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Nguyen Le: Overseas

By Don Phipps
November 16, 2019
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Robust and compelling, guitarist and composer

Nguyen Le

guitar, electric
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Nguyen Le's Overseas continues his explorations of hybrid jazz—a jazz which combines traditional Vietnamese music with a personal style of jazzy soulful funk. Ancient instruments and urban rhythms collide, creating a kaleidoscopic musical mix that is at times hopping, like a busy Ho Chi Minh City avenue, and at times peaceful, like a morning sunrise over the ocean on an deserted tropical beach.

Le composed the music as part of a performance project by the "Cirque-Nouveau," a dance, acrobatic, and music group which celebrates Vietnamese tradition with a modern emphasis. Le's music, like the art that adorns the CD, juggles diverse influences as it migrates through its changes. "Mother Goddess—Red Sky" explodes with color, a twirling dance showcasing

Ngô H?ng Quang

" data-original-title="" title="">Ng? H?ng Quang's vocal over classical percussion. "People of the Waterfalls" features some delightful work by

Illya Amar

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Illya Amar on vibraphone, and the percussion adds a rural mix behind

Chris Minh Doky

bass
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Minh Doky's funky virtuosic bass solo. "The Offering" is a musical canoe ride through the jungle—replete with bird songs in the canopy overhead -and Le's clean and unadorned guitar lines float like pink lotus blossoms on a pond.

"Tribal Symmetry" offers stunning flute work and bamboo percussion. Le joins the effort on electric bass, which alternates with percussion instruments and Quang's lute.

Cuong Vu

trumpet
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Cuong Vu's trumpet and Le Thi Van Mai's d��n tranh zither can be heard on "Overseas Suite—The Quest," but the spotlight is squarely on Le as he burns it on a scorching solo. The percussionists take over on "Overseas Suite—Beat Rice Box," and their rhythmic intensity propels the music forward.

The whole of Nguyen Le's Overseas is like a wonderful audio journey aboard a Nha Trang Boat meandering through a rural and urban Vietnamese landscape. Spiritual, urbane, and exotic, this journey is one not to miss.

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Track Listing

Noon Moon; People Of The Waterfalls; The Offering; Tribal Symmetry; Overseas Suite �C Origin; Overseas Suite - The Quest; Overseas Suite - Square Earth; Overseas Suite - ?u Co, The Mountain Fairy; Overseas Suite - Beat Rice Box; Overseas Suite - In The Warm Rain; Overseas Suite - Year Of The Dog; Mother Goddess - Yellow Earth; Mother Goddess - Red Sky.

Personnel

Nguyen Le

guitar, electric

Nguy��n L��: electric & bass guitars, electronics; Ng? H?ng Quang: vocals, d��n nhi fiddle, d��n m?i jaws harp, d��n b?u monocorde & d��n t��nh lute; Illya Amar: vibraphone, MalletKAT, T��rung bamboo xylophone; Trung Bao: beatbox; Alex Tran: percussion & drums; L�� Thi Van Mai: d��n tranh zither; Nguy��n Ho��ng Anh: bamboo s��o flute: Minh D��n M?i: d��n do bamboo percussion; Cuong Vu: trumpet; Chris Minh Doky: acoustic bass.

Album information

Title: Overseas | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: ACT Music

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