Shadow in Dreams

Shadow In Dreams is the only full-length solo album by American guiatrist Dennis Rea. The album was made in just four days at China Records' Chengdu studio in early 1990. It was released on cassette that summer and sold over 40,000 copies throughout the country. The recording was listed among the ten best releases of 1990 by the Communist Party newspaper <code></code>China Youth Daily. Shadow In Dreams, is notable as one of the first releases of creative music in mainland China by a western musician on the state record label.
Rea received a surprise visit from Yang Shichun, a producer for the Chinese state-owned China Record Company while he was living and teaching in Chengdu. Yang had heard Rea perform and wanted to produce an album of his music. The only condition was that Rea include one piece of "light" music for the album in accordance with popular taste in China at the time. Rea and Yang agreed on the Beethoven piece "Für Elise" which Rea was free to arrange as he saw fit.
Rea also included the Errol Garner song "Young Love", once piece of traditional Chinese music, "Hung Bo Qu", which he arranged and interpreted, and one piece of Yi traditional music, "Dance Song Of The Yi People", arranged by Zhou Yi, who also made an appearance playing classical guitar on the recording. "Emel Shan", a piece by Zhao Xiong, one of Rea's students, was also included. All of the remaining pieces were original compositions by Rea.
Track listing
Side A
#Young Love
#Chengdu Blues
#Rainy Season
#Hong Bo Qu
#Hot Pot
#Emel Shan
Side B
#Clouded Leopard
#Home Remedy
#Für Elise
#Beehive
#Dance Song of the Yi People
#Longing
#Apercu
Personnel
*Dennis Rea - Guitar, drum machine, synthesizer
*Yang Chenggang - Piano on "Young Love"
*Zhao Xiong - 12-string guitar on "Emel Shan"
*Zhou Yi - Classical guitar on "Home Remedy"
*Yang Shichun - Producer

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