One gets the feeling that the band wants to be taken seriously, and that this trying too hard has made them slightly unhinged. The inclusion of very some peculiar, if not exactly illiterate, English verses about Dionysian pain and ecstasy scattered throughout the album certainly does not help.
— ANDREW C.C. HUANG, CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
Sizhukong (絲竹空)
Paper Eagle (紙鳶)
www.sizhukong.com
The old is new again for Sizhukong (絲竹空), a troupe devoted to recasting traditional Chinese music in a jazz setting. Their second release, Paper Eagle (紙鳶), brings together ancient-sounding melodies and modern grooves.
If China and Brazil were neighbors, this would be music you hear at the border. On the title track, congas and bongos provide light, buoyant rhythms. Chinese flutes, the erhu and the zhongruan (中阮) serve as voices for a slightly wistful yet joyful bossa nova melody. Rainbow Dress Rhapsody rides a samba groove and contains a boisterous and funky interlude featuring the noisy cymbals and bells used in beiguan (北管) music.
The fusion ethos has always played a large role in the work of bandleader, pianist and composer Peng Yu-wen (彭郁雯), a Berklee College of Music graduate. She was a founding member of Metamorphosis, a group known for arranging Taiwanese folk songs in modern jazz styles, including Latin jazz, be-bop and post-bop.
One of Peng’s more interesting compositions is I Remember Formosa (想起思想起), which according to the liner is about “homesickness.” It has a dreamy, impressionistic feel, drawing inspiration from the classic Hengchun folk song Remembering (想起思) and a Chinese melody from the 3rd century. Peng remarks how surprising it is to find how “an ancient song could sound so modern,” and rightly so.
Sizhukong also offers an abstract treatment of Remembering, which will feel like a stretch to those familiar with folk legend Chen Da’s (陳達) version. Chinese flutes are the prominent voices in this short track.
A sense of folk romanticism about Taiwan runs through much of the album. The coastal town of Lugang (鹿港) inspires Deer Harbor, an uplifting piece written by bassist Martijn Vanbuel. Marketplace is an ode to the night market, with subtle grooves provided by South African percussionist and singer Mogauwane Mahloelo. He also adds an interesting vocal touch to the group’s rendition of Hakka Mountain Song.
Sizhukong does an impressive job of drawing out the more accessible elements of classical Chinese music. While this may displease the more traditionally minded, it offers a refreshing new sound for jazz fans.
— DAVID CHEN, STAFF REPORTER
RSS