Book Of Stories
True Sound, 2023
8/10
The fusion extraordinaire Jason Kao Hwang aligns himself with Anders Nilsson and Michael T.A. Thompson for these jazz-rock inspired tunes that provide an exciting platform for his electric violin skills.
“The Power Of Many In The Soul Of One” opens the listen with much ambience, as Hwang’s careful string manipulation is met with Thompson’s unpredictable drumming for 13+ minutes of tense bouts, and “Upside Circle Down” follows with artistic, minimal qualities populating the playful delivery that benefits much from Nilsson’s guitar acrobatics.
On the back half, “a silent ghost follows” emits a haunting quality that’s dreamy in a very atmospheric fashion, while “Dragon Carved into Bone” focuses much on the fluid drumming amid the tonally impressive violin. Closing out the listen, “Friends Forever” makes for an intimate and even romantic landscape of rich interaction between the trio’s agile playing.
Hwang is as prolific as he is creative, and these 5 involved pieces capture the disillusionment and divisiveness of right now with a very articulate vision.
Travels well with: Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet- Emergence; Clifford Jordan- Drink Plenty Water