In July 2019, Lao Dan/老丹 went on tour across Japan, performing with legendary Japanese drummer Sabu Toyozumi and pianist Hisaharu Teruuchi in Tokyo and Yokohama.
Live recorded on 5th and 6th juy 2019 at Tokyo Aketa no mise and Yokohama Airegin,Japan.
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<The Wind Continues to Blow>
This album is blooming with energy and full of nature vibes. The three artists accomplished each other in a perfectly relaxed state. Just like being blown by the wind at the same time, they and the instruments mingled and resonated freely in harmony to an enviable state, where both self and the external world evanesce; in a few times driven by passion, they couldn't help but shout out, as if it was a reward from free will.
Mr. Sabu has been to China several times and many fans regard him as a legend. In his performance, we can feel the profound meaning of "nature", which easily dissolves the confusion caused by style, genre, and skill. It gives more freedom to music. Sabu shows us a kind of "innocence", simply leaving the secular world behind.
In 2014, we interviewed Sabu during his first gig in Shenzhen and had it titled "I am a Thick Candle". His obsession with the word "nature" inspired me so greatly that I can still remember it vividly. At almost the same period, Lao Dan had the chance to perform with Sabu during his stay in Shanghai, and that was when he began to think about his own musical direction.
What this album has documented, is this young Chinese artist’s journey of self-discovery - fearless, just like the day half a century ago, when Sabu walked into Chicago's free music scene...
I believe more stories like this are yet to come – if art always favors the brave, this album could be an evidence.
Tu Fei (Curator of OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival, Shenzhen)
Drummer, composer, and producer Janek van Laak creates free and flowing jazz that highlights bold vocals and instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 19, 2024