In Country

photo: Justin Time Records

The other half of the story

Details

Billy Bang
Vietnam: Reflections
Justin Time
Stream "Drive Away"
Stream "Last" (Windows Media)

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More About

• Billy Bang
• James Spaulding
• Boi Nguyen
• Nhan Thanh Ngo
• John Hicks

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Though a revelation—simultaneously his most ambitious recording and his most straight-ahead—Billy Bang's Vietnam: The Aftermath (2002) told only half the story: It surveyed the Asian influences that came into jazz concurrent with Vietnam but limited itself to the American point of view. The most affecting cuts on the sequel are those where scrappy, outward-bound fiddler (and Vietnam vet) Bang interacts with Co Boi Nguyen's voice and Nhan Thanh Ngo's dan tranh (Vietnamese dulcimer). Vietnam: Reflections has plenty else to recommend it. Nothing Bang has done prepares you for his keening balladry on "Doi Moi" and "Waltz of the Water Puppets," both derived from traditional Vietnamese material. Altoist and flutist James Spaulding isn't heard nearly enough these days, nor is trumpeter Ted Daniel—both are in top form here, and Spaulding's quote from "Moody's Mood for Love" on "Lock 'n' Load" makes sense emotionally as well as musically. Pianist John Hicks solos and comps with his customary sparkle. But I keep being drawn to the tracks with Nguyen and Ngo—Westerners now, which means the graceful "Ly Ngua O" is as much a memory song for them as it is for Bang.