Like Waves Against the Sand

The Jing Ying Soloists consists of five Chinese musicians who play the erhu (fiddle), di-zi (bamboo flute), pipa (lute), yang-quin (hammer dulcimer), and percussion. They play as an ensemble on about a third of the tracks; the rest of the time they play one or two at a time. They perform traditional and modern folk music with drama and style. Especially impressive is "Night," with its thundering percussion solos, and "Shenpadei Folksong," whose skillful yang-quin playing sounded remarkably like a piano. Near the end of the album Lam Si Kwam gives us a thrilling imitation of a bird on the di-zi. All the tracks are at least pretty; however, a few are a trifle sedate. Recommended for anyone interested in exploring Chinese music.