Korean born, Brooklyn based composer/conductor Lee meets head-on the challenges of melding Western music with indigenous Korean folk rhythms - and doing it seamlessly. Nine original compositions imaginatively arranged and performed by eighteen of NYC's finest jazz musicians make for an outstanding, contemporary orchestral performance.
Think Gil Evans, George Russell, Bob Graettinger or maybe, in today's terms, Maria Schneider and you get an idea where Lee is coming from.
Each of the nine compositions reflect a significant moment in her life. Philosophies, tragedy, grief, family, hope, death and more all reflected in her music and portrayed by the various soloists with Akimusire particularly outstanding on his two track guest appearance. If it comes across as a jazz meets classical third stream (whatever became of that term?) then it does so in a manner that will only be alien to the most musically bigoted on either side of the ever narrowing divide.
An album that becomes more and more compelling which each listening. Lance.
Available from tomorrow (May 31).
Surrender; We Are All From the Same Stream; Born in 1935; Eight Letters; Karma; You Are my Universe; Nowhere Home; In the Darkest Night; Crossing the River of Grace.
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