If there is something I have come to expect from Innova Recordings, it is the unexpected, and almost on each new CD those expectations have been duly met! Unusual or even uncharted concepts are worked out by the creative artists who release their material on Innova, and the company is not – like so many other recording companies – afraid of uncertain ventures. On the contrary, it seems that they seek out those economically adventurous escapades for the sake of art alone, and this is worth all the support the contemporary community of music and the arts can give. Innova is unique in this way, releasing all these exciting, surprising CDs.

This issue is no exception to the rule. The crew who realized this musical and theatrical adventure calls it “a martial arts ballet and music/theater epic”, and that concept alone should raise a few eyebrows!

As you can see from the listing of contents above there is a progression of a story through the music.
In the Prologue, which, like all good tales begin with “Once upon a time…”, the basics of the story is explained, starting in a place “beyond History and Fantasy”, at a time when human conflicts were resolved through the noble martial arts instead of by the contemporary usage of horrifying weapons of destruction. The Shaolin Temple stands as a symbol for the good forces in this story. It was originally built for the teachings of Ch’an-Zen Buddhism by the Indian monk Batuo. Later the monk Ta Mo from India came along, fostering his disciples into wizards of concentration, to the point of being able to willfully impress their shadows on the wall. Subsequently, in the harness of envy, the monks came under attack of bandits and the traitor Gar Man Jang.

This is told as an introduction in the first part of the CD, narrated by Shyaporn Theerakulstit in authoritarian speech, as the springing percussion of Chinese origin jump at you like Jack-in-the-box. It feels like a Chinese theater of sorts, or like an American Harry Partch show with American jazz traits. The whole text of the narration is printed in the booklet of the CD, so you can follow if you wish.
After a little while, as the narrator narrates, the music moves into some kind of Chinese-American funk, in an unbelievable mix of impulses, which nonetheless rise in a completely natural way out of the ensemble. Far out!
This is jazz, rock n’ roll and ethnic Chinese flavors with a fragrance of continents only possible in the American melting pot.

Between the narrative parts the music is in full darn swing, mixing all the aspects described above in faultless and seamless self-evidence through the cultures. Splendid – and fun!
However, there is no way to label this CD, and man, that’s a relief. I just love music that falls between the chairs; which cannot be safely labeled! This music gets on your nerves in a pleasant way, at first having you twist it around in all different kind of references, finally having you give in and just enjoy!

The rhythmic – sometimes in slow progressions – Chinese percussive instruments (sometimes big bass drums) give you a sense of physical movement forwards, like were you lifted in an emperor’s chair, lifted and carried forth, in a swaying, rocking manner of power and might – and then the beautiful and growling garlands of the saxophones paint golden poetic emblems on the horizon, contrasting the deep blue sky perfectly!

It is indeed possible to listen to this CD as a fairytale. I think it could be well suited for children too. “Once Upon a Time in Chinese America” really erases all kinds of borders; between idioms, cultures, ages, generations – and all in great beauty!