Tiananmen!

After the Tianenmen Square slaughter in China, pianist Jon Jang wrote the five-part "Tianenmen" to depict the hopes and dreams of the demonstrators, along with the sad reality. This CD has the full work, plus "Butterfly Lovers Song." Jang's adventurous music, which looks both back to the ancient past and toward the future, is expertly interpreted by his unusual group, which includes two musicians utilizing traditional Chinese instruments, flutist James Newton, three reeds, a trumpeter, a trombonist, bassist Mark Izu, percussionist Anthony Brown, and Jang's piano. Emotional and haunting music.