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Subduing the Silence by Ruiqi Wang (pronounced “ray-chee wong”) is one of those striking debuts that might just seem to have materialized out of the clear blue. Slated for release on celebrated Montréal musician Ayelet Rose Gottlieb‘s new imprint Orchard of Pomegranates, it weaves spacious, abstract vocal jazz, contemporary chamber music and even elements of Chinese traditions into an unusual, seamless whole.  Flanked by Mili Hong‘s drumming, bassist Summer Kodama and pianist Stephanie Urquhart her brilliant, all-female cast of musicians also includes arrangements that feature the Boston-based string quartet, Craft Ensemble. This singular recording fits a wealth of ideas into its 36 minutes, without ever losing its sharp focus. Wang’s nimble singing and deft, thoughtful arrangements—enlivened by the sensitivity and versatility of her of collaborators—display a maturity and vision that eludes even some seasoned musicians.

Reviews

  • “Showcases Wang’s range, technique, and imagination impressively… Contemplative and gamboling… a strikingly unified whole. A brave rewarding session, beautifully performed and handsomely recorded.“

    Steve Smith, Night after Night

  • a kind of Chinese answer to Korea’s Youn Sun-Nah and Japan’s Hiromi (in terms of eclectic avant-garde, even post-modernism)

    Frédéric Cardin, PanM360

  • Перед нами зрелая, оригинальная и очень интересная работа вокалистки с вполне сложившимся видением целей (Before us is a mature, original and very interesting work with a well-formed vision)

    Leonid Auskern, Jazz Quad

  • Un croisement réfléchi d’improvisation, d’écriture contemporaine, de chant traditionnel chinois et de références savantes à Ligeti, Pauline Oliveros ou Meredith Monk, et même Evans et Strayhorn

    Tchikiboum

  • Man weiß nie, wohin diese Musik führt und was einen hinter der nächsten Ecke überrascht...Eine Platte, die dazu einlädt, sie zu "loopen" und immer wieder zu hören. Stundenlang.

    Jazz-Fun

  • A compelling debut..."A Letter to L" is haunting ... six and a half minutes of pure beauty.

    David Reed, Belleville Intelligencer

  • Krásné aranže, krásný zvuk, naprosto famózní deska a strhující debut. (Beautiful arrangements, beautiful sound, an absolutely gorgeous record and a captivating debut. )

    Jiří Kalemba, Kali Music

  • Miss Wang’s stylish artistry is expressive rather than expressionist; lyrical, reflective, always beautifully so... This is a truly masterful recording.

    Raul Da Gama, That Canadian Magazine

  • Ruiqi has a voice as warm and sweet as freshly cooked caramel. It’s also ethereal, abstract, vocal jazz that’s both melodic and contemporary; strikingly unique and yet comfortably rooted in European classical and Chinese culture... experimental jazz that pushes the boundaries and sandpapers the sharp edges to a soft, round, feminine beauty.

    Dee Dee McNeil, Unapologetic Women Express Themselves With Jazz, Musical Memoirs