with no borders

Here you are just reading about music while some guys come up with music about what they're reading.  Steve Vai and a bunch of the players here spent alot of time reading sci-fi, in particular. I can relate; in fact, some science fiction I wrote got published by Double Dragon Press this year and when the time came to make a promotional video teaser, it felt pretty natural to include my Winter Remix (Lori's Theme) from Electric Vivaldi, a 2007 Newport Classic release, for some background ambience.  I think the combination of futuristic electronica and antiquated classical guitar helps set the mood for Trigram Cluster Funk - especially because it was also inspired by the age-old Chinese martial art of kung fu.

One of the earliest novels involving kung fu was actually written in the 16th century by the legendary Wu Cheng'en.   Saiyuki  is the Japanese name for his "Journey to the West," and this tome would also spark the imagination of French-Vietnamese guitar visionary Nguyên Lê.

"I chose to use the « Journey to the West » as an image for travels, both real and imaginary, which bring us together to create this music,"  writes Lê.  "Passing from Viêt-Nam to India through Japan, we weave the threads of silk which portray an Asia with no borders. ... The West viewed by the Chinese novel was India, but right now the center is exploding: it becomes plural, Dialogue has began and connections are opening up!"

When it comes a style that can't be imitated and huge ears that take in everything from old to new to "Is that even music?", this guy is pretty unique in the annals of the instrument.  In this clip from the Saiyuki Project, Lê performs no less than ritual exorcism upon an Indian tabla master and a Japanese koto enchantress, before battling the inner demons.

 

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