Billy Bang: Vietnam: The Aftermath

It's been a long time, but those memories linger. We were there to do a job, but no one could avoid immersion in the culture that ran so very different from our own. We felt at home, right away, with many aspects of the foreign landscape. After all, it was the same moon in the sky. The people seemed okay; but we trusted no one. Our search for commonality had to remain satisfied with the similarities of Nature, music, family values and our jobs. Mechanics, moms, butterflies and songs remain quite similar around the world, as long as you're not looking for the differences. We saw the fragile people who were as afraid of war as we were. We saw the determined people who made their daily living in spite of incredible obstacles. We saw a society that lived for today and hoped for a brighter tomorrow. And we remember everything, after all these years.

After tucking them away for a long time, violinist Billy Bang decided to put these recollections to music. With a close-knit band of like-minded artists, he interprets these old memories. There's the placid landscape and the natural flavor from traditional Vietnamese country music. There's a somber prayer for those who never returned. One swinging impression recalls the rare moment of entertainment some were able to enjoy at dance clubs, tucked far away from the front. That same Western spirit blared daily from our radios and reel-to-reel tape players. Another piece brings us the dramatic tension that we lived with every day. Bang and five other members of the ensemble are veterans. They've turned these memories into a positive affair. Culture, society, and a deeper meaning color the session thoroughly, but they're couched in lively, straight-ahead jazz terms.