Jason Kao Hwang - Sing House [2017]

Published on Free Jazz Blog

The opening track of Sing House, "No Such Thing", begins with an angular melody which quickly breaks out into an entertaining chaos of rapid, seemingly free improvisation. This is a fitting introduction to the structure, though that word feels very limiting to describe much of the music here, of Sing House, Jason Kao Hwang's adventurous four-track album. Hwang has assembled a formidable quintet of past collaborators: Andrew Drury (drum set), Ken Filiano (bass), Chris Forbes (piano) and Steve Swell (trombone). Hwang is democratic in his band-leading, with each member given a moment in the limelight to showcase their talents throughout the record.  

Irreversible Entanglements - Irreversible Entanglements [2017]

Published on Free Jazz Blog

Throughout the history of recorded Black American music, there is not one generation that lacks what Amiri Baraka might have called "social activist" music in response to the trials and tribulations of Black America. One could say that today, the majority of contemporary mainstream Black American music seems increasingly focused on escapism in lieu of social commentary or confronting manifestations or effects of white supremacy - a look at the current Hip-Hop or R&B charts gives substantial ammo to this argument. Despite this, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly and Solange's A Seat At The Table, records that undeniably have a black socio-political focus, still rose to be two of the highest selling and most critically acclaimed albums of their respective years.