Dung Nguyen profile picture

Dung Nguyen

Jazz and world music multi-instrumentalist

About Me

Dung is one of Australia’s leading Vietnamese traditional musicians and is also a jazz guitarist. Among his instruments are the dan tranh, dan bau, dan nhi and dan nguyet all of which he learnt from his grandfather continuing a tradition of many generations. In the last ten years he has become increasingly interested in contemporary western guitar traditions, and in the fusion of these with Vietnamese stringed instrument traditions. He holds a Bachelor of Music (jazz guitar) from the Monash Conservatorium and in 2002 year he won their foundation prize. In addition to being a founding member of the internationally acclaimed cross-cultural ensemble, Way Out West, Dung regularly tours with a variety of Australian and international artists. He recently performed an extended season at the Edinburgh Festival with Hayley Clare’s Tribute to Eva Cassidy, Thuy Nga Paris By Night and appears regularly with the Grand Union Orchestra (UK). Dung is also a composer and has written music for productions including Vietnamese Youth Media’s Aussie Biaom and Vietboy from Downunder. In 2003 he was commissioned by the Melbourne Theatre Company to compose the score for Coup D’tat.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/11/2007
Band Website: wayoutwest.com.au
Band Members: Way Out West... Dung Nguyen dan tranh, modified electric guitar, dan bau, Paul Williamson saxophones, Peter Knight trumpet, Howard Cairns bass, Ray Pereira percussion, Dave Beck drums
Influences: Wes Montgomery, Bill Frisell, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Miles Davis, James Wilson, Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Eddie van Halen, Paul Gilbert, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Van Vi, Van So Nguyen, Anh Tuan Nguyen, Van Gioi, Bay Ba, Nam Co, Tung Chau.......
Sounds Like: 5 Star review in ABC Limelight MagazineABC Limelight Magazine October 2007 Peter Wockner, Rating 5 stars (New Album: Old Grooves for New Streets).A mixed marriage of unprecedented success! While the thought of fusing African and Vietnamese music may appear unusual, the result is one of the most compelling releases of 2007. Trumpeter Peter Knight is a renowned innovative composer. Dung Nguyen brings the fleeting street sounds of Vietnam using a modified electric guitar and multi-stringed dan tranh. Dave Beck, Howard Cairns and Ray Pereira are at one with the rhythms, the latter especially textural when raising the African grooves to danceable levels. But their grooves are corralled by the underlying focus on interaction and expression through the horns of Knight and Paul Williamson.(Footscray Stations) Voted by Australian critics as one of the top ten CDs of 2003... dreamy melodies floating over hypnotic grooves from a wonderful six piece group featuring a unique blend of Vietnamese stringed instruments with African percussion, double bass, drum kit.The supple seamless vibes they produce easily transcend any glib notions of multicultural kitsch” (Herald Sun), “That these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz is a mysterious Melbourne alchemy” (Sydney Morning Herald 2003)
Record Label: Jazzhead
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Way Out West top chart in Montreal Canada

..TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"> CISM Montreal Jazz Chart for week of july 29th 2008 http://www.cismjazz.blogspot.com/1. Way Out West - Old Grooves for New Streets (JazzHead / Effe...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:45:00 PST

Live review for Vancouver Jazz Festival performance

..TR height="100%" width="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on"> Elaine Corden, Special to the Vancouver SunPublished: Monday, June 30, 2008"...Down the path (through a swatch of lemonade and fresh corn stands), ...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:42:00 PST

Nhac Jazz voi Am Huong Viet - Phi

http://www.viendongdaily.com/Contents.aspx?contentid=3897&am p;item=VÄ’n Nghá»!...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Tue, 20 May 2008 10:40:00 PST

5 star review for Way Out West from Adelaide Fringe gig

5 star review for Way Out West from Adelaide Fringe gig Adelaide Advertiser March 3rd 2008, live review Adelaide Fringe, John McBeathRating * * * * *The Melbourne sextet, led by trumpeter Peter Knigh...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 02:13:00 PST

Effendi Records (Montreal) to release Old Grooves for New Streets

Effendi Records (Montreal) to release Old Grooves for New Streets New CD Released in August 2007. Wow Out West ( WOW) ...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:03:00 PST

New Album Reviews

5 Star review in ABC Limelight Magazine ABC Limelight Magazine October 2007Peter Wockner, Rating 5 starsA mixed marriage of unprecedented success! While the thought of fusing African and Vietnamese mu...
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:54:00 PST

New Album Released 2007

New CD released with Way Out West * Old Grooves for New Streets*  August 2007 www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne
Posted by Dung Nguyen on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 08:44:00 PST