SXL (band)

SXL was a jazz fusion ensemble, formed in 1987 by composer Bill Laswell. The nucleus also comprised musicians Aïyb Dieng, Ronald Shannon Jackson, and L. Shankar with SamulNori, the internationally renowned South Korean percussion quartet.[1] Their loosely structured music was built on a combination of Indian drones, funk music and densely layered percussion.[2]

SXL
GenresJazz fusion
Years active1987–1988
LabelsCelluloid, Enemy
Associated actsLast Exit, Material
Past membersAïyb Dieng
Ronald Shannon Jackson
Bill Laswell
SamulNori
L. Shankar

History

Bill Laswell desired to explore a fusion of funk and world music.[3] The musical supergroup was conceived to perform a series of live performances in Japan from July to August 1987. Composer and keyboardist Ryuichi Sakamoto was also booked to play in the group but dropped from the project shortly before the tour.[4] Their concerts between the first and second of August attracted a combined audience of 30,000. These performances were recorded and would comprise their debut album Live in Japan, released in 1987.[1] High praise for the performances was given by Jazz Forum magazine, who said, "whatever readers may think they know about the chequered history of culture fusion they have not heard anything remotely like the results of this counterbalancing of free improvising, time playing and ethnic traditional elements."[4] After the tour, Samulnori released their debut album Record of Changes in 1988, which was produced by Laswell and devoted to shaman music.[5]

Discography
Live albums

References
  1. Hesselink, Nathan (March 29, 2012). SamulNori. University of Chicago Press. p. 110. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  2. Rusch, Bob (1990). "SXL: Into the Outlands". Cadence. B. Rusch. 16 (1–6): 27. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  3. Olewnick, Brian. "Into the Outlands". Allmusic. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  4. Tilland, Bill (1989). "SXL: Into the Outlands". Jazz Forum. For Jazz, sp. z o. o. (116–121): 49. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  5. Howard, Keith (2006). Perspectives on Korean Music. Ashgate Publishing. p. 65. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
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