Jason Kao Hwang - composer, electric violin and viola; Anders Nilsson - electric guitar; Michael T.A. Thompson - drums
.. the two created these fragile and delicate moments, rich in musicality and feeling, one on violin and viola, the other on piano and to the vibraphone. They are engaging atmospheres in which the accent moves on pathos, communication, beyond the desecrating or angry moments of the free with which the two in the past have had to do. Among the most beautiful moments Below Zero, with the pizzicato on Hwang's violin that meets the vibraphone, is a very special atmosphere that the two manage to create in improvisation. Overall it is an incision without moments of emptiness, which involves the listener from beginning to end, of two musicians in a state of grace who had something real to say to each other and made it public. - Vittori LoConte, musiczoom.it
The Human Rites Trio had a great gig at the 2019 Vision Festival at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY.
In July we had a great recording session for our CD that will be released in early 2020.
Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin/viola, Andrew Drury - drum set, Ken Filiano - string bass
By constantly alternating the density of the orchestrations, Hwang suggests different scenarios that correspond to transformative states of mind. The thrills of spontaneity come from individual statements but also from interspersed interlocutions with two or three musicians. After all, this is music of exploration and reflection. - Felipe Freitas, jazztrail.net,
The enormity of emotions, the multiplicity of ecstasy and the almost ecstatic parts of individual instruments, make the album "Blood" an exciting and captivating experience of each of the recipients open to new experiences. … "Blood" is not only a fascinating clash of Asian folklore with the free jazz formula, but also a unique show of virtuosity of each musician and an example of an ideal artistic correlation. Robert Ratajczak, longplayrecenzje.blox (google translation of Polish)
Available at Bandcamp, CD Baby and the Downtown Music Gallery
My thanks to the 2018 El Intruso International Critics Poll.
Grateful that Sing House was named one of the Best CDs of 2017 by Downbeat Magazine.
Sing House is available at BandCamp and CD Baby!
I'm grateful to Giovanni Russonello for his 4/28 review of Sing House in the New York Tim
On Sing House from the Best Jazz on Bandcamp:
The breadth of influences that composer Jason Kao Hwang is able to call upon, and his willingness to leave wide open spaces within compositions for improvising, strikes the perfect balance between meticulous planning and breathless spontaneity. His newest, Sing House, falls in line with past experiments. “No Such Thing” provides ample, immediate evidence of that push-and-pull, with its turbulent bursts of avant-garde dissonance suddenly settling into joyful expressions of the blues. “Dream Walk” is a panoramic view of a host of musical forms, never fully adopting a single one, always sounding on the verge of phasing into another altogether. “When What Could” takes the opposite approach, allowing jazz forms to manifest with a charged immediacy, while leaving the transitions between each expression a bit fuzzy. It’s this kind of daring that makes a Hwang album so thrilling—that sense of sharp intelligence and creative courage. On his newest, the violinist-violist is joined by drummer Andrew Drury, bassist Ken Filiano, pianist Chris Forbes, and trombonist Steve Swell.
Previous events
Poetry Project's 46th Annual New Year's Day Marathon at St. Mark's Church
St. Mark's Church, 131 East 10th (corner of 2nd Ave.), New York City
I will perform solo between 6-7pm. Then between 8-9pm, I'll perform with Yoshiko Chuma. Many many performers throughout the night.
Jason Kao Hwang - composer, electric violin and viola; Anders Nilsson - electric guitar, Michael T.A. Thompson - drum set
Jason Kao Hwang, Tomas Fujiwara, Kenny Wollesen, Dana Lyn, Kyra Sims, Anthony Coleman, Frank London, Kalun Leung, and more!
Jason Kao Hwang/Sing House Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin/viola Andrew Drury - drum set Ken Filiano - string bass Kalun Leung - trombone Christopher Forbes - piano
Momental String Quartet performs Hwang's "If We Live in Forgetfulness, We Die in a Dream"and more
Tenri Cultural Institute, 43a @3st 13th Street, New York City, NY
Free Admission. Emile-Anne Gordon, Alex Shiozaki - violins, Stephanie Griffin - viola, Michael Haas - cello
7pm set - David Leon (alto sax), Sonya Belaya (piano), Florian Herzog (bass), Stephen Boegehold (drums)
8pm - Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola), Andrew Drury (drum set),Ken Filiano (string bass), Chris Forbes (piano), Kalun Leung (trombone)
Yoshiko Chuma: Secret Journey to Tipping Utopia
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The School of Hard Knocks Jason Kao Hwang, Violinist/Violist Emily Bartsch, Dancer Elizabeth Kresch, Painter of the Portraits Miriam Parker, Dancer Dan Kuan Peeples, Actor Emily Marie Pope, Dancer Alexis Ruiseco-Lombera, Dancer Chisa Takahashi, Makeup Artist Dane Terry, Pianist Devin Brahja Waldman, Saxophonist zaybra, Dancer
Jason Kao Hwang/Critical Response + Patrica Spears Jones (poetry)
Augusta Savage Gallery/Univ. of Mass., 180 Infirmary Way, Amherst, MA
Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola/electronics); Michael T.A. Thompson (drums); Anders Nilsson (guitar/electronics)
Jason Kao Hwang (composer/violin/viola/electronics); Michael T.A. Thompson (drums); Anders Nilsson (guitar/electronics)
Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin/viola/electronics; Michael T.A. Thompson - drums, Anders Nilsson - electric guitar/electronics
Portrait Painter: Elizabeth Kresch Makeup Artist: Chisa Takahashi Viola: Jason Kao Hwang Saxophonist: Devin Braja Waldman Trombonists: Christopher McIntyre, Steve Swell Actor: Dan Peeples Photographer: Alexis Ruiseco Videographer & Documenter: Andrew Kim Installation: Jake Vaughan & Nick Margolin Dance Artists: Zaybra, Emily Bartsch, Emily Marie Pope, Martita Abril, Nora Alami, Chip Chapin
Portrait Painter: Elizabeth Kresch Makeup Artist: Chisa Takahashi Saxophonist: Devin Braja Waldman Trombonists: Christopher McIntyre, Steve Swell Viola: Jason Kao Hwang Actor: Dan Peeples Photographer: Alexis Ruiseco Videographer & Documenter: Andrew Kim Installation: Jake Vaughan & Nick Margolin Dance Artists: Zaybra, Emily Bartsch, Emily Marie Pope, Martita Abril, Nora Alami, Chip Chapin
Karl Berger Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra
Featuring Billy Martin, Steven Bernstein, Ingrid Sertso, Jason Hwang, Peter Apfelbaum and Ken Filiano with orchestra
Violin: Jason Hwang, Rosi Hertlein
Cello: Carol Buck, Lenny Mims, Tanja Hoehne
Bass: Ken Filiano, Larry Roland
Brass: Waldron Mahdi Ricks, Brian Groder, Libby Schwartz, Steve Swell, Peter Zummo
Reeds: Richard Keene, Elliot Levin, Michael Lytle, Ras Moshe, Michael Moss, Dave Sewelson
Piano: Steve Cohn
Guitar: Dom Minasi
Vibes: Chien Chien Lu
Drums: Warren Smith, Bob Meyer, Chuck Fertal
Miyama McQueen-Tokita(koto), Bianca Gannon (gamelan, gongs, piano), Jason Kao Hwang (violin,viola), Sun Li (pipa), Ken Filiano (string bass), Andrew Drury (drum set)
Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin/viola, Andrew Drury - drum set, Ken Filiano - string bass
Set time TBA
Yoshiko Chuman - concept/choreographer, Steve Swell - trombone, Jason Kao Hwang - violin and more TBA
I will perform in a number of events in the Hear Now Festival, a celebration of audio storytelling. Go to hearnowfestival.org for details. The festival runs from 6/6-6/9.
Ayman Fanous/Jason Kao Hwang/Mark Feldman
Ayman Fanous - guitar, bouzouki Jason Kao Hwang - violin, viola Mark Feldman - violin