Forbidden West
Robert Lee; various artists
In The Sun Records ITSCD 102 (inthesunrecords.com/robert-lee-forbidden-west)
Within a country that celebrates multiculturalism as Canada does, it’s truly great to see a musician with a diverse cultural heritage diving into where his roots come from. Such is the focus of Canadian-born Korean bassist and composer Robert Lee’s newest record. In his own words, he has “delved deeper into exploring his identity as a Korean Canadian, questioning what it means to simultaneously straddle two contrasting cultural identities.” He has showcased this exploration in a beautiful way in his compositions. The album features some renowned players, such as Allison Au on the saxophone, Andrew McCarthy on drums and Todd Penteny on piano. It is also a treat to see several Asian-identifying musicians featured, adding to the authenticity of the cultural experience of the tunes.
What really stands out is a certain openness and soul-baring quality, present throughout the album. It is as if Lee is exposing a part of his soul and being, exploring his multifaceted cultural background and the struggles - but mostly positivity - which comes out of trying to balance two cultures simultaneously. Lee manages to prolifically weave elements of Korean traditional music into his modern compositions, the zither-like sound of the gayageum, played by Roa Lee, intertwining with expressive bass melodies, soaring saxophone solos and captivating piano chords which are reminiscent of the pentatonic scale often used in Asian cultures. If you’re looking for a true cultural and musical experience in one, this album is for you.
