Benbo’erba & Babo’erben at Old Heaven

Lao Dan & Li Daiguo

1 Benbo’erba 26:54
2 Benbo’erba 28:28

Live recording of a totally weird collaboration between flutist Lao Dan and multi-instrumentalist Li Daiguo. A new interpretation of Chinese folk instrumental music.

"The collaboration between flutist/saxophonist Lao Dan and multi-instrumentalist Li Daiguo began in 2018. The duo named themselves “Benbo’erba & Babo’erben” (奔波儿灞与灞波儿奔, BBB & BBB for short), after two minions from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. Delivering whimsical, improvisation-based melodies woven around the backbone of Li Daiguo’s quirky pipa and Lao Dan’s spiritual flute, Benbo’erba & Babo’erben take their listeners to a grotesque fairy world which presents a radical but light-hearted re-interpretation of traditional Chinese music.

In 2019, the duo released their debut on cassette titled Benbo’erba & Babo’erben at Old Heaven, a remixed live recording of their performance at the Old Heaven bookstore in December 2018. In this album, tribute is paid to Fei, owner of the Old Heaven bookstore and pivotal figure of the Chinese avant-garde scene, whose magnetic voice and demonic laughter can be heard at the very beginning of side A."

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Lao Dan / chinese bamboo flute, bawu, jews harp, vocals

Li Daiguo /  pipa, mbira, synth, vocals

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Recorded in 2018, Released in 2019

Available as a 320k MP3 or 24bit FLAC download

Tracklisting:

1. 奔波儿灞 Benbo’erba - 26:54
2. 灞波儿奔 Babo’erben - 28:28