CD Review: Tri Nguyen's 'Consonnances'

Tri Nguyen
Consonnances
Lunelios

The music of Vietnam is rarely available to mainstream, world music listeners. However, Tri Nguyen's new album, Consonnances, will hopefully reignite a global passion for the traditional and classical artforms of Vietnam's musical styles and influences. Tri's latest release contains thirteen different tracks of traditional and classical-tinged folk music on the dan tranh (a Vietnamese zither with close ties to the Japanese koto, Chinese guzheng, and the Korean kayagum), as well as classical strings. The contemplative, serene, and beautifully-sweeping melodies capture a very moving and emotive side to instrumental music rarely observed in other settings. Tri's utilization of melodic tones and cheery tempos makes Consonnances shine with inner and outer beauty. The classical undertones resemble Mongolian, Chinese, Japanese, and even American theatrical soundtracks from the 1940's and 50's. At any rate, Tri Nguyen is a welcome addition to the world of music and highlights the importance of Vietnamese music necessary for any music fan of Southeast and East Asia. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Van-Anh Vanessa Vo's 'Three Mountain Pass'

Van-Anh Vanessa Vo
Three Mountain Pass
Innova

After spending decades in Hanoi, Vietnam, dan Tranh and dan Bau master, Van-Anh Vanessa Vo, learned to create moving and contemplative pieces of mostly instrumental work. The San Francisco-based musician plays the dan Tranh, a zither instrument, which resembles the koto in looks and sound. The strings are plucked and notes are created by sliding a bridge across the strings. In addition, the dan Bau is a pitch-bending, monochord, which adds a spritely sound to the mix. Also, the Kronos Quartet add their classical strings to the work. Van-Anh Vanessa Vo also plays the hang, which is a Swiss-made steel drum. The entire work is rather avant-garde and experimental to those unfamiliar with Vietnamese folk music. However, there is something magical about the way the strings tell stories through the sounds. There are only seven songs on the album, but all of the songs are rather long. Fans of Vietnamese folk music and contemporary world music will love Van-Anh Vanessa Vo's reflective and creative songs. ~ Matthew Forss