Fong Naam

In the late '60s, a young American by the name of Bruce Gaston arrived in Thailand: his ambition, to avoid the draft. During his stay, Gaston became captivated by the music of Thailand, studied its techniques, and decided not to return to the United States. Together with Boonyong Kethong he formed an instrumental ensemble known as Fong Naam, which is now one of the best known pi-pha ensembles in the nation. Although the music Fong Naam plays is rooted in classical tradition, it is also porous and accepts absorbs outside influences. Fong Naam have experimented with jazz and rock.