Tracy Yang, originally from Taiwan, has established herself as a composer, musician, and cross-disciplinary artist in NYC over the past decade. Recognized with the Charlie Parker Jazz Composition Prize, she's also been honored with grants from respected institutions like New Music USA, New York Foundation for the Arts, and Pathways to Jazz. She has collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as The Army Jazz Ambassadors, BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra, SWOJO (Seattle Women’s Jazz Orchestra), and the Taipei Jazz Orchestra. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Yang's expertise extends to the dance world, where she collaborates with renowned dance institutions, counting among them Martha Graham, ABT, Paul Taylor, Limón, Mark Morris and Juilliard School, to name a few.
To pursue music, Yang not only left her home country, but also left behind her beloved field of medicine. She followed her heart and embarked on her pursuit of becoming a jazz composer. The compositions on OR are the result of Yang putting together the puzzle of her existence, her dreams, her journeys and experiences; no less than her very life and being is reflected, redefined, and re-patched into images, feelings, and inner-thoughts expressed in music.
The title track, "OR" portrays Yang's enthusiasm for her background in medical science, and the composition itself unfolds as a narrative of an imaginary surgical procedure in an operating room; "Sea of Clouds" and "Sea Swell" are from her Scene Taiwan Collection, leading the audience to travel around the magnificent landscape of Taiwan, and for the composer to reflect on her culture; "Melting Arctic" shows concern for the ecological environment. "A Step to My Dream," the earliest jazz orchestra original she has written, is about the challenging journey she experienced while pursuing her dream of becoming a jazz composer and meaningfully marking the beginning of the journey. The creation of the “MMXXI suite - I. Uncertainty, II. Healing, III. Reunited" was a real-time reflection of the situation in the world and Yang’s emotional state in 2021 to 2022, and the timeless connection it has to human experiences in various scenarios.
On working with renowned composer, arranger, and bandleader Darcy James Argue, Yang said, “I am fortunate to have gained insight into Darcy's producing style while working as a production assistant on Erica Seguine and Jihye Lee's past project. When Darcy sensed that I had lost faith in recording my own big band record, he simply said that I have to do it and he would be glad to produce it for me. I don't think that came out lightly from Darcy, and I simply held on to that faithfulness during the challenging phases. His high standard in many things, particularly producing a big band album, has consistently inspired me to follow his lead. Known for his clarity and meticulous attention to detail, he speaks like he writes – precise yet artistic. I deeply appreciate his respectful and witty communication with musicians. Without Darcy's faithful support and guidance, OR most likely wouldn't exist in its current form.”
Yang’s large ensemble recording, OR, marks a profound milestone in her journey over the past ten years in NYC, which she called, “the most beautiful and meaningful chapter of my life.” We can celebrate that with the artist through this wonderful recording.
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