The history of this release is indivisibly connected with the history of the Goethe Music Lab Ulaanbaatar (GMUB) and the intense encounter between western jazz musicians and Mongolian talents. Initiated by the Goethe-Institut as an excellence project and jointly developed with the Gonchigsuumlaa College for Dance and Music, the GMUB became the first ever training course for jazz and popular music in Ulaanbaatar. The project was implemented by the German bass player Martin Zenker. The singer Enkhjargal Erkhembayar is one of the first graduates of the program. The conservatory, where the GMUB has been founded, bears the name Gonchigsuumlaa, one of the most significant composers in Mongolia: He is considered the founder of classical Mongolian music. The Gonchigsuumlaa project, established by Martin Zenker to celebrate the 100th birthday of the composer, aims to create a symbiosis between the musical tradition of Mongolia and modern jazz music, combining both elements on a par with each other. These arrangements translate the memorable characteristics of Mongolian melodies into new, jazz-specific contexts; using rhythmic elements that are unusual for classical Mongolian music. At the same time, many Mongolian influences can be found, especially in the vocals. It is this combination that makes the CD so special, showing the artistic dynamics that evolved from the intercultural exchange between the musicians. We thank everyone who turned the Goethe Music Lab Ulaanbaatar into a creative center of jazz music in Mongolia, especially the excellent musicians who came together for this project: Dr. Stefan Dreyer - Goethe-Institut Seoul/ Munich
