Linda May Han Oh Reflects on “The Glass Hours”
The last few years have put a lot of things in perspective for a lot of people. Many of us also experienced deep beauty and connection in a world ruled by chaos and confusion. During this time, bassist Linda May Han Oh had her first child. Oh contemplated the bigger picture between the demands of a newborn and the steady stream of news. All of it boiled down into a new album called The Glass Hours, which may be her most intimate album to date.
“At some point,” Oh says, “as an artist, you have to reflect and ask, ‘Why am I playing music when there are all these things happening in the world?’ We all go through phases where we realize just how precious and fragile our time here really is and wonder how we’re going to better our lives and the lives of those we love. To some extent, those questions can’t be reconciled, but music has been a healing force for me. It helps me pull myself into the moment and process some of that confusion.”
Oh utilizes both the electric and acoustic on the album. She’s joined by vocalist Sara Serpa, saxophonist Mark Turner, pianist Fabian Almazan (who is also her partner), and drummer Obed Calvaire.
The bassist’s compositions are free-flowing with mixed meters and grooves, but no matter the whirling soundscape, Oh’s playing and demeanor remain steadfast. Check out the studio video for “The Imperative”:
The Glass Hours is available now on Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon MP3.
The Glass Hours Track List:
- Circles
- Antiquity
- Chimera
- Jus Ad Bellum
- The Glass Hours
- The Imperative
- Phosphorus
- Respite
- The Other Side
- Hatchling
