Jason Kao Hwang's new CD Edge

Taylor Ho Bynum - cornet/flugelhorn
Andrew Drury - percussion
Ken Filiano - string bass
Jason Kao Hwang - composer/violin
Asian Improv AIR 0067
Street Date May 30, 2006

Asian Improv Records is proud to announce the release of Edge, Jason Kao Hwang's new quartet CD. Edge is a sharp line shifting between cultures and genres, where sounds dance, vibrations transform and identities are affirmed. Edge can be purchased at http://www.jmstore.com.

Hwang's band of the same name recently celebrated their CD release with a concert at The Stone. Their next performance will be in the 2006 Vision Festival XI (http://www.visionfestival.org) on Saturday, June 17th, starting at 10 pm at the Angel Orensanz Center.

Jason Kao Hwang (composer, violinist) has created works ranging from jazz, classical, “new" and world music. Mr. Hwang's seminal ensemble The Far East Side Band, released two CDs Urban Archaeology(Victo Records) and Caverns (New World Records). As a violinist, he has worked with Butch Morris, Reggie Workman, Anthony Braxton, Vladamir Tarasov, Henry Threadgill and William Parker. As a composer, he has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and New Jersey State Council on the Arts. His chamber opera, The Floating Box, A Story in Chinatown (New World Records), was named one of the top ten opera recordings of 2005 by Opera News.

Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet, various brass) is a composer and bandleader born in 1975, raised in Boston, and presently residing in Brooklyn. Bynum has established a reputation as a unique musical voice willing to take chances in a wide variety of artistic contexts. Projects range from ensembles in the jazz tradition, to work with DJs, contemporary classical composers, and world music ensembles, to composing for film and theater, to collaborations with dancers and visual artists. He leads a variety of small groups and the large ensemble SpiderMonkey Strings, and works with Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, and the Fully Celebrated Orchestra.

Andrew Drury (drum set) is a drummer/composer whose work has been noted for its lyricism and expansive approach to form and technique. Drury can be heard on fifteen CDs (two as a bandleader) and he has performed in Europe and the Americas with Michel Doneda, Mark Dresser, Briggan Krauss, Myra Melford, Chris Speed, Jack Wright, Kenny Wolleson's Marching Band with Butch Morris, and others. A former student of Ed Blackwell, he photographs drum solos in desert and prairie settings, collaborates frequently with dancers, and has led over 700 junk percussion workshops across the U.S.

Ken Filiano (string bass), has fused the rich traditions of the double bass, bringing out the many voices inherent to the instrument. His solo bass CD, Subvenire (NineWinds), received unanimous critical praise, and was chosen by Cadence Magazine as one of the top ten CDs of 2003. Ken tours widely, performing at the DuMaurier International Jazz Festival, Banlieues Bleues Festival (Paris, France); and on many concert stages including Carnegie Hall. He was principal bassist with the Cascade Festival Orchestra from 1985 - 2002. Ken has also played and/or recorded with artists and orchestras including Bobby Bradford, Nels Cline, Vinnie Golia, Dom Minasi, Alex Cline, Ted Dunbar, and Joseph Jarman.

With over 60 titles in its continually growing catalog, Asian Improv Records has documented the work of dozens of artists. Since its founding in 1987, Asian Improv Records has become the leading recording label dedicated to Directions in Music by Asian Americans. In addition to this new release by Jason Kao Hwang, the label has featured recordings by Jon Jang, Francis Wong, the late Glenn Horiuchi, Tatsu Aoki, Yasuhiro Ohtani, Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble, I Was Born With Two Tongues and collaborating artists such as Genny Lim, Wu Man, Jiebing Chen, Max Roach, David Murray and Fred Anderson. For more info, please visit www.asianimprov.com and www.jmstore.com.