P.E.P. (Piano and Erhu Project) Vol. 1 Nicole Ge Li, erhu Corey Hamm, piano Formed in 2011, PEP is an exciting Vancouver-based cross-cultural project in which Nicole Ge Li and Corey Hamm commission Canadian, Chinese and other international composers to write new works for erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle) and piano. While many works already exist for the this instrumental combination, Li and Hamm felt that very few explored the many stylistic paths that have flourished over the past century. The first of three discs, PEP (Piano and Erhu Project) Vol. 1 addresses this paucity, showcasing a number of works by a dizzyingly diverse range of composers: Edward Top’s Lamentation, inspired by the tradition of Taiwanese funeral wailers; Jared Miller’s narrative driven Captive; Laurie Radford’s All Over the Map, drawing parallels with his work in electronics; Jocelyn Morlock’s Verdigris, her tribute to all things that bloom at night; Chen Si Ang’s tradition-steeped Twilight; and Roydon Tse’s Blue n’ Grooves and John Oliver’s Eternity Gaze, both inspired by jazz and blues. The collaborative energy between Li and Hamm is a palpable force and their commitment to this new repertoire is a joy to behold, boding well for Volumes 2 & 3.