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Embryo - “Ni Hau”
Paramashivan Pilai - vocal,
tavil
Chuck Henderson - soprano sax
Christian Burchard - vibes,
percussion, marimbas, cymbal, vocal
Chris Lachotta - bass
Geoff Goodman - mando-cello,
guitar
Xizhi Nie -erhu, muyu, sheng,
gaohu
Yulyus Golombeck - oud,
guitar
Albert Kuvezin - vocal
Lothar Stahl - percussion,
marimba
Jens Pollheide - bass, flute
Roman Bunka - setar, oud
Sascha Alexandrov - bassoon
Jamal Mohmand - harmonium,
vocal
Yusuf Eshag - tabla
Chris Karrer - oud
Mostafa Raafat - nai
Hermann Breuer - trombone
Peter Michael Hamel -
keyboard
(The musicians listed above
play on some and/or all of the songs on this release)
“Ni Hau”
means “you good, that’s how the Han Chinese people say hello to each other. The fluteplayer Huangjia Li was the main
connection to meeting some of the beautiful Chinese instrumentalists and singers who live
all over Europe.
Before that time our
knowledge of Chinese music was pretty limited. We
followed the odd prejudice of Chinese melodies consisting only of five notes, or that the
sound we hear as background music in Chinese restaurants is their music-culture. Meanwhile we understand that the vocabulary
created in Chinese music is just as rich as in the Oriental cultures. There are many different microtonal modes and the
rhythms can almost compete with African beats.
Zizhi Nie, a master musician
and expert of the many different musical languages of China, is the main force to help us
understand the inexhaustible universe of Chinese music.
While we were learning modes and melodies from this far east country he got
used to the ...Embryo-method...of improvisation, no matter if it is Indian or oriental
modes, odd rhythms, various harmonic changes or just free interplay, “Ni Hau” is
the first result of that peaceful and creative exchange!”
I have been listening to this
CD for around a year and it still sounds as good as the first time - it is beautifully
done and every musician plays his instrument to perfection.
I am especially fond of the songs with bassoon and/or sitar. Each song is a bit different yet they blend
together so well. It is Chinese music with a
jazz twist, with african and indian beats, yet traditional and improvised all at the same
time. I could go on about each song
individually, but the liner notes give you detailed information about that, so I will end
this review by saying this CD will appeal to even the most discerning ear and lovers of
every type of music. Need to get this one
for your collection! - Robin Taylor
Embryo
Dollmannstr. 27
D-81541 Munchen
Fax 089-2730875
Distribution: Espangna:
Edition Nova Era, S.C.P., Apartat de Correus 30239 E-08080 Barcelona, N.E.C.D. 4003
Italia: Materiali Sonori; ph:
055-9120363; fx: 055-9120370