GIL OK-YUN, LEE SAENG-GANG, LEE SUNG-JIN & RYU BOK-SUNG / SPIRIT JUNCTION: KOREAN FOLK MUSIC MEETS JAZZ / レコード

韓国の歌謡曲の世界で1960年代から80年代にかけてトップのサックス奏者として活動していたGil Ok-yunが残した韓国の伝統音楽とジャズが融合した韓国ジャズの名盤が初のレコード化!

韓国の歌謡曲の世界で1960年代から80年代にかけてトップのサックス奏者として活動していたGil Ok-yunだが、彼は主に歌謡曲の演奏家としてみなされており、ジャズのプレイヤーとは長年考えられていなかったという。とはいえGilは日本のジャズシーンとも交流がありピアニスト、三保敬太郎やギタリスト、沢田駿吾とも共演し、ジャズの要素を加えた歌謡曲のレコードもリリースしていたが、ついに積年の夢であったジャズ・アルバムという形で結実したのは1980年代にテグム(竹でできた横笛)奏者であるLee Saeng-gangとの出会いによってだった。Lee Saeng-gangのアンサンブルのメンバーであるチャング(韓国の伝統的な打楽器)奏者であるLee Sung-jin、そしてGilの楽団のメンバーだったパーカッショニストのRyu Bok-sungという4名によって即興的に録音された本作は最終的に2つのトラックとして完成した。サックスとテグムという2管の管楽器、そして様々に演奏されるパーカッションによって、今作は東洋と西洋の音楽的融合を果たしたといえるのではないか。CDのみでリリースされていた韓国ジャズの名盤が新たなアートワークとともに初のレコードリリースとなる。

・180gram HQ pressing at RTI
・Housed in deluxe tip-on gatefold jacket
・Remastered from the 1st generation OASIS RECORDS master tape
・Lacquer cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
・Newly illustrated artwork by Tony Stella
・First time on vinyl reissue

Lyrical pop / gayo composer and saxophonist Gil Ok-yun was a central figure in Korea’s golden age of gayo (1960s to 1980s), and has given us countless gems through his collaborations with greats such as Hye Eun-yi and others. Gil never did let go of his jazz roots, and would occasionally release gayo records in the jazz-tinged kayokoku style with the help of musical colleagues during his time in Japan such as Keitaro Miho and Shungo Sawada. It was through his meeting with Korean classical musician Lee Saeng-gang in the 1980s – an era in Korea that was characterized by experimental crossovers of Eastern and Western styles – that Gil’s musical aspirations were finally realized in the form of a ‘proper’ jazz record.

Lee Saeng-gang’s ensemble included himself as daegeum flautist and his brother, the janggu percussionist Lee Sung-jin. They were joined by Gil and a member of his jazz ensemble, the percussionist Ryu Bok-sung. Several live performances eventually led to a recording session. This album, which comprises just two tracks recorded in the form of improv jams, has often been referred to the only work of its kind in Korea’s jazz scene. The mélange of two woodwind instruments (saxophone, daegeum) and various percussion elements (bongos, janggu, jing, & kkwaenggwari) come together to conjure a ritual-like confluence that is spiritual in nature and transcends the boundary between East and West.

For some reason, the album was initially released only on CD – the present reissue is the first-ever vinyl release. Though Gil was a jazzman through and through all his life, it was only in his later years that he finally got a ‘jazz recording’ to his name. Rediscover his legacy and gift to Korea’s jazz scene, restored here in its full glory.