Birds of Paradox is a collaboration between Ron Samworth, Lan Tung, and Neelamjit Dhillon that began in December of 2007 to explore the fusion of composition and improvisation. The unique instrumentation - erhu/voice, guitars/effects, and tabla/alto saxophone, provides a wealth of textural possibilities to these three versatile composer/performers. Three very distinct voices and cultural backgrounds come together as a creative whole. Samworth is from Anglo/Irish roots, Dhillon: Indian, and Tung: Chinese. The traditional musics of these cultures are infinitely rich unto themselves - but the transformation and synthesis of these traditions into a contemporary expression of life in post-millennial Vancouver is what compels this group.
Vancouver is a city which has experienced extraordinary growth and significant demographic shifts since the 1970’s. The incredible cultural diversity of the city makes a group like this a natural collaboration- but as a subtext, rather than a deliberate intercultural initiative. The trio employs elements of jazz and improvised music, traditional Chinese and Indian music with a view to creating a discourse that is simply their collective expression.
"It’s so vivid, you can almost feel the heat and the surging press of bustling humanity. “Asian Market: Chapter 1 China”, from the Vancouver trio Birds of Paradox’s new, selftitled
CD, mixes discordant cries, half-heard conversations, the rattle and clatter of traffic, and the whirring and clanking of mysterious machinery into a startling, abstract portrait of a Beijing streetscape. Even if you’ve never been to the Chinese capital, it’ll put you there..."
Alexander Varty, The Georgia Straight,
July 6, 2010
“Both gorgeous and adventurous at the same time, the dozen tracks on this disc provide a wealth of unique entry points into where classical, modern and improvisational styles meet.” -Stuart Derdeyn, The Province, July 5, 2010
