Show Notes
The gayageum is a plucked Korean zither with a history that stretches to the sixth century. Its first and finest exponent in avant-garde jazz is DoYeon Kim, whose spellbinding debut, Wellspring, reveals a fiercely original voice (in more than one sense). Before a recent show presented by Ars Nova Workshop and the Doris Duke Foundation, Kim joined us to talk about tradition, translation, and the power of self-expression. She even graced us with a solo improvisation on her instrument, which has fast become a vital part of the experimental scene.
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: South Korean jazz and the gayageum
02:15 – Meet DoYeon Kim and her groundbreaking approach
05:12 – Live from Solar Myth: Welcome and birthday surprise
06:25 – The success of Wellspring and finding a larger purpose
09:10 – Discovering the gayageum and falling in love with its sound
13:05 – Dance, movement, and Korean concepts of rhythm
16:25 – Growing up in Korea and discovering cultural identity in Canada
20:00 – Joe Morris and finding her artistic voice
23:45 – Beyond "exotic": Becoming DoYeon Kim, not just a gayageum player
27:15 – Finding her voice—literally—through improvisation
31:05 – Building Wellspring with Tyshawn Sorey, Matt Maneri & Henry Fraser
34:05 – The symbolism and history of the gayageum
36:45 – Exclusive live solo improvisation
38:35 – Post-interview reflections on Wellspring and the Solar Myth performance
41:15 – This I Dig: Josh's Provence wine recommendation
44:05 – This I Dig: Ben Goldberg's ambitious "8 by 8" album project
47:15 – Closing credits
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