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Sungjae Son: Near East Quartet
ByOpener "Ewah" features, big overdriven guitar with delay (reminiscent of ECM label mate Jakob Bro), sometimes in unison with the leader's tenor saxophone. The rubato rhythm sounds like many recordings on the label, but "Mot" makes the traditional Korean connection more explicit. The first of three Korean traditional songs in the set, it is a gentle ballad which centers around Kim's delicate vocal. "Baram" is not traditional, but Son sets lyrics from the Korean pansori storytelling tradition (as he also does on closer "Jinyang"). The atmospheric guitar and bass clarinet serve mainly as accompaniment: here as elsewhere on the album, the emphasis is on the ensemble. And there is no distinction between the sound of the traditional material and Son's compositions. Like the recent Shinya Fukumori Trio album For 2 Akis (ECM, 2018), the fusion between jazz improvisation and non-Western music is natural and complete.
"Galggabuda" is another traditional tune, but it includes both a tenor saxophone opening theme and a brief, contemplative solo. "Garam" finds Chung playing chordal figures without electronics to accompany Son's gentle tenor saxophonethen taking an electronic solo at the end with more big echo swells. "Pa:do" (the last of the traditionals) begins with almost heavy metal guitar chords. Then a regular drum beat is joined by rhythm guitar, resulting in the most conventionally rhythmic music on the album. So while the sound is consistent, there is variety. And a unique blend of traditional Korean music with contemporary jazz: one which becomes more enthralling with each listen.
Track Listing
Ewah; Mot; Baram; Galggabuda; Garam; Pa:do; Ebyul; Jinyang.
Personnel
Sungjae Son
saxophone, tenorSungjae Son: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Suwuk Chung: guitar; Yulhee Kim: vocal, percussion; Soojin Suh: drums; Sori Choi, traditional Korean percussion (3).
Album information
Title: Near East Quartet | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: ECM Records
Comments
About Sungjae Son
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
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