Since releasing his debut album two years ago, harmonica player Jun Je-duk has been much in the limelight. The spotlight was not only on his harmonica performance itself, rare in mainstream instrument performance, but also on his physical condition of blindness _ born in 1974, Jun lost his eyesight after suffering a fever 15 days after his birth. Two years after his debut he brings us this new album, ``What Is Cool Change'' to stand firm as a harmonica artist rather than a mere blind performer.
He shows himself as a jazz artist with powerful and dynamic experimental music on the new album. ``The new album relies heavily on electric rather than acoustic sounds, with more arrangements of brass sounds,'' Jun said in an interview with The Korea Times. ``I want to indulge myself in free-styled jazz, actually soul funky to amplify the groovy rhythms in this album,'' he said.
But as the latest album's title suggests, it is a dramatic, ``cool'' change with bright and cheerful funky pop jazz based on soul. He decided to play the harmonica in 1996 when the instrument was not used that much, having been musically inspired by jazz, soul, and blues that frequently feature the instrument. Before he became a harmonica player, he was a performer of ``samulnori,'' Korean traditional percussion.
``Ten years ago, there were no predecessors nor textbooks or institutes to learn how to play the harmonica. It was very difficult for me to choose what kind of harmonica and model to use as there are over 100 different kinds,'' he said. Since taking up the harmonica as his musical partner, he has sought for a freer form of musical expression _ a whole new kind of music.
``I am pursuing the freest performance possible for my style. It's jazz that allows me to do that,'' he said. Jun said that when a player performs jazz or soul music, it directly reflects the spirit of the player while performing.
``When I worked on this album, I tried to express the freedom in jazz and soul with my harmonica,'' he said. On the album, performers had much leeway to flex their muscles at the mercy of the musicians to groove their own spirits. He said that he wanted to be known for his music, more than anything else.
Jun, who was greatly influenced by Belgian-born harmonica master Toots Thielemans, has collaborated with many renowned musicians such as jazz pianist Kwak Yoon-chan and hip-hop artist Bobby Kim. He will showcase his repertoires, performing at a concert titled ``One Romantic Night,'' on March 14 at Hoam Art Hall in Seoul. Tickets cost 40,000 won.
Jun will also hold a concert at Seongnam Arts Center Ensemble Theater in Kyonggi Province, on March 31. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3143-5480 or visit www.
jeduk.co.kr.
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