Xuefei Yang - Summertime (2021) Hi-Res

Xuefei Yang is one of the world’s most inventive guitarists, her acclaimed recordings spanning music from Brazil and Spain across to her native China. This beautiful, intimate EP is the second recorded by Yang exclusively for Apple Music at London’s Platoon Studio. Its stunningly crafted arrangements of Gershwin’s “Summertime” and three of The Beatles’ greatest songs show off her breathtaking technical skill and expressive command. Chinese singer Li Jian’s “Lake Baikal” and Japanese composer Akira Nakada’s “A Song of Early Spring” (masterfully arranged by composer Tōru Takemitsu) are touching in their simple warmth and bring this wonderful global journey to an end.

Six popular songs from West and East, including classics from
Gershwin and the The Beatles. Xuefei’s soulful and lyrical
playing gives new voice to these six gems from the strings of her guitar. The long, languid melodic lines of Gershwin’s Summertime are beautifully coloured with delicate, translucent harmonic hues in this arrangement for guitar by one of Japan’s foremost composers, Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996).

Deepening the exploration of East meets West, Xuefei presents three Beatle’s songs: Michelle; Yesterday; Here, There & Everywhere. Takemitsu’s arrangements present these well-known melodies in new and interesting settings with delicately-voiced harmonies and some playful rhythmic shapes adding strokes of vivid colour.

A Song of Early Spring is a popular Japanese song composed by Akira Nakada (1996-1931). Takemitsu’s harmonic setting presents this beautiful melody in a charming yet contemporary way.

Finally from Xuefei’s homeland, a well known signature song of popular Chinese singer Li Jian (1974-) - Lake Baikal. Li Jian wrote this song of love and destiny, inspired by the local music whilst on a trip to the world’s deepest lake. This is the world-premier recording of this piece in an arrangement for solo guitar.