Kihnoua

KIHNOUA is a term borrowed from ancient Greek might have meant “the difference.” This ensemble was formed by Larry Ochs in 2007 to play some new changes. A long-time fan of traditional Korean p’ansori singing and of Korean sinawi improvisation, it is with great pleasure that we attempt to intermingle the very new thoughts, sounds and structures of “Western improvised music” with the very ancient sounds of Korea and other folk-music influences from Asia. Africa and Europe. The band’s core is Scott Amendola on drums and electronics, Dohee Lee on vocals with Ochs writing the compositions and playing saxophones.

*Guest musicians added to the band for USA performances: Joan Jeanrenaud, Zeena Parkins, Carla Kihlstedt, William Winant, Okkyung Lee, Trevor Dunn and Devin Hoff. A first tour to Europe took place in November 2008 with Okkyung Lee joining Kihnoua on cello. A second Euro tour in 2010 found Wilbert de Joode (Netherlands) joining the band on bass (except in Moscow where Kihnoua welcomed Vladimir Volkov on bass).

The band’s first CD was released in 2010 on the Not Two label. Entitled Unauthorized Caprices, it features the core trio plus guests Fred Frith, Joan Jeanrenaud, and Liz Allbee. A second CD, The Sybils Whisper, appeared on the Metalanguage label in 2012.