Ancestor Song
Self-Released, 2023
9/10
A Canadian folk-jazz artist, Janice Jo Lee brings her multi-instrumental talents and expressive voice to these diverse 13 songs that don’t shy away from her South Korean heritage.
The lively instrumental, “Overture: Ancestor Song”, opens the listen with Vania Lee’s thumping drums complementing Justin Thomas James’ agile piano playing, and “Oil In The Grand” follows with gorgeous, wordless and poetic vocals amid 3 part harmonies and Roa Lee’s Gayageum.
Deeper into the listen, “She Looked Like Me” is a calm folk song that makes great use of Adrian Irvine’s sublime violin and Tara Kannangara’s well timed trumpet, while “Child Inside” is quite intimate in a Celtic fashion via Nim Agalawatte’s soft double bass and Lee’s calm guitar and hushed singing.
Residing near the end, “Years Of Secret Melody” is a more tense moment of firm vocals amid the traditional Korean rhythm on janggu that utilizes JoJo Worthington’s synth prowess, and “Patient As The Land” exits with crunchy rock meets gospel flavor, where Lonny Knapp’s electric guitar soars loud alongside Lee’s powerful vocals.
Also a poet, theatre maker and anti-oppression facilitator, Lee brings much diversity and sincerity to her art that surrounds community, empowerment and societal change. She cites Ancestor Song as her best work yet, and it’s hard to argue with that.
Travels well with: Annie & Rod Capps- Love And Rain; Connie Kaldor- Keep Going