Harmony of Gugak and Jazz - Black String
- 6 years ago
There’s a band that is pushing the boundaries of Korea’s traditional music, gugak.
With a touch of jazz, this band has quickly mesmerized music lovers all over the world, including the U.S. where jazz originated.
Let’s explore the inspiring artistry of Black String.
Late in the evening, we caught up with Black String practicing their music before their first U.S. concert tour of the year.
The band has been giving countless performances abroad, but they seem more determined this time.
Black String was formed in 2011 as part of a government-sponsored Korea-UK cultural exchange program named "U.K. Connection Project.”
Composed of renowned geomungo player and the leader Heo Yoon-jeong , daegeum player Lee A-ram , and electric guitarist Jean Oh, percussionist and singer Hwang Min-wang
The band has been expanding the realm of gugak with jazz.
"It’s hard to imagine mixing an electric guitar with traditional Korean music, but it creates a wide variety of sounds that beautifully harmonize with Korean traditional instruments. It can virtually create all kinds of sounds out there."
Black String’s unique, experimental artistry is received very well outside Korea.
The band performed at a total of 50 festivals in 20 countries.
"If we had focused solely on traditional music, we wouldn’t have been able to break the conventional preconceptions that foreign traditional music typically has in the minds of listeners.However, we give a contemporary twist to Korean traditional music,
which I believe is the key factor that has enchanted non-Korean audiences. "
There have been many attempts to combine gugak with western music. However, what really distinguishes Black String from others is that they present the beautiful harmony of authentic gugak and western music with an improvisatory flair.
"I believe music involves more philosophy than technical skill. I interact with the music, and that process allows me to express
that interaction in many different ways from the norm."
“Song for Heaven” best exemplifies the band’s trademark musicality.
The sorrow, mournful sound of Korea is accompanied by an electric guitar, sounding as deep as the ocean...
Plus, the geomungo, Korean zither, harmonizes with the two beautifully with its fluid sound. This song amazed the whole world with its unique sound unheard before.
"We speak a different language and perform very strange music with strange instruments.
However, when we sing, there is something that ties us together with non-Korean audiences beyond language barriers."
Black String blazed like a comet across the horizon of the world’s jazz and achieved many fascinating accomplishments abroad.
In 2016, the band signed a contract with the prestigious German jazz label ACT as the first Asian act.
Five months after signing the contract, Black String released their first album called “Mask Dance.”
The world music magazine “Songlines” praised the album, proclaiming Black String one of most attention-grabbing ban
With a touch of jazz, this band has quickly mesmerized music lovers all over the world, including the U.S. where jazz originated.
Let’s explore the inspiring artistry of Black String.
Late in the evening, we caught up with Black String practicing their music before their first U.S. concert tour of the year.
The band has been giving countless performances abroad, but they seem more determined this time.
Black String was formed in 2011 as part of a government-sponsored Korea-UK cultural exchange program named "U.K. Connection Project.”
Composed of renowned geomungo player and the leader Heo Yoon-jeong , daegeum player Lee A-ram , and electric guitarist Jean Oh, percussionist and singer Hwang Min-wang
The band has been expanding the realm of gugak with jazz.
"It’s hard to imagine mixing an electric guitar with traditional Korean music, but it creates a wide variety of sounds that beautifully harmonize with Korean traditional instruments. It can virtually create all kinds of sounds out there."
Black String’s unique, experimental artistry is received very well outside Korea.
The band performed at a total of 50 festivals in 20 countries.
"If we had focused solely on traditional music, we wouldn’t have been able to break the conventional preconceptions that foreign traditional music typically has in the minds of listeners.However, we give a contemporary twist to Korean traditional music,
which I believe is the key factor that has enchanted non-Korean audiences. "
There have been many attempts to combine gugak with western music. However, what really distinguishes Black String from others is that they present the beautiful harmony of authentic gugak and western music with an improvisatory flair.
"I believe music involves more philosophy than technical skill. I interact with the music, and that process allows me to express
that interaction in many different ways from the norm."
“Song for Heaven” best exemplifies the band’s trademark musicality.
The sorrow, mournful sound of Korea is accompanied by an electric guitar, sounding as deep as the ocean...
Plus, the geomungo, Korean zither, harmonizes with the two beautifully with its fluid sound. This song amazed the whole world with its unique sound unheard before.
"We speak a different language and perform very strange music with strange instruments.
However, when we sing, there is something that ties us together with non-Korean audiences beyond language barriers."
Black String blazed like a comet across the horizon of the world’s jazz and achieved many fascinating accomplishments abroad.
In 2016, the band signed a contract with the prestigious German jazz label ACT as the first Asian act.
Five months after signing the contract, Black String released their first album called “Mask Dance.”
The world music magazine “Songlines” praised the album, proclaiming Black String one of most attention-grabbing ban