Landing near the end, “Shards” uses space and tension superbly via Hwang’s inimitable vision, and “Before God” exits with strong attention to tonality that’s nearly cinematic in scope. A record of gentle emotional qualities, Hwang never disappoints, and this excellent affair continues that trend. Tom Haugen, Take Effect. Read Full Review
Hwang’s reflections about his family did not result in a stereotypical stroll down Memory Lane... Instead, he used the reduced dynamics and sustain of pizzicato playing to create a quiet intensity at times, and a negotiated calm at others. There is a realness to the work that doesn’t require a backstory. - Bill Shoemaker, Point of Departure. Read Full Review
We are getting a masterclass in violin monologue, and by restricting himself to pizzicato with no bowing he has forced himself into a musical corner and used his mastery to produce something which is quite special. It is dramatic and powerful as he takes us on a journey which is both emotional and personal. Available on Bandcamp, this is a wonderful album to discover for those of us who enjoy music away from the mainstream. - Kev Rowland, houseofprog.com Read Full Review
As you listen from the opening tremolos of “At the Beginning” through explorations like “Hungry Shadows” and “Remembering Our Conversation” all the way through the hypnotic “Before God,” Hwang’s very beautiful personal narrative comes to life via Currie’s essay, which artfully connects the pieces here to such milestones as the challenges of growing up an English speaker in a Chinese-American household and Hwang’s early days in New York playing music for dance workshops. Free from those wider ensemble settings, Hwang presents one of his most honest, heartfelt and intimate works yet. - Jonathan Widran, jwvibe.com. Read Full Review
Solo pizzicato in the hands of a sonic craftsman such as Hwang is magical because he refuses to be bound by the chains of conformity… Soliloquies is a dedicated listen and one that, in light of the stories behind each track, will draw you in with its earnestness, subtle delivery and powerful resolve. - Eric Harabadian, contributing blogger to geoffwilbur.music Read Full Review
Hwang's approach to the violin in "Soliloquies" is transformative… The music defies simple categorization, weaving together Eastern and Western influences in a tapestry of sound that requires multiple listens to be fully appreciated. It's a testament to Hwang's ability to seamlessly blend diverse cultural and musical traditions…"Soliloquies" stands as one of the most powerful musical and creative acts in recent years. …While his multifaceted career may defy easy categorization, time will likely cement his status as a pivotal figure in improvised music.
The improvised spirit is full of force for Jason Kao Hwang, who skitters around the minor acoustic sounds with “Soliloquies.” Just the violin – nothing else. His sonic universe strips things down beyond the normal, into tiny gestures. Quite lively, he avoids anything that could be considered conventional, opting instead for a more spontaneous, vibrant journey…“Soliloquies” features truly inspired passages by Jason Kao Hwang. He amplifies the details often lost in translation, giving his violin a voice for pure poetry and unbridled expressiveness. - Skope Read Full Review
While Soliloquies is Hwang’s heartfelt and deeply personal tribute to his parents, it is more than that. The album asks the listener to reflect on the narratives and lived experiences of their ancestors and loved ones and to consider ways to honor them. It is also a call for peace in a tumultuous era in which many fear the emergence of a third world war. A call for community and love in a time where the walls of social media far too often separate rather than unite. Soliloquies is a hauntingly beautiful and emotionally raw recording that is difficult to put down. - Rob Shepard, postgenre.org. Read Full Review
The album opens with the appropriately titled “At The Beginning,” which is striking in its dramatic use of pauses … It does feel like a voice, and reminds me of the way different actors might choose to approach a well-known speech, making it fresh with well-placed breaths. And what Jason Kao Hwang does here is command our attention… - Michael Doherty. Read Full Review
The fascinating possibilities that Jason explores in these solo violin improvisations open new vistas into the autobiographical aspects of his own distinctive musical language, as developed and deployed in musically reimagined moments to bridge the cultural-historical gulf dividing his family’s first- and second-generation immigrant experiences…This majestically flawless, and wholly embodied new recording opens on the transformational, and aptly-titled At the Beginning.. - Anne Carlini, anncarlini.com. Read Full Review
(google translation from Portugues) In “Soliloquies”, violinist and improviser Jason Kao Hwang faces the ghosts of his own existence, in an album in which he uses only pizzicato, in the hope of an answer. (The track) “Before God” evokes a primordial time, when there was nothing for everything to exist, with the strings plucked with absolutely remarkable precision and delicacy.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Mr. Hwang’s ever since having heard him playing in the late loft jazz days/early Downtown Scene. Each of Mr. Hwang's varied projects/bands is quite different and hence each of his more than a dozen discs are well worth hearing. Recently Mr. Hwang asked if he could play here at DMG for a solo set to celebrate the release of this solo offering, his first violin effort. What’s interesting is that Mr. Hwang is playing exclusively pizzicato violin which means that it is are plucked notes and not bowed, a unique way to play the violin and go beyond certain limitations of this method… There is a sense of calm exploration going on here that I do like. – Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery newsletter. Read Full Review
Honoring the courage of the survivors of atrocities experienced in China during World War II, including that of his own father, New York improvising violinist Jason Kao Hwang presents twelve solo pieces performed on the pizzicato violin, works that embrace the struggle of his antecedents with a narrative sense of presentation and extraordinary technique. - Squidco. Read at squidco.com
Master violinist, composer Jason Kao Hwang gives us a musical, autobiographical sketch on Soliloquies, a solo collection. He's playing Pizzicato Violin and reflecting on his Chinese heritage, the sometimes unintelligible language of his parents, their broken English, cultural experiences, and the joys and pains of his life. - D. Oscar Groomes. Featured in O's Place. Read Full Review