CD JASON HWANG: MYTHS OF ORIGIN
Jason Kao Hwang: “ Myths of Origin defies mainstream society’s enduring fetish for Orientalist fantasies, a history woven inextricably into unconscious biases that can, as evident by the increase of hate crimes against Asian Americans during the pandemic, progress into explicitly racist violence. Myths of Origin forges a unique language free from the expectations of ethnicity and genre, to revolutionize our relationships to each other. I utilize a lexicon of gestures to conduct and empower improvisations that engage my notated score. The musicians infuse their individuality into a flow of spontaneous moments that illuminate possibilities for the journey ahead by revealing truths of who we can become. To be transformed by possibilities grounded in truth, is to transcend all Myths of Origin.”
See more information on Jason’s website here. Preview and buy from Bandcamp below.
COMPOSER/ CONDUCTOR/ VIOLIN: Jason Kao Hwang
VIOLIN: Charles Burnham, Mark Chung, gabby fluke-mogul, Keir GoGwilt, Rosi Hertlein, Gwen Laster, Elena Moon Park, Ben Sutin, Tom Swafford, Johnna Wu
VIOLA: Ginger Dolden, Melanie Dyer, Judith Insell, Pete Lanctot, Eric Salazar
CELLO: Dara Bloom, Kirin McElwain, Lester St. Louis, Tomas Ulrich
GUITAR: Che Chen, Anders Nilsson, Hans Tammen (solo on Track 5 / Landmarks Vanish)
BASS: Ken Filiano
DRUM SET: Andrew Drury
Photo by Scott Friedlander