JoDongIk

조동익 : Jo DongIk ( - ); Synthesizer, Bass, Vocal

Related : LeeByeongU EoDdeonNal

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1 Biography

Jo Dong-ik 조동익 趙 東 翌

An accomplished musician, probably best known as a session bass player, leader of Jang Pillsoon's band and the younger brother of Jo Dong-jin. He has released a number of solo project albums and has a loyal following. One journalist told me that Dong-ik's first album is considered a classic by many. My feeling is that he is forced by the styles of his higher profile associates to seek his own unique musical identity and space but doesn't quite feel free to choose from . His songs, as performed by Jang Pillsoon are rendered in folk and rock styles but his solo work defies classification. If anything a jazz label could be applied but it would be misleading to rely too heavily on that. There are clearly traces of rock, funk, folk as well as jazz experimentation.
His latest album, Movie ('98), is weird. Imagine you had a blank tape that you use for recording single songs from the radio, TV, live performances... any source! That's what Movie is like. A cluttered work-bench of music. The album starts out with an interesting funky piece but changes to a laid back tune that could almost be elevator music. (Sure it's more complex and not catchy like real elevator music.) The album proceeds with similar style changes and twists from modern-semi-classical to punk but is dominated by mostly soft instrumental music. I can imagine that many of the songs could be used as soundtrack material for (atmospheric moments rather than themes) and this maybe the intended theme of the album. While several tracks are growing on me, the mix is so eclectic, that I can't see it appealing to anyone but fans. If you intend to buy this I recommend you spend the extra bucks for the CD version. You'll probably get more play out of it if you can program your own choice of songs.

Dongkyong ('93 - '94) is a much more consistent but less adventurous collection. The style is more like a kind of jazz but gradually moves into something that could be categorized as new-age and a few vocal tracks towards the end give it some folk flavour. The overall quality is soft and the album comes across as the sort of music you might hear in a hotel as the piped music or on television while they screen a test pattern (Do they still have those?) - music that is trying to be cool but unobtrusive and inoffensive. I enjoyed the later half of the album more when there is more experimentation and vocal tracks. Dong-ik's singing is soft and breathy in a higher range. It is pleasant but strikes me as someone that doesn't sing a lot and isn't really comfortable doing so. Dong-ik is very soft-spoken and my guess is he feels more comfortable expressing himself musically through his fretless bass.

My personal tastes tend to music with the warmth of human voice or raw-ness given by human touch. Dong-ik seems to be focusing on acceptance as a serious musician through precision and to some degree complexity. Therefore, I prefer his work with other people but his solo albums are of a high standard and I can see why he has a strong following.

Hana Music Stable (Korean text) Hana Music Unofficial Fan page (Korean text) --MichaelGlass

2 Movie(1998)

CD:2069872

★★★★☆ Movie Score, Gayo, Techno

JoDongIk is the best rock session player in Korea. During 80s and 90s most important albums showed through his hand. And he was the member of EoDdeonNal most brilliant folk/rock duo in 80s. This album is compilation his 2 movie score- JangMiBitInSaeng and No.3. It contains from piano solo to techno, also GaYo. On this album you can hear very clean sound through his arranging and mastering. He is also best music director. On this album you can taste one of the edge of KoreanRockDotCom.

3 Discography

EoDdeonNal

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