Strange Beauty

Lee Pui Ming's music is a paradox. On one level, it celebrates Chinese cultural roots; it revels in freedom from tradition. "Chinese-Canadian culture is terribly young," says the pianist, who lives in Toronto. "It's still at an emerging stage, whereas in the States, (Chinese-American) musicians like Jon Jang and Fred Houn have been creating a musical culture for a while. I imagine that if I were playing in the States, I'd have to refer to my predecessors. Not referencing other people is very attractive to me. It characterizes my approach to most musical situations." - Kevin Whitehead, New York, August 1994