The “brains” behind this music project are Dylan Jung
(bass) and Lou Moretti (drums).
They formed the project and they
have been the rhythm section for a couple of years.
Dylan and Lou
were members of the former band called GOLDMUND and toured around the Southwest. Dylan thinks that “it is really great to get
to do that and then come back to Sedona. Some of us hope to perhaps
do that more in the near future” (get more info and hear some music
at
www.myspace.com/goldmundband).
YIN YANG
premiered at Oak Creek Brewery on Friday August 4, 2006. Other band
guests that night included Jake Payne (guitar), Jason Vargo
(guitar), and Mike Jung (guitar). Dylan remarked that most of
the musicians in this project have gone through some sort of formal
studies, but that they are really together because of their drive
and passion for exploring music with friends and others.
Said Dylan, “it becomes very experimental in
that way and you never know what will come of it. We have all played
together in the past. This project is much different than the
typical ‘band’ concept, because we have little or no rehearsal time.
We also go off the ethic of having a typical conversation with each
other but with instruments instead of our mouths. One can perhaps go
a little deeper at times that way.”
YIN YANG’s
powerful electric music indeed presents a sort of “conversation”
between the musician’s instruments as they nicely layered the sounds
into a harmonious whole.
It speaks to a long tradition of
avant-garde musicians who have left their imprint in the
fusion/improvisational style of this music project. From classic
rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and King Crimson to the
groundbreaking duo Fripp and Eno, YIN YANG exemplifies the evolution
of alternative rock music as they perform with greater freedom,
convey great joy, and offer a high quality sound. One of the
highlights of the project is that the band’s line-up will always
change. They expect to be doing gigs with guitarist Matt Barlow very
soon. They are also looking forward to include spoken words and
poetry as part of their show.
Dylan
said that YIN YANG and his other music project ZEN SOME “began
as a way of giving some local musicians an excuse to play out live
as we all have some time to do it right now. We have a need to play
out and do what we know best. Collectively, we are all into a broad
span of music. Rock music is the most prevailing but we like to play
out as a sort of fusion of all the music we love and want to
explore.”
Dylan emphasized that he and the members of his
band love playing in town, and usually they play at Oak Creek
Brewery in Sedona as it is the most diverse venue opened to
alternative music and emerging bands.
It also provides them with the
opportunity to hit an eclectic audience since the Brewery attracts
the locals as well as people from all over.
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Ying Yang |
YIN YANG's
talented musicians are mostly from the East Coast, but they’ve all
been in Sedona for several years. Each of them has been involved in
many musical projects whether live or in the studio. Despite the
fact that Sedona does not have a lot of open avenues for musicians
to gather in creative ways, they have managed to do so, not without
facing obstacles: “one year there is a good spot, the next year
there isn’t. Sedona’s music scene comes in waves”—said Dylan. He
also noted that there is a struggling alternative scene that has
been happening in town for years.In
addition to being a musician, Dylan Jung is one of the head
organizers of “Gumption Fest”--a cultural event that took place for
the first time in June 10, 2006 on Coffee Pot Drive.
The purpose of
Gumption Fest is the dissemination of the works of art by Sedona
resident artists who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to
exhibit or perform their talents. Over 70 musicians, poets, artists,
performers, filmmakers, dancers and vendors gathered to perform or
display their art at different locations on Coffee Pot Drive (Oak
Creek Brewery, Devi Yoga, Tamale Mama’s, Sedona Books & Music, and
Light Vibe Performing Arts). Dylan, as well as the other young
artists behind the organization and promotion of Gumption Fest,
expect that it will become a yearly festival in Sedona. (For awesome
pictures and more info about Gumption Fest visit their website at
www.myspace.com/gumptionfest).