Meet Chris Ho, At Peace Media’s newest music artist. I had the chance to speak with Chris recently and wanted to introduce Chris to everyone.  Also, I wanted to share how we develop our relationships with music artists to create relaxation music with At Peace Media sensibilities.

Even though Chris founded his own band, The Chris Ho Band, we're working with Chris as a solo artist.  Lucky for us, Chris is able to combine his talent as composer and IMG_0575_Rkeyboardist to create new massage and relaxation music that includes jazz, classical, rock, and pop influences. A prolific composer and virtuoso jazz pianist, his performances display a devotion to beauty, passion, and imagination.

Chris has partnered with At Peace Media on an exclusive, 20-album deal, some of which are now available through our website and digital subscription service. We are very excited about Chris's new music. I've spent a lot of time getting to know Chris and working closely with him on producing these albums. Click below to hear clips from the album Within a Dream.

Sherry Donovan/At Peace Media:  Tell us about the instruments you play, and what was your first instrument.

Chris Ho: When I was a kid I played the trumpet starting around the age of six or seven. It was offered in elementary school and a horn seemed like a nice solid instrument to get into. There were too many kids choosing clarinet or violin and I wanted to be a little different as I recall. I played the trumpet in bands during high school, as groups like Chicago, Blood Sweat and Tears,Tower of Power and many more had horn sections to augment the group sounds. I remember organizing rehearsals with other kids who played guitars, drums, bass and other brass or woodwind instruments to play songs by the Tijuana Brass, Sergio Mendes, the Beatles, the Doors, movie themes and other popular tunes.

At age twelve, I started to play piano since my parents owned one and it was yet another musical outlet. My brother, Rick, and I took lessons and we both liked it. We were good students and progressed rapidly. The piano seemed to be easier than the trumpet ( trumpet has all the blowing and lip embouchure to work on...). I didn't know back then, but the piano is a great composing instrument because you can see everything... all the chords and lines, melodies and the full range of notes from lowest to highest! It was probably the greatest gift my parents could have given me and I never properly thanked them for it.  Fortunately, I always had good teachers - from the neighborhood piano teachers to Henri Lazaroff at UCLA, an avant garde composer/conductor of very cutting edge orchestral works.

I played in groups mostly doing classic rock, blues and R&B in my high school and college years. It was how I had fun and earned money in those days.

Sherry: Can you share some of the highlights of your music career?

Chris: Back in 1983 I auditioned for the Smokey Robinson group and interviewed with the conductor, Sonny Burke and the tour manager. They must have liked me because a few short weeks later I was rehearsing at SIR Studios about four days a week (for paid rehearsals). In the same year, I played for a session of background music slated for Muzak. The publisher producing the session asked me if I could write instrumentals that were melodic and easy to listen to. I said yes and played him some ideas live over the telephone. He liked the themes and recorded my tunes for half of the ASCAP publishing royalties (this is called "split publishing"). The tracks were accepted and I then became a published songwriter/ composer of original Muzak!  Little did I know that I would eventually become one of the most performed writers and publishers of the Environmental Channel for Muzak with over 400 different tracks performing internationally and here in the states. I decided to write a tune a day in as many genres as possible...sometimes classical, jazz, rock, R&B, fusion and film soundtrack and/or experimental forms. That is approximately 365 tunes a year for over 30 years! Although I've done a bit of co-writing with friends, I mostly write alone and try to develop as original and musically well-crafted compositions as possible.

Sherry: Who are some of your musical influences, or other influences (literature, visual arts, etc)?

Chris: In high school I listened to jazz artists and was intrigued by improvisational performers who also wrote their own music and played standards. Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith...I loved them all and listened constantly when not playing jazz or writing it myself. In the classical genre I liked Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, John Cage, Earl Brown and many film composers, of course.

I've enjoyed reading Hemingway, JD Salinger, Herman Hesse, Kafka, Faulkner, Carlos Castaneda, DH Lawrence, Edgar Allan Poe and many others. I also enjoy science fiction and occasionally even best sellers by Stephen King or Dean Koontz.

I like children's art and so draw and paint with my sons when I have the time and money for art supplies. We go to contemporary museums like MOCA in Los Angeles and look at modern artists like Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline, Frank Stella, Paul Klee, Rauschenberg, Picasso, Braque, Andy Warhol, Van Gogh, Escher and many more. I like the abstract expressionist period and am heavily influenced by the artists mentioned above.

Sherry: Our readers and customers don't typically get a look behind the scenes at what we do here, so I wanted to talk about what our relationship is like with the artists we work with to produce original music. Can you describe a little bit of what it's been like working with us at At Peace Media?

Chris: At Peace Media has been a wonderful new connection. I first met John Gelb about six years ago when I submitted some solo piano works and easy listening. The music I sent was still too active and exciting, not truly relaxing and not right for the intended programming. I wanted to focus on the relaxation spa genre back then, but had other projects which demanded all my time and energy.

Sherry, both you and John are positive, bright, enthusiastic and focused people. You take the time to really talk and communicate. This has made me feel comfortable, and has inspired me to compose music in a genre that is so unusual, yet also beautiful at the same time. The timing to write and record the relaxation music couldn't be better as I am semi-retired (mainly from live performances). Sherry, you in particular give me lots of constructive criticism on my submissions and I've learned from each album how to improve the music both compositionally and in the production, or technical side. You have a way of communicating both positive and negative points in a way that does not offend, and you're generous with the good advice. I feel like I have known you for a long time and we are working as friends who have an honest rapport. It's always a pleasure to speak with you both and I am flattered at the support and genuine interest you show in the new Chris Ho Project spa music.

Sherry: We are excited about your music and it's been a pleasure working with you as well, so thanks for those kind words. What attracted you to partnering with At Peace Media and creating original music for the massage and bodywork community?

Chris: I was attracted to At Peace Media by my earlier initial contact with John. He was so positive. He's got an entrepreneurial spirit and crystal clear vision of his direction and goals, without the typical corporate egocentric games. This is refreshing, as I have seen the dark side of the music business many times.

I rarely partner with other companies, but At Peace Meda is unique and I feel a strong connection with them. I have confidence in their work and I trust them with all my current and future music in the relaxation spa genre!

Sherry: Can you tell us a little bit about your work as a painter/visual artist, and how that comes into play with your music? I know that all of the albums you've produced with us have your original art work on the covers, which I love.

Chris:  I enjoy experimenting with acrylics and found objects, and I paint to relax and to take a break from the musical projects. I don't sell the paintings but often give them away or use them as CD album covers. I released 40 new albums in 2011 and had more than enough paintings to cover the art work. Often I collaborate with my sons on a painting, or they work on a piece on their own, which I love to see. Art and music are fantastic activities for personal growth and expression, family bonding, even making some money and having fun!

Sherry: What is your life like now? I know you've had an extensive career, touring and recording with some big names. Do you still do gigs and tour?

Chris: I still take gigs locally -  but no more touring for me. It is a young man's sport and is a hard lifestyle when you do the string of one nighters. The local jobs are usually jazz and/or original so I can play with lots of freedom and have the opportunity to hear my new tunes as well. We play museums, music series at parks or schools, private events, wine and gourmet food events, fundraisers and gigs like that.

Sherry: Any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Chris: I am excited to create new music that will have a positive, and possibly a healing, effect on people. There is too much chaos, stress, confusion and noise in the world today. Not everyone can take a vacation, but a few hours in a quiet peaceful spa is viable. Music is an important part of our environment and can have a profound effect on our state of mind. It's vital to have the best, most relaxing, calming and peaceful soundscape to complement the spa experience.