Saxophonist/flutist Francis Wong has been a part of almost every major development in Asian American Creative Music in the last 10 years, beginning with his debut on pianist Jon Jang's ground breaking recording Are You Chinese or Charlie Chan? (1984). He has performed throughout the US, Canada, Hong Kong and Europe. His work is well documented, having been part of 18 creative music recordings including those by Jang, LA based pianist Glenn Horiuchi, NY saxophonist Fred Ho and his own group, The Great Wall.

As a charter member of Jang's Pan Asian Arkestra and Mark Izu's ensembles, he has participated in seminal collaborations between jazz and taiko (Japanese drums) and jazz and Chinese traditional instruments. He has been a student of both Chinese and Japanese traditional music, including being a founding member of the San Francisco Gagaku Society.

As a saxophonist, he is recognized as carrying on the legacy of that instrument in American music, owing a particular debt to the work of John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and the contemporary master, David Murray. In addition to the African American masters, he is inspired by the late Native American saxophonist Jim Pepper and the respected Persian American saxophonist and scholar Hafez Modirzadeh. San Francisco Examiner critic Philip Elwood has named Wong "...among the great saxophonists of his generation."

As a leader and artistic voice in his own right, Wong has founded the ensembles Great Wall, the eight member Asian Improv aRts Composers Workshop (AirShop) and a new trio Ming ("light"). He has been involved in numerous interdisciplinary collaborations with poet/performer Genny Lim, choreographer/performance artist Sachiko Nakamura, numerous CAC Roster artists/ensembles, including The World of Tales (A Theater for Young Audiences) and the San Francisco Mime Troupe. He is a respected teacher and community leader, being awarded grants from the CAC Artist in Residency program for the years 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Discography

* As a Leader

o 1993 Great Wall, Asian Improv
o 1995 Ming, Asian Improv (upcoming in late August)
o 1995 Chicago Time Code, Asian Improv (upcoming in late August)

* As sideman

o 1984 Jon Jang, Are You Chinese or Charlie Chan? RPM Records
o 1985 Fred Ho, Bamboo That Snaps Back, Atlantic/Finnadar
o 1987 Jon Jang, The Ballad or the Bullet?, Asian Improv
o 1988 Glenn Horiuchi, Next Step, Asian Improv
o 1988 Eddie Gale, Live in San Jose, Rooftop
o 1989 President's Breakfast, President's Breakfast, DiscLexia
o 1990 Jon Jang, Never Give Up!, Asian Improv
o 1992 Glenn Horiuchi, Oxnard Beet, Soul Note (Italy)
o 1992 Jon Jang, Self-Defense!, Soul Note (Italy)
o 1993 Jon Jang, Tiananmen!, Soul Note (Italy)
o 1993 Genny Lim, Arkaeology, Asian Improv
o 1994 Fred Ho, Underground Railroad to My Heart, Soul Note
o 1995 Glenn Horiuchi, Kenzo's Vision, Asian Improv
o 1995 Glenn Horiuchi, Calling is it and now, Soul Note (upcoming)
o 1996 Glenn Horiuchi, Fair Play, Soul Note (upcoming)

Awards

* 1996-98 Named to California Arts Council Touring Roster
* 1992-95 Recipient, California Arts Council Artist in Communities Grant
* 1994 Recipient, Commissioning Grant from Fleishhacker Foundation
* 1990 Recipient, Project Grant from Zellerbach Family Fund to support
collaborations with Genny Lim