren't enough superlatives to describe my experiences at the Mugford Street Unitarian Church, and Gene, I hope it goes on forever! I think every performer would like to do his or her own holiday recording and I am no different. This is a collection of fond memories and fun ideas, some familiar, some a little fresh. We wanted to include most of the talented friends who in previous years have joined me in concert at Marblehead. So, when the project began to take shape, I called all the favorites and invited them to take part. They happily agreed and then the rest of us kind of sat back and watched some serious pros create some serious (and seriously fun) magic in the studio.