Riparian by Eyvind Kang

After more than 30 years of recorded output, Riparian stands as Eyvind Kang’s first solo instrumental album. Centered on the viola d’amore, it is an intimate and meditative work that extends his lifelong exploration of sound, improvisation, and ecological listening.

A longtime collaborator of Jessika Kenney, Bill Frisell, Laurie Anderson, Bennie Maupin, Stuart Dempster, and many others, Kang has also contributed to landmark recordings by SUNN O))) (Monoliths and Dimensions) and Blonde Redhead (Misery is a Butterfly). He is a disciple of spiritual jazz violinist Michael White and a lifelong student of raga with Padma Bhushan Smt. Dr. N. Rajam.

With Riparian, Kang turns inward, offering a rare and intimate work centered on the viola d’amore—an instrument he began exploring in depth during the pandemic. Across two longform pieces, he improvises within self-devised modes, unfolding melodies with a quiet intensity that traces ancient echoes through a contemporary ear.

Produced and recorded by Randall Dunn, Riparian captures the resonance of the viola d’amore with warmth and clarity, inviting the listener into a meditative space where sound, time, and image flow freely.