Eastern Legends

Today I was introduced to Chinese classical music---the blending of classical, oriental and even sometimes rock has its own delightful mix...all I have to say is: "You have to listen to this yourself":

Eastern Legends

They may look like supermodels, but these musicians are anything but just pretty faces. Like the frantic gypsy punk of Gogol Bordello and the sultry modern look and classical sound of the Medieval Baebes, they're a hybrid. The 13 members of the Chai Found Music Workshop have melded the strings of Shizhu music with the strut of rock 'n' roll to bring a whole new life to both the folk songs the band plays and the traditional instruments they play them on. The combo has proven a big success back home with sold-out shows and best-selling albums. The band, who play at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Monday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, had their Canadian debut last week in Toronto and, in the view of the festival director, will be one of the highlights of this year's event. "To me," notes Charlie Wu, "Eastern Legends is a perfect symbol of how much Taiwan has evolved, their music brings the past, the present and the future together."