Nihm

Nihm Artist: Okkyung Lee
Label: Tzadik
Category: Music



Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 702397771524
EAN: 0702397771524
ASIN: B0008191MY


Release Date: 2005-05-24

Related Categories:

Avant Garde & Free Jazz Avant Garde & Free Jazz
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Jazz | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Pop | Styles | Music
General General
Related | Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. On A Windy Day
  2. That Undeniable Empty Feeling
  3. Story Of You And Me
  4. Anything You Say, Anything You (Don't) Say
  5. Returning Point
  6. Home
  7. Deep Blue Knot
  8. Closed Window
  9. Sky
  10. Tuesday Morning

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great debut........2005-05-31

Downtown cellist Okkyung Lee's debut recording is an enjoyable and well executed record. Utilizing a number of downtown musicians to great effect, Lee moves through several styles, infusing many of the downtown forms with a sense of brokenness and discord. Her harmonies tend to us an overt dissonance, while her playing is infused with an almost lamenting passion or a sense of animosity. It is this conveyance of emotion so powerfully throughout the record that really helps it stand up nicely.

Opening with a moody percussion feature (forJohn Hollenbeck, who steals the show at the drum kit on every track he appears on) ("On a Windy Day"), the feeling of discord is obvious from the start. As Hollenbeck splatters, tinkles, and explodes his way through the piece (supported delicately but whirling and haze from electronics manipulator Ikue Mori), a sense of unhappiness is conveyed. Whether this is due to compositional strength or performance is somewhat difficult to discern, Hollenbeck's work sounds pretty mixed as read and improvised.

Still, if performance is the strength, then its the leader who shines in emotional displays on "That Undeniable Empty Feeling" (a Masadaish jazz piece), standout "Story of You and Me" (a real standout duet with harpist Shelley Burgon-- Lee sounds, even on the most beautiful lines, to be filled with tension) and "Deep Blue Knot" (an explosive free improv duet with drummer Tim Barnes). And for compositional power, look no further than powder-keg "Closed Window", threatening to explode but never quite getting there and solo (with overdubs) cello piece "Sky".

There's moments that don't quite live up to the rest-- "Returning Point" doesn't seem to go anywhere, and "Home" is expertly performed by pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and Mori, but really isn't a spectacular piece (its a traditional piece arranged by Lee), but for the most part, this is a great recording. Recommended for downtown music fans.

Music CD:

  1. Sketches on Standards ~ Stan Kenton
  2. 1st Annual Smoothie Award Winners (2 Disc Set) ~ Various Artists
  3. Leaving Home ~ David Berkman
  4. Live! ~ Pat Martino
  5. Country Preacher "Live" at Operation Breadbasket ~ Cannonball Adderley Quartet
  6. For The Family
  7. Caribbean Jazz Project: Island Stories ~ Various Artists
  8. Just Doing What I Do ~ Marcus Johnson
  9. Mance ~ Junior Mance's Floating Jazz Festival Trio
  10. Blue and Sentimental ~ Arnett Cobb, Red Garland Trio

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Sexual for Elizabeth ~ Five Deez

Happy Nowhere ~ Dog's Eye View

Raise Your Hands: Live ~ Reamonn

Time Out! Time in for Them ~ T.H.E.M.

On the Night

Surfing with Joe ~ Original Soundtrack

Afterlive: Live 1994-1997 ~ Mirage

2046 (Enhanced) (Collector's Edition) ~ Original Soundtrack

Street Money ~ Iconz

Drop the Bass (Death of a Bass Head) ~ M.C. Madness