老丹
老丹 - improvisational saxophonist and flutist
Person from China
Genres: free improvisation, free jazz, jazz, chinese, folk, experimental, improvisation
五條人
About 老丹
老丹（Lao Dan） is currently the most active Chinese musician in China's improvisation scene, versatile in both literature and martial arts, calm and dynamic. He mainly plays the dizi and saxophone and has dabbled in wind instruments from multiple countries, to the point that he often pulls out an instrument during performances whose name you couldn’t put your finger on. He is one of the most common faces at Tomorrow Music Festival（明天音乐节） and OCT-LOFT International Jazz Festival（OCT-LOFT国际爵士音乐节）; even when he doesn't perform, he will sit guard at Old Heaven Bookstore and spar with masters from various backgrounds. Every time he travels south from Hangzhou, his visible skill noticeably grows. Therefore, music fans in southern China were likely the first group to fully learn about and be won over by him. In addition, Lao Dan is one of the rare Chinese musicians with an international perspective (李剑鸿 might be another), and he can connect with and be recognized by music fans and practitioners from other countries. Besides touring overseas, he has releases in Japan, the United States, France, the UK, and Lithuania. Lao Dan began his musical career at age eight on saxophone and later started learning the bamboo flute. In 2007, he was admitted to 沈阳音乐学院 (SYCM) into the bamboo flute program with excellent results. He once served as principal of the flute section of the SYCM Youth National Orchestra. After leaving SYCM, Lao Dan no longer pursued a traditional professional career as a “system” institutional professional musician; instead, he became an independent musical worker. Through more than twenty years of performance, he has developed a unique understanding of wind instruments. Lao Dan persists in his own views and playing methods for the bamboo flute and its sound. He has also explored and researched various ethnic blowing instruments, but the bamboo flute and saxophone remain the main vehicles of his music. Lao Dan continually explores the artistic expressive limits of these two instruments, expressing freedoms, vitality, and novel sound-creation methods not found in traditional musical conventions. His improvisations often give audiences an overwhelming sonic experience, a collision between East and West, and between ancient and modern. In 2017, Lao Dan collaborated with saxophonists Colin Webster and Rick Countryman to compose pieces for the album 《Saxophone Anatomy》 , released by the Japanese label Armageddon Nova. In 2018, he released a solo bamboo flute album titled 《逐云追梦》 on Modern Sky’s world music sublabel. That same year, WV Sorcerer Productions released his first personal saxophone album 《思维扭曲的行动体》, which was recorded in the Qinglong Cave tunnel in Hangzhou, where the natural cavern reverb enhanced Lao Dan’s intense, imaginative breathing and charisma. In 2014, Lao Dan formed the avant-rock band “红领巾 Red Scarf” with guitarist 李星 and drummer 邓博宇. Released by Modern Sky’s “Bad Head,” the band issued their first album in 2016 and a second album 《他们知道我们知道他们在说谎》 in 2018. In 2017, Lao Dan, 邓博宇, and Japanese trumpeter 類家心平 burned it down on the album 《燃烧的书店》. This was a wild improvisational performance held at Old Heaven Bookstore during the OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival in Shenzhen in 2017. In 2018, Lao Dan began collaborating with multi-instrumentalist 李带菓 (Li Daiguo). The two called themselves “奔波儿灞与霸波儿奔” (Benbo'erba & Babo'Benben, abbreviated “BBB & BBB”), a name taken from the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West. BBB & BBB base their music on whimsical improvisation, woven through Li Daiguo’s eccentric pipa and Lao Dan’s multifaceted bamboo flute backbone. In 2019, they released their debut cassette 《奔波儿灞与霸波儿奔》 on “Old Heaven,” a live recording made at Old Heaven bookstore in December 2018. In April 2018, Lao Dan toured the United States, performing with local musicians in four cities. In July 2019, he toured Japan, giving a solo concert in Hakodate and performing in Tokyo and Yokohama with legendary Japanese drummer “豊住芳三郎”. A recording of Lao Dan’s performance in Willimantic, Connecticut, featuring saxophonist “Paul Flaherty”, percussionist “Randall Colbourne”, and bassist “Damon Smith”, was released in 2019 by Family Vineyard. The label’s website notes: “Even within the blurred boundary of international improvised/jazz music, Lao Dan’s voice is very unique. He is immersed in native tradition, yet he avidly dissolves these boundaries with ecstatic intensity and haunting melodies.” Participated in recorded albums (compiled and published by 智斗, original text complete with pictures, ordered from newest to oldest): 老丹《未发表 2015》 Label: 凸兀ToWhom Catalogue number: TW-003 Release date: 2024.01.01 Early unreleased audio material from 老丹. It’s said to be the first record worldwide in 2024 — such a cheeky stunt can only come from 凸兀’s 熊辉 (known in the scene as 吱爷). Cassette limited to 101 copies, sold out immediately. 老丹《少林铁腿绝技》 Label: N/A Catalogue number: N/A Release date: 2023.12 Live at the 2023 Urumqi Bad Head music festival, marking another musical thread for 老丹 in recent years: hardware noise. This 3-inch CD was a semi-public release, limited to 80. 老丹/Damon Smith/Luther Gary《Live in Somerville》 Label: 8mm Records Catalogue number: 8mm 071 Release date: 2023.11 A live release from the final stop of the 2018 U.S. tour, issued by Italian label 8mm. The album’s publication process was reportedly rather convoluted — maybe 老丹 can tell the story himself sometime. 老丹《哀流：为开盘带录音而演奏的萨克斯曲》 Label: 旧天堂书店 Catalogue number: OH 039 Release date: 2023.09 (tape launch) / 2023.10 (LP/CD) Another “feat” from 旧天堂书店. In an era of rapid duplication they hand-record opening tapes one by one, then sell them to fans who don’t own opening machines, and finally use a track that isn’t on the opening tape as the album title — unexpected yet somehow predictable. Fortunately there are vinyl and CD editions so you can listen while imagining the tapes on the rack. A very drinkable saxophone solo record — neat whiskey kind of music. 老丹《空山唤曲》 Label: Modern Sky World Music Catalogue number: mw018 Release date: 2023.07 老丹’s latest folk-oriented record, released by Modern Sky World Music. This album and 《逐云追梦》 were recorded in the north and south respectively; listen to them as a pair. 哔哔哔 哔哔哔 bBb bBb《何苦逍遥 Why Be Free》 Label: 旧天堂书店 Catalogue number: OH 037 Release date: 2023.05 A rather sudden release with no prior notice. 奔波儿灞与灞波儿奔 have upgraded into a more international 6‑beep formation; breaking out of Asia seems imminent. Recorded in Dali during the mask period, it remains an immersion of folk and improvisation. A record very suitable for international exchange — Oriental jazz for the new century. 豊住芳三郎/老丹/照内央晴《五輪書 Five Rings Secret》 Label: Chap Chap Records Catalogue number: CPCD-023 Release date: 2022.11 Live recordings from 老丹’s 2019 Japan tour, in collaboration with 豊住芳三郎 and 照内央晴, at Tokyo’s Aketaの店 and Yokohama’s Airegin — both legendary venues in Japanese jazz history. The name 五輪書 comes from Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings. The album was published by Japanese label Chap Chap; many of NB’s Japanese jazz releases derive their copyrights from here. 老丹/邓博宇《TuTu Duo 智斗》 Label: TUTU Records Catalogue number: TUTU001 Release date: 2022.05 A CD reissue of the vinyl NB released the previous year, issued by a new label. This imprint was created specifically for 突突, but it was actually run by 老丹 himself. Limited to 500. 俄木曲叶/老丹/马木尔与Mask《地方、音乐与实践 Vol.1》 Label: 旧天堂书店 Catalogue number: OH 034 Release date: 2022.04 A compilation from the cultural event “地方、音乐与实践” held in Shunde; 老丹 composed “出神” especially for it. 老丹《自毁机器》 Label: LD MUSIC Catalogue number: LD-003 Release date: 2022.03 A live recording from the 2019 Japan tour: a saxophone solo in Hakodate, Hokkaido, self-released by 老丹. Limited to 200. 老丹 《Chinese Medicine 草乙术》 Label: LD Music Catalogue number: LD-002 Release date: 2021.07 A CD reissue of the tape released the previous year on 蛋蛋粘灰, self-released by 老丹; limited to 300. In addition to the standard edition, there are ten hand-painted copies, each unique. 老丹/邓博宇《TuTu Duo 智斗》 Label: Nobusiness Records Catalogue number: NBLP-145 Release date: 2021.07 This duo record by 老丹 and 小宇 was issued by Lithuanian label Nobusiness Records. NB is a very famous improvisation label that has published many heavyweight artists in the field; this was also the first time Chinese musicians released a record on NB. Tutu is 突突, and 老丹’s quirky taste spills over again. The album is now out of print — one of the few out-of-print releases on NB. 老丹 《Unreleased》 Label: Takuroku Catalogue number: TR149 Release date: 2021.06 Takuroku is Cafe OTO’s label in London, focusing on digital releases during the pandemic. This album consists of four saxophone solos recorded in different environments. And yes, the child on the cover is 老丹 himself — who doesn’t have an embarrassing childhood? Download: https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/shop/lao-dan-unreleased/ Jooklo Duo/老丹《啫啫银河 ZE ZE THE MILKY WAY》 Label: Old Heaven Books Catalogue number: OH 028 Release date: 2021.04 Recorded during the “bookstore improvisation” at the 8th OCT‑Loft International Jazz Festival, in collaboration with the Italian duo Jooklo Duo. 奔波儿灞与灞波儿奔《互念暗语 Hu Nian An Yu》 Label: Old Heaven Books Catalogue number: OH 022 Release date: 2020.08 Recorded at the 9th OCT‑Loft International Jazz Festival’s formal performance, issued on vinyl and CD — this is also 老丹’s first vinyl record. The concert was scheduled the day before the festival’s main event, the “festival within the festival,” and can be seen as a prelude — though its brilliance even overshadowed the main act. Despite the woodcut sleeve and the BBB&BBB band name looking so “irreverent,” in my mind this album is undoubtedly a pinnacle of folk improvisation. 老丹《思维扭曲的行动体 Functioning Anomie》 Label: WV Sorcerer Productions Catalogue number: WV024 Release date: 2020.06 A CD reissue of Functioning Anomie, partly healing my pain at not owning the tape. (Update: I have it now, no more pain.) 老丹《无人岛之歌 The song of the Uninhabited Island》 Label: LAO DAN Catalogue number: LD-001 Release date: 2020.06 A self-released 3‑inch CD with cover art by 陆晨. This record originated from a video 老丹 recorded for Cafe OTO — two flute pieces and one saxophone track. Limited to 200 copies, each signed by 老丹 (you can compare signature changes with previous releases). 老丹 《Chinese Medicine 草乙术》 Label: Dusty Ballz Catalogue number: CCD01 Release date: 2020.05 Issued by London label 蛋蛋沾灰, run by Dr. Mabu from Cambridge, a native of Shandong — hence the informal shorthand “鲁蛋.” Both the label name and the album title leak eccentricity. 老丹 plays both saxophone and guzheng on this record; rumor has it some guzheng passages were played with his foot. The release was limited to 100 copies and mostly sold overseas, making it one of the hardest 老丹 records to collect. Soon 鲁蛋 will issue a second release, 邓博宇’s 《拖拉机学院》 — those who missed the first should stay alert. 李带菓/老丹/纐缬雅代/邓博宇《燃烧的书店 II Burning Bookshop II》 Label: Old Heaven Books Catalogue number: OH 018 Release date: 2020.04 Recorded at the 9th OCT‑Loft International Jazz Festival, another installment of the “bookstore improvisation” series at 旧天堂书店. 老丹/Paul Flaherty/Randall Colbourne/Damon Smith 《Live at Willimantic Records》 Label: Family Vineyard Catalogue number: FV109 Release date: 2019.12 Recorded during the aforementioned 2018 U.S. tour, a free improvisation collaboration with several American musicians. The small suona on the cover is very eye‑catching. 奔波儿灞与灞波儿奔《奔波儿灞与灞波儿奔在旧天堂Benbo’erba & Babo’erben at the Old Heaven》 Label: Old Heaven Books Catalogue number: OH 015 Release date: 2019.04 Recorded on December 4, 2018, an impromptu performance by 老丹 and 李带菓 at 旧天堂书店 that was only announced the night before. 李带菓 is an American‑born Chinese musician and a bona fide “weirdo,” adept on many instruments. 阿飞 gave them this lo‑fi name, derived from two monsters in Journey to the West — quite fitting. The impromptu concert, the odd band name, and the five‑cent graphic design all reveal that same “quirky taste.” In this performance 老丹 put down the sax and picked up flute, mouth harp, and bawu, accompanying 李带菓’s pipa, thumb piano, and synthesizer, opening a new context for folk instruments in improvisation. It may sound like a rough troupe, but it laid the groundwork for the later sparks of 《互念暗语》. A small heads‑up: the opening is quite shocking. 丽江五重奏 Lijiang Quintet《Crossing A River By Rope》 Label: fo‘c'sle music Catalogue number: FCSL-003 Release date: 2018.10 丽江五重奏 documents a collaboration between three members of 红领巾 and American musicians Theresa Wong and John McCowen, recorded in July 2017 and issued by California label fo'c'sle. It can be seen as an expansion of 红领巾. The name Lijiang Quintet comes from the residency project hosted by the “Lijiang Studio” where this collaboration originated. This was the last record featuring the three members together; due to their busy schedules, aside from a 2019 tour under the Lijiang Quintet name there has been no news in recent years. Looking forward to new work from 红领巾. 老丹《逐云追梦》 Label: Modern Sky World Music Catalogue number: mw007 Release date: 2018.08 Released on Modern Sky’s World Music sublabel, this is a solo dizi album featuring 牟笛 (note: performer). The record was recorded in 老丹’s hometown Dandong in an air‑raid shelter, boasting excellent natural reverb. If the theme of the previous five records was 突突, this album reveals his calm and mellow side. Truly capable with both pen and sword — and, uh, other less relevant skills... wait, drifting off topic. 红领巾《他们知道我们知道他们在撒谎》 Label: Badhead Catalogue number: B-052 Release date: 2018.05 An incredibly tongue‑twisting yet meaningful title that points at something while leaving no handle to grasp. 红领巾’s second album is overall easier on the ear than their first, with certain passages reminiscent of D.U.B. The overall design of this record may be the finest among Badhead’s unconventional CD packaging. 类家心平/老丹/水谷浩章/高桥信之介/邓博宇 《燃烧的书店 Burning Bookshop》 Label: Old Heaven Books Catalogue number: OH 011 Release date: 2018.04 Recorded at the 7th OCT‑Loft International Jazz Festival. On October 15, 2017, after Yosuke Yamashita’s performance, the young players from his band came to 旧天堂书店 and started the festival’s recurring “bookstore improvisation” project, trading ideas with the subject of this text, 老丹, and regular festival guest 小宇. The album was released by 旧天堂书店, which later became the source of many of 老丹’s publications. 老丹《思维扭曲的行动体 Functioning Anomie》 Label: WV Sorcerer Productions Catalogue number: WV024 Release date: 2018.04 老丹’s first saxophone solo album, issued on tape by WV Sorcerer Productions run by the France‑based musician 若谭. Recorded in the Qinglongdong tunnel in Hangzhou, a place 老丹 still frequents for practice. The tape was limited to 133 copies. WV Sorcerer is an indie label not to be overlooked today, publishing a wide range of intriguing music from around the world with notable taste, design, and craftsmanship. There is also a U.S. tour edition of this tape with a slightly different cover color, even more limited at just 10 copies. 老丹/Rick Countryman/Colin Webster《Saxophone Anatomy》 Label: Armageddon Nova Catalogue number: AN-R 6 Release date: 2017.12 A compilation featuring three saxophonists: 老丹, Rick Countryman (Laos), and Colin Webster (UK), released by Japanese label Armageddon Nova. Based in Hakodate, Hokkaido, the label is run by Asai Yoshiaki, a saxophone enthusiast who also operates a record shop. The album was designed by the well‑known Japanese saxophonist 望月治孝, and the CD disc surface is also very 红领巾《红领巾》 Label: Badhead Catalogue number: B-041 Release date: 2016.01 The first album with 老丹 as a principal creator and the debut LP of the band 红领巾. 红领巾 is composed of 老丹, 李星, and 小宇 (邓博宇). Even among the eccentrics gathered at Badhead, the band’s style stands out. Both the cover and the track titles reveal the band’s “quirky taste.”
Taken from Last.fm
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