Tori Ensemble | The South

Tori Ensemble is a world music project ensemble which originally was founded in 2007 by HEO Yoon-jeong(geomun-go) and other Korean traditional artists such as KANG Kwon-soon(jeongga), MIN Young-chi(daegum, janggu) and American free jazz artists Ned Rothenberg(clarinet, saxophone), Satoshi Takeishi(percussion), Erik Friedlander(cello). They perform in Korea and abroad actively as Tori Ensemble, which now consists of 4 Korean Traditional Musicians by scouting LEE Suk-joo(piri), and TORI Project, American free jazz artists in 2010.
The word Tori derives from saturi (meaning dialect), a musical term denoting “local style” in Korean traditional music. The group aims to pursue a new sound that can internalize a variety of Tori in traditional music, as well as harmonize with other Toris in world music. . The term also suggests the great diversity of Korean regional music and stylistic tendencies that is found in countryside with a small geographical size. Such diversity is reinterpreted by artists who embrace traditional music as well as jazz, reflecting composed and improvised creations. It especially focuses on improvisation as an important aspect of Korean traditional music and attempts to create a unique language through Asian intuition and musical idiom. The music of Tori Ensemble based on Korean musical traditions, will offer a fresh, new sound to audience. Tori Ensemble will offer an experience that broadens the appreciation of the music audiences worldwide by presenting an “ancient” tradition within a modern setting.
Tori Ensemble was selected at the 2010 PAMS Showcase and was invited to 2010 WOMEX opening concert, and is now planning to perform in the 2011,2012 WOMAD(UK,AUS,NZ) Showcase. Tori World Project had the world premiere of “Five Directions” at Asia Society (2008, New York) and Freer Gallery (2008, Smithonian Museum, Washington D.C). The Washington Post has acclaimed them- "a work that reinvents traditional music with such authenticity, power and originality is astounding" (Washington Post 2008. 11). This was followed by a series of successful performance at Kay Art Hall (2008, New York), The Stone (2008, New York), Merkin Hall (World Music Institute present, 2009, New York), The Roulette (2009, New York), Crossroads Music (2009, Philadelphia), RASA centre for World Cultures(2011, Utrecht in Netherland), BIMHUIS(2011, Amsterdam in Netherland), Sendesaal-Bremen(2011, Bremen in Germany),US Tour (2011,December).HEO Yoon-jeong (Geomun-go)
KANG Kwon-soon (Vocal)
MIN Young-chi (daeguem, janggu)
LEE Suk-joo (Piri)