Dominic Duval & Jason Kao Hwang: The Experiment

Two highly regarded modern jazz or – new music - improvisers explore the outer reaches of their respective crafts with this new release titled, The Experiment. Dominic Duval performing on his – hutchins bass, teams with violinist Jason Kao Hwang for a truly exhilarating series of works that are justifiably referred to as “Tone Poems” on the CD insert.

Duval, a prolific - forward thinking New York City bassist and the equally adventurous violinist Hwang, render scathing dialogue on the opener, “Quest” and at times sound as though they are sawing wood with all of their steely edged lines and cyclic passages. Here, the musicians are indeed, chasing some sort of spiritual quest as Hwang’s upper register attack counters Duval’s sinuous arco-bass work and deft plucking as the duo elicits lucid imagery and performs with soulful conviction. - Pieces such as “J.K.H” and “The Tower Falls” boast circuitous flows, impressionistic soundscapes and synergistic interplay as Duval dazzles with fleet-fingered employment of harmonics and ominous sounding extended notes. The musicians convey a semi-casual atmosphere on “Caribbean Sunrise” as they tone down the proceedings mainly via articulate utilization of pitch and limber execution. Whereas Hwang and Duval perform intricate motifs yet intensify the momentum during the bridge as the two men trade rapid-fire lines and subsequently walk their instruments along the sandy beach amid the cool ocean breeze. Recommended!

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Dominic Duval; hutchins bass: Jason Kao Hwang; violin

Blue Jackel web: www.bluejackel.com