by Jonathan WidranThe New York-based veteran composer and violinist Jason Kao Hwang has worked in numerous idioms -- jazz, classical, "new" and world music -- over the years, and is best known for his 15 years in the seminal ensemble the Far East Band. On this strange and trippy four-track, 42-minute voyage to the cutting edge of crazy sounds, jazz, classical, avant-garde and cool insanity, Hwang debuts a resourceful new quartet and a mix of colors (including cornet, flugelhorn, and string bass) that is truly adventurous but not always easy to digest. Hwang calls his ensemble Edge because they fall between many worlds; more than likely, the folks who will most want to visit this ambient realm where almost anything goes will be those looking for an escape from anything melodic or with anything resembling a rhythmic pattern. Those who find this sort of stuff interesting will be happy to discover this recording's label, Asian Improv Records, a company dedicated to Directions in Music By Asian Americans, which has 60 titles in its catalog. If odd is your thing, by all means, jump in.