VOICE is comprised of two sets, Lifelines and Words of Our Own, performed by two different ensembles.
The CD was released by Innova Records.
There are voices that speak our thoughts, emotions and needs. They vibrate the air to deliver the contents. We speak and talk. We hear and listen. And there are other kinds of voices that are alive but mostly unheard. Some loud and intense, some soft, almost mute, all saying something that needs to be heard. Although heard by no one yet, they are de nitely and clearly there. A poet gives them actual voices using their instrument: words.
-- like poets -- hear unheard music, alive and well, but not yet shared. Throughout each poem's sonic architecture, vocalists Deanna Relyea and Thomas Buckner were empowered to improvise and make the poems their own.
Now, the voices, once unheard and impossible to reach, are here with us, welcoming us all to listen to them with open arms. Let us listen to them from every corner of our streets, memories and dreams. Here VOICE speaks to us in the most humble, personal and genuine timbres and tones, as we walk together or alone in this landscape called LIFE.
Jason Kao Hwang leads numerous ensembles, including his octet of Chinese and Western instruments (Burning Bridge), his quintet Sing House (violin/viola, trombone, piano, string bass, drum set), his trio Amygdala (violin/viola, gayageum, djembe/percussion) and a string orchestra, Spontaneous River. In 2012, National Public Radio selected Burning Bridge as one of the year's Top albums and the Downbeat Critics' Poll voted him "Rising Star for Violin." As violinist, Mr. Hwang has collaborated with Zen Matsuura, Will Connell, Jr., Pauline Oliveros, William Parker, Anthony Braxton, Yoshiko Chuma and many others.
and with symphony orchestras in the Midwest region and throughout Canada. Deanna performs her one-woman cabaret show in many set- tings, most recently as guest artist at the Niagara-On-The-Lake Chamber Music Festival. She has previously collaborated with Hwang for the premiere performance of his "Lifelines" at John Zorn's venue The Stone in New York City.
For more than 40 years, baritone Thomas Buckner has dedicated him- self to the world of new and improvised music. Buckner has collaborated with a host of new music composers and made solo appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, presenting a repertoire that includes more than 100 compositions, written for or dedicated to him. Buckner is featured on over 40 recordings, including six solo albums.