The stellar debut album of vocalist and composer Ruiqi Wang (pronounced ‘Raychee Wong’), Subduing The Silence launches this Friday, on 27th of October 2023 with Montréal musician Ayelet Rose Gottlieb‘s new Orchard Of Pomegranates imprint, both on CD and across all major digital platforms. Accompanied by astonishing Trio made of three super charged Ladies: Stephanie Urquhart on piano, Summer Kodama on double bass and Mili Hong on drums and quest appearance of the string quartet.
The record showcases Wang’s assured compositional approach and nimble voice, seeing her lead a band that features Summer Kodama (bass), Stephanie Urquhart (piano) and Mili Hong (drums) as well as Boston-based string quartet Craft Ensemble. Her music offers an unconventional mixture of different approaches, embracing aspects of jazz, contemporary composition, free improvisation and Chinese traditions, all the while remaining thoroughly accessible. Wang has a penchant for surprising ensemble colours and intriguing structural approaches, both of which imbue the music with momentum and and excitement. However, at the core of this work there’s a patience and introspection that grounds wherever it manages to go.
Originally from Hangzhou 杭州, China, currently based in Tiohti:áke / Montreal, Ruiqi Wang embodies the tension and beauty of the ancient juxtaposed against the contemporary. She composes in the sophisticated language of Jazz, and, in this album she presents three versions of an ancient Chinese song, Xiang Leng Jin Ni. The poetry, written by the 11th century female poet Qingzhao Li, is performed by Ruiqi with great intimacy – a sensibility that carries throughout the entire album.
Subduing the Silence Liner Notes below are useful guide for the listener not familiar with Origins of the inspirations driving Wang’s inner spirit and are best to be read prior to the listening session to expand listeners ability to embrace the concept. However, listening to sheer beauty of those songs, with the lyrics offered in English from the vocalist , gives an alternative way to confrontate the subject and juxtapost it with listeners own sensitivity, without any guidance given. A path equally worth to walk on.
“I broke into an ancient dream of humanity”
Dream of the Pines, Tr 8 \ Poetry by Ruiqi Wang
Originally from Hangzhou 杭州, China, currently based in Tiohti:áke / Montreal, Ruiqi Wang embodies the tension and beauty of the ancient juxtaposed against the contemporary. She composes in the sophisticated language of Jazz, and, in this album she presents three versions of an ancient Chinese song, Xiang Leng Jin Ni. The poetry, written by the 11th century female poet Qingzhao Li, is performed by Ruiqi with great intimacy – a sensibility that carries throughout the entire album.
“Remembering a Flute Song”
Xiang Leng Jin Ni , Tr 1, 6 \ Poetry by Qingzhao Li (1084-1155)
Feminist composer Pauline Oliveros reminds us to “remember to remember to listen:” to give meaning to every sound, to listen to memories of sound and to listen beyond the boundaries of our own imagination. Ruiqi, an original and creative composer and vocalist, brings this remembrance into every note she sings or writes.
“like red waves”
Xiang Leng Jin Ni , Tr 1, 6 \ Poetry by Qingzhao Li (1084-1155)
A nearly-all-female-made project (with the exception of the recording and mastering engineers), Ruiqi brought together a tremendous cast in order to bring her vision to life. She masterfully composed music for a double quartet that signifies the plurality of her sound-world. A contemporary Euro-classical string quartet based in Boston playing parallel to her Tiohti:áke-based Jazz trio. The art, hand-drawn by her friend, UK based artist Bianko Li, reflects the acoustic, tactile feeling of this gently fierce album.
“The powers of language are the solitary ladies who sing”
Fragments For Subduing The Silence, Tr 11 \ Poetry by Alejandra Pizarnik
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Photo by Rodolfo Rueda
Born and raised in Hangzhou, China, 王睿琪 Ruiqi Wang (pronounced as “Ray-Chee Wong”) is a vocalist, composer and improviser in jazz and experimental music. Based in Tio’tia:ke/Montreal, Canada and Bern, Switzerland, She aims to achieve the greatest freedom and authenticity through her creativity. Her genre-defying aesthetics combine influences from jazz, contemporary Euro-classical music and traditional Chinese music. Over the last several years she has graced the stages of well known Canadian venues including Upstairs Jazz Club, Ursa, MAI/SON MTL, Le Basement and Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.
A graduate of McGill University’s Jazz Performance program, Ruiqi has studied privately with Ranee Lee, Camille Thurman, Ayelet Rose Gottlieb, and John Hollenbeck; She is expanding her artistic expression by incorporating movement, through practicing Open Source Forms with Susanna Hood, and attending Meredith Monk voice and movement workshops. In 2023, Ruiqi received the Salsinger Tani Gold Medal at the time of her graduation. Currently starting her studies for a Masters in Jazz Composition at the Bern Academy of the Arts in Switzerland, under instructions of Django Bates, Andreas Schaerer and Ralph Alessi, she intends to continue performing her original music across Europe, North America and China.
Orchard of Pomegranates is an international community of improvisers, deep listeners and vocalists that I founded in 2019. Ruiqi entered this space at the start of the pandemic in 2020. As her mentor and producer, I have witnessed her voice evolve, deepen and grow confident and powerful. I find this work to be one of great significance in its subtleties, delicate details and poetry. You are invited to enter her first sound journey here. With its powerful softness, it will surely ripple in your soul.