GUO GAN & LOUP BARROW
The Kite

fy 8228

885016822828
Felmay Records

 

Unusual and unexpected meeting between the GUO GAN’s traditional erhu (two-stringed Chinese violin) and the rare and unconventional instruments (Hammered Dulcimer, Hang, Din Pah, chromatic Mbira, Cristal Baschet, Glass Harp) here in the hands of LOUP BARROW. Mysterious tools sometimes more exotic than the Chinese erhu, sources of ancestral sounds, rich in contemporary charms able to contextualize uniquely not only original compositions, but also the classical pieces of Chinese tradition. The CD program includes in fact a repertoire ranging from pieces of classical Chinese music to original songs composed by the two artists. A music with deep emotional contact with the listeners accompanying them in unexplored territories full of echoes with classic and contemporary sounds.

Unusual and unexpected meeting between the GUO GAN’s traditional erhu (two-stringed Chinese violin) and the rare and unconventional instruments (Hammered Dulcimer, Hang, Din Pah, chromatic Mbira, Cristal Baschet, Glass Harp) here in the hands of LOUP BARROW. Mysterious tools sometimes more exotic than the Chinese erhu, sources of ancestral sounds, rich in contemporary charms able to contextualize uniquely not only original compositions, but also the classical pieces of Chinese tradition. The CD program includes in fact a repertoire ranging from traditional impressionistic pieces of classical Chinese to original songs composed by the two artists. You hear the new version of the classic ride (Saima) from the GUO GAN repertoire. A track that exceptionally tests the virtuosity of the erhu player, here presented in an ocean of ancestral sounds and mysterious evocations of outer spaces creating a music full of visual elements. A music with deep emotional contact with the listeners accompanying them in unexplored territories full of echoes with classic and contemporary sounds.

GUO GAN began studying the erhu with his father Guo Jun Ming, renowned virtuoso of the instrument. In 2000, he moved to France to study and achieve the Master at the National School of Music of Fresnes in Paris. During this period, he founded the group "Dragon Jazz" the first Chinese jazz band in Paris. During his rich career he has worked with many musicians and artists in different parts of the world, travelling to more than 70 countries. He played in about 2000 concerts and has appeared in more than 40 albums.
GUO GAN has performed in many important concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Hall in New York, Chicago Symphony Hall, Royal Music Hall in Geneva, Paris City Hall and Palais des Congrès in Paris and many others. He has played with many important musicians such as Lang Lang, Yvan Cassar, Didier Lockwood and Jean François Zygel. In particular his concerts with Lang Lang in Europe and the United States have not only been highly appreciated and praised by the media, but also gained a significant popularity among music lovers around the world. He has also credits in projects in world music, classical, jazz, and ballet companies and opera fields. Television and radio programs have conducted interviews and broadcast programs on GUO GAN, referring to him as the master of the two strings (erhu). In the eyes of the French media, it has become the ambassador of the Chinese erhu in Europe

Musician, composer, sound manipulator, author and singer, violinist for training LOUP BARROW is also curious collector of rare and unusual instruments (among others Hammered Dulcimer, Hang, Din Pah, chromatic Mbira, Cristal Baschet, Glass Harp) using to translate into music, simply, emotions actually very complex. A direct way to reach an audience attentive and ever-growing that is involved in an introspective journey to this kind of artisan who weaves sound harmonious and indecipherable melodies inspired by his inner world.

Over the years, LOUP BARROW, has worked among others with Thomas Bloch, (Tom Waits, Radiohead, Gorillaz…); Pauline Haas, harp (French classical music awards 2012…); Sebastien Leon Agneessens (The Conference of the Birds, Golden Horns…); Manu Delago, hang, drums (Bjork…); Nadishana Vladiswar, multi-instrumentalist (Hadouk Trio, Steve Shean); Dominique A, french singer and composer (Winner French music awards 2013); Serge Teyssot-Gay, guitarist (Noir Désir, Saul Williams…); Olivier Melano, (Miossec…); Guo Gan,(Lang Lang, Didier Lockwood, Ibrahim Maalouf..); David Kuckhermann (Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Dead Can Dance…

The atypical experiences of his artistic career, his profound musicality at the service of sounds and unusual atmospheres allowed him to fit in and feel at ease in musical contexts that are very different from each other.