"Passages" is a return to Lao Tizer’s roots, flying almost solo at the piano. The album was conceived when Executive Producer Albert Wong approached Lao about recording a project capturing Lao’s purest voice as a pianist and composer with modest accompaniment and production. "Passages" delivers the passion and improvisation fans have waited years for with a recording encompassing the freedom of Lao’s live performances and his evolving talents for composition and arrangement. After Lao’s two latest releases featuring the Lao Tizer Band, "Golden Soul" and the acclaimed 2006 release, "Diversify," the timing was perfect to make an artistic shift and record a project to showcase Lao’s evolution with a solidly piano-oriented record. Lao asked longtime friends and producers Jeff Kollman and Chieli Minucci to helm the project, each producing half the record, in Los Angeles and New York, respectively. "Passages" was recorded live in the studio with almost no editing, resulting in a most organic record: fiery, dynamic and raw. Allowing the musicians to interact live in the studio and letting the result stand nearly untouched… true and natural, like a live concert. The record features many guest appearances including violinist extraordinaire and frequent concert partner Karen Briggs, Kevin Ricard (percussion), Philip Hamilton (percussion & vocals), the aforementioned Kollman and Minucci on guitar, and others. Two selections feature a live string quartet, arranged by New York based violinist Antoine Silverman. "Passages" makes a strong artistic statement with over 75 minutes of original music for listeners to digest and enjoy. Take a journey through Tizer and Company’s vision and experience the varying moods in this moving new project. Lao asked Junior High classmate, fellow Boulder, Colorado native and immensely talented artist Amanda Sage to create an original painting inspired by the concept of the record for the album cover.