Skip to content

Kang Tae Hwan

Country: South Korea

Kang Tae Hwan is a Korean alto saxophonist born in 1944 and one of the pioneers of free jazz in South Korea. He started on clarinet as a child and took up the alto saxophone at art high school. His solo playing relies on circular breathing and multiphonics, and several of his records document concerts in Japan. Kang Tae Hwan formed his free jazz trio in 1978. With pianist Masahiko Satoh and percussionist Midori Takada he played in the trio Ton-Klami, documented on Prophecy of Nue (2017).

Microcosm
*2026 stock* Recording Kang Taehwan’s music, his underground practice room has been the place where he has spent the most time with his saxophone and remains his most familiar space. The concrete and brick finishes, high ceiling, and asymmetrical structure in all directions create a unique reverberation. Because the shape of the room is irregular, the acoustic balance shifts constantly from side to side and front to back depending on the pitch. Although Kang’s performance is on a single instrume…
Live at Cafe Amores
Kang Tae Hwan plays alto sax with a rawness that's usually reserved for the tenor – a fantastic sound that really comes through beautifully here in this solo set of improvisations! The material was recorded around the same time as Kang's brilliant (and few) recordings for the Japanese market – and the long-overdue presentation of this performance comes as a much-needed accompaniment to his small catalog – the kind of record that boldly, brilliantly documents a completely unique talent – one whos…
An Eternal Moment
Edition of 300 copies. Lovely archival recording by this incredible due comprised of Midori Takada - percussion and Kang Tae Hwan - alto saxophone. Recorded live on the 14nd March 1995 at Café Amores, Hofu, Yamaguchi, Japan by Takeo Suetomi. Concert produced by Takeo Suetomi. Mastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios. Photos by Akihiro Matsumoto. Design by Oskaras Anosovas. 
Ton-Klami Prophesy of Nue
Lovely archival recording by this incredible trio comprised of Midori Takada - marimba, percussion Kang Tae Hwan - alto saxophone Masahiko Satoh - piano. Recorded live on the 27th May, 1995 at Design Plaza Hofu, Yamaguchi, Japan