After more than a decade-long hiatus, Smee Wong returns with his second album, We Both Know Why—a powerful meditation on jazz as a conduit for identity, memory, and resistance.

Blending original compositions with carefully selected jazz standards, the album journeys through the emotional and cultural landscapes of artists who have shaped the genre from its margins. With lyrical sensitivity and fearless improvisation, Smee and his ensemble bring to light the often-overlooked stories of musicians whose voices have been silenced or sidelined by race, gender, sexuality, or cultural displacement.

We Both Know Why was recorded on May 7, 2025, at the Multimedia Center at Lehman College. The trio features Smee Wong on vocals, Chris Farling on saxophones and flute, and Steve Sweeting on piano. The album was recorded and mixed by Steven Buonanotte.