One of the most exciting milestones in a musician’s career is their first recording, and in Tenor Saxophonist Tim Lin’s case, his first public offering bears the hallmarks of an emerging artist stepping onto the scene for the long haul.

The evocative title chosen by the Taiwanese-American saxophonist, “Romance in Formosa” is as much a play on words (the record is a standards album composed of 5 romantic gems drawn from that mighty repertorial benchmark, The Great American Songbook as well as a Sonny Rollins tune and an original composition a piece) as it embodies the strong, eternal values that serve as the pillars of Tim’s burgeoning artistry. Heritage (Taiwan was once the “Republic of Formosa”), Romance (one phrase from Tim’s horn reveals this) and Tradition (the depth of his tone transports one to the golden age of the Jazz art form). However, one mustn’t confuse Tim’s respect and consideration for Jazz and its history with the stodgy traditionalism so prevalent in his generation of straight ahead jazz musicians. Mahler once mused that “Tradition is not the worship of ashes but the Preservation of Fire” and after my first listen, it was apparent that I had just experienced the work of a true Keeper of the Flame.

-Aaron Johnson, NYC Jazz Saxophonist