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Jason Kao Hwang

The music of Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola) explores the vibrations and language of his history. His compositions are often narrative landscapes through which sonic beings embark upon extemporaneous, transformational journeys. His most recent releases, The Human Rites Trio (w/Andrew Drury and Ken FiLIANO), Conjure (duo with Karl Berger), and Blood, performed by Burning Bridge (octet of Chinese and Western instruments), are receiving critical acclaim. In 2019, 2018, 2013 and 2012, the El Intruso International Critics Poll voted him #1 for Violin/Viola. In 2017 Downbeat Magazine named his quintet recording Sing House (Eunoymus) as one of the Best CDs of the Year. He was also the co-composer/violinist for Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation of The White Snake, presented by Baltimore’s Center Stage. His 2015 CD Voice (Innova), which features vocalists Deanna Relyea and Tom Buckner performing East Village poetry with different ensembles, received critical acclaim. In 2015, his symphony The Challenge: Tiananmen Square, commissioned by the Multicultural Music Group, premiered at Lehman College. In 2014 the New York Historical Society commissioned Mr. Hwang to create music and sound design for its exhibition Chinese American: Exclusion/Inclusion. This is now in the permanent exhibit of the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco. Zilzal (Innova), his duets with Ayman Fanous (guitar/bouzouki) was named one of the Top CDs of 2014 by All About Jazz/Italy, and was voted into the second round of the Grammy Awards. The first Burning Bridge (Innova) recording, commissioned by Chamber Music America was chosen by numerous publications, including Jazziz and the Jazz Times, as one of the top CDs of 2012. Burning Bridge has performed at the Festival International de Musique Actuelle (Canada), Edgefest (MI), Vision Festival (NYC), Chicago World Music Festival, Bop Shop (Rochester, NY) and the Freer Gallery (Washington, D.C.). El Intruso chose Mr. Hwang’s Symphony of Souls (Mulatta) performed by Spontaneous River, his improvising string orchestra, as one of the Top CDs of 2011. Symphony of Souls was performed at the Edgefest, Vision Festival, Living Theater (NYC) and Brecht Forum (NYC). In 2011, he composed If We Live in Forgetfulness, We Die in a Dream, premiered by the Momenta Quartet at the Museum of Chinese in America. His quartet EDGE toured Poland, with concerts in Posnan, Katowice, and Krakow. They also performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Discover Jazz Festival (VT), Edgefest, Vision Festival, An die Musik (Baltimore), Transparent Productions (Washington, D.C.), Brooklyn College (NY) and many other venues.

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10
Album Review

Dino Duo: J.A. Deane & Jason Kao Hwang: Uncharted Faith

Read "Uncharted Faith" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


The idiosyncratic nature of Jason Kao Hwang's work lends itself to a broad range of collaborative possibilities. Uncharted Faith, a duo recording with electronics artist J.A. Deane, is unique because of both its experimental essence and its personal backstory. Deane (aka, Dino) lost his life-partner in 2019 and went into wooded seclusion to finish a book. The composer & violinist Hwang and Deane had discussed a project and the latter requested some Hwang material to improvise around. On only two ...

27
Album Review

William Parker: Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World

Read "Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


If multi-instrumentalist/composer William Parker's ten-CD Migration Of Silence Into And Out Of The Tone World suggests a cohesive, high concept plan, it is something more. The beautifully packaged clamshell box set is comprised of mutually exclusive projects—one dating back ten years—with some common themes. There is an overall dedication of the music to “all people of the world who are searching for freedom...." Pandemic downtime resulted in Parker's accumulating enough material for many of these albums. Viewed as a whole, ...

4
Album Review

Jason Kao Hwang: Human Rites Trio

Read "Human Rites Trio" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Chattering dances. That's the first image that springs to mind when encountering Human Rites Trio, the fascinating new music from prolific violinist/composer Jason Kao Hwang and his rhythmic, shapeshifting compatriots, drummer Andrew Drury and bassist Ken Filiano. Building on a freneticism all their own, the opening two-part suite “Words Asleep Spoken Awake" is a hyper-active, many headed hydra of spontaneous interplay. Counterpoint groove and muscle memory all come into play with Hwang's sound moving from mournful strains to ...

5
Album Review

William Parker: Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World

Read "Migration of Silence Into and Out of the Tone World" reviewed by Giuseppe Segala


L'attività musicale di William Parker è stata copiosamente documentata da circa centocinquanta dischi, che spaziano in un caleidocopio di gruppi fondati dallo stesso contrabbassista, formazioni cooperative, omaggi, collaborazioni. Ma nessun singolo lavoro, fino a questo momento, aveva focalizzato l'attenzione su un ventaglio di ispirazioni così ampio e completo come si fa ora nei dieci CD del cofanetto The Music of William Parker—Migration of Silence Into and Out of The Tone World. In questo lavoro monumentale, che viene ...

4
Album Review

Steve Swell: The Center Will Hold

Read "The Center Will Hold" reviewed by John Sharpe


Unusual instrumentation inspires NYC-based trombonist Steve Swell to ever greater heights on the six compositions comprising The Center Will Hold. Pride of place goes to veteran drummer Andrew Cyrille, who certainly deserves the extra billing he receives on the cover. Beside him are a mixture of long time colleagues of the trombonist, violinist Jason Kao Hwang and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, and more recent collaborators, pianist Robert Boston, who fulfilled a leading role on Swell's accomplished Brain In A Dish (NoBusiness, ...

5
Album Review

Jason Kao Hwang: Human Rites Trio

Read "Human Rites Trio" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Observance is at the heart of violinist Jason Kao Hwang's work, and no two musicians respect and fulfill the promise in his ritualistic art to the degree of bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Andrew Drury. The relationship between these three has traversed time and space(s), manifesting in a sea of strings for Symphony of Souls (Mulatta Records, 2011), playing to poetic notions on Lifelines (Innova Recordings, 2015), taking on a horn and harmonist in Sing House (Euonymus Records, 2017) and ...

2
Album Review

Jason Kao Hwang & Karl Berger: Conjure

Read "Conjure" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


There is an adventurer's appeal when two free thinkers just pick up mid-stream and let the river carry them. Without label or structure constraint, life-preservers and the chronic happenstance which bars so many back from reaching beyond themselves, music emerges shaded by emotional time, humor, awareness, and mutual respect for each other's untapped potential. So we have Conjure, a meeting of the minds of eighty-four year old vibraphonist/pianist Karl Berger (from the free school of Ornette Coleman, Don ...

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2

Performance / Tour

NYC Salon Concert With David Soldier, Jason Kao Hwang, Gene Pritsker & Robert C. Ford Set for Thursday January 11, 2023

NYC Salon Concert With David Soldier, Jason Kao Hwang, Gene Pritsker & Robert C. Ford Set for Thursday January 11, 2023

Source: Robert C. Ford

On Thursday January 11, 2023, at 7:30pm EST a concert will be held at the Sky Vault in the Financial District of New York City. It will feature original music and poetry by world class performers in an intimate salon atmosphere. This event is private but a free livestream is available via the Ticket Link below to the Facebook event page. Featured performers include David Soldier violin/acoustic guitar, Jason Kao Hwang violin, Gene Pritsker electric guitar and Robert C. Ford ...

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Performance / Tour

Jason Kao Hwang/Edge at Jimmy's, This Sunday, 1/6, 9PM

Jason Kao Hwang/Edge at Jimmy's, This Sunday, 1/6, 9PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Happy New Year! EDGE will be performing music from their new CD Stories Before Within (Innova Records), at Jimmy's this coming Sunday, January 6th, starting at 9pm. Jimmy's, a former speakeasy, is a great place to hear music. Go in, follow the secret passage and find the hidden theater. Sunday, January 6th, 9pm JASON KAO HWANG/EDGE Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet/flugelhorn Andrew Drury - drum kit Ken Filiano - string bass Jason ...

95

Performance / Tour

Local Lingo Wednesday, November 28th 8PM at the Issue Project Room

Local Lingo Wednesday, November 28th  8PM at the Issue Project Room

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

KIOKU, in-residence at the Issue Project Room, has invited LOCAL LINGO to share a concert. KIOKU is a very creative trio playing compositions incorporating Korean and Japanese rhythms. This will be a great night! Both groups will have new CDs on sale. Hope you can attend. Also, if you want to read about cross-cultural collaborations, log on to the e-zine, Point of Departure. Bill Shoemaker hosts a roundtable discussion with J.D. Parran, Russ Gershon and myself, Wednesday, November 28th 8 ...

125

Performance / Tour

Jason Kao Hwang / Edge Saturday, August 4, 8PM at Lotus

Jason Kao Hwang / Edge Saturday, August 4, 8PM at Lotus

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Cooler in the Shade 2007 Innovative Music, Intermedia & Free Lemonade

Lotus Music and Dance, 109 W. 27th, 8th Fl. (6th Ave.) 212/627-1076 $10. Sbwy: #1 to 28th St.

Saturday, August 4, 8pm JASON KAO HWANG / EDGE Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet, flugelhorn Ken Filiano - string bass Andrew Drury - drums Jason Kao Hwang - violin, viola, composer

The four manage to meld their ...

199

Performance / Tour

Reggie Workman's Sculptured Sounds Music Festival Presents Violinist Jason Kao Hwang @ The Downtown Music Gallery, Sun., Jan. 28

Reggie Workman's Sculptured Sounds Music Festival Presents Violinist Jason Kao Hwang @ The Downtown Music Gallery, Sun., Jan. 28

Source: All About Jazz

Reggie Workman's SCULPTURED SOUNDS MUSIC FESTIVAL presents violinist JASON KAO HWANG

a mini showcase at the Downtown Music Gallery, 342 Bowery, NYC, 212-473-0043.>

The last performer in this January performance series, Hwang is a composer, violinist and educator who has created works ranging from jazz, classical, “new" and world music. Hwang has worked with Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Reggie Workman, Vladamir Tarasov, Tatsu Aoki, Frances Wong, William Parker, Sirone and Dr. Makanda Ken MacIntyre. He currently ...

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Performance / Tour

Jason Kao Hwang / Edge Saturday, June 17, 10 pm at Vision Festival XI

Jason Kao Hwang / Edge Saturday, June 17, 10 pm at Vision Festival XI

Source: All About Jazz

Saturday, June 17, 10 pm

Vision Festival XI Angel Orensanz Center 172 Norfolk Street (S. of Houston, near Ave. A) New York City Tix $25/night or $125 for festival pass

presents

JASON KAO HWANG/ EDGE Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet, flugelhorn, Andrew Drury - drum set Ken Filiano - string bass, Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin

Our new CD will be on sale at the festival.

To buy advance tickets, ...

124

Recording

Jason Kao Hwang's new CD Edge

Jason Kao Hwang's new CD Edge

Source: All About Jazz

JASON KAO HWANG / EDGE

Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet/flugelhorn Andrew Drury - percussion Ken Filiano - string bass Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin Asian Improv AIR 0067 Street Date May 30, 2006

Asian Improv Records is proud to announce the release of Edge, Jason Kao Hwang's new quartet CD. Edge is a sharp line shifting between cultures and genres, where sounds dance, vibrations transform and identities are affirmed. Edge ...

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Performance / Tour

Jason Kao Hwang/Edge CD Release Party Tuesday March 21 8PM and 10PM At The Stone

Jason Kao Hwang/Edge CD Release Party Tuesday March 21 8PM and 10PM At The Stone

Source: All About Jazz

Tuesday March 21, 2006 8PM and 10PM

Asian Improv Records CD RELEASE PARTY!!

JASON KAO HWANG/EDGE : Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet Andrew Drury - percussion Ken Filiano - string bass Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin

The Stone http://thestonenyc.com NW Corner of Avenue C and East 2nd Street

Admission: $10 CD Concert Sale: $12

“The compositions are strong and the band, when they need ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Uncharted Faith

Tone Science/Blue Coast Music
2022

buy

Migration of Silence...

Centering Records / AUM Fidelity
2021

buy

Human Rites Trio

True Sound Recordings
2020

buy

The Center Will Hold

Not Two Records
2020

buy

Blood

Self Produced
2019

buy

Conjure

Flying Panda Music
2019

buy

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