One of the most compelling albums in years from
Billy Bang – and that's really saying a lot, given how much compelling music he's recorded! The set is put together in conjunction with a fascinating documentary on
Bang's life, music, and time spent fighting in Vietnam – an experience that stayed with him for decades, scarred him, and which here has become a way of reaching back into the past, into the culture, as a way to find some sort of personal healing! The result is fantastic – as
Bang's amazing work on violin comes in contact with a variety of Vietnamese artists – including Tran Manh Tuan on tenor, Duc Dau of the Phu Dong Family Band, and even the larger Hanoi Symphony Orchestra – all different musical partners who really help
Billy expand his sound and resolve some of his decades-old conflicts – presented alongside some spoken passages from the film that are very striking, and a few solo numbers too. Titles include "Mystery Of The Mekong", "Song For Don Cherry", "New Saigon Phunk", "Jungle Lullaby", "Dan Da Traditional Lithophone", and "Moments For The Kiamia".