Jazz goes pop
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The Hua Hin jazz festival has a line-up that features artists from Japan and Indonesia and a strong showing of local talent
The sounds of saxophone, keyboards and bass return to Hua Hin’s sands at this end of the month as the seaside town celebrates the 12th anniversary of its annual jazz festival.
This year, the organisers are moving away from Western acts and will instead be bringing in up-and-coming names in Asian jazz.
The line-up includes Japanese outfits Jun Abe Group and Les Freres, Indonesian pianist Nita Aartsen and a number of home-grown talents.
“Jun Abe is rather like the Infinity’s Sarayut Supanyo,” says Sekphol Unsamran, aka Koh Mr Saxman, chatting with The Nation after the recent press launch at Wine Happening on RCA.
The fusion J-jazz outfit features Abe on keyboards, Dimension guitarist Takeshi Masuzaki, T Square drummer Satoshi Bandoh and saxophonist Takeshi Itoh, American bassist Brian Bromberg and our very own Koh Mr Saxman. They can be heard on the recently released Hitman Music release “Walk Around”.
The Thai saxophonist, who plays on “Dragon’s Gate”, returns the compliment by inviting the Japanese pianist to jam on his new album, “Jazz Dance”, which also features Swedish pianist Jonathan Griffin and singer Maneepatsorn “Myra” Molloy, the winner of the 2011 reality contest “Thailand’s Got Talent”.
“The festival will be the first time I’ve performed ‘Dragon’s Gate’ live. We’re very pleased with the song, which is now becoming popular in the US too,” says Koh.
“I’m often in Japan for concerts and club gigs and have become friendly with many of Japan’s top musicians including Jun, who also produces and arranges. The festival will be a good chance for Thai people to listen to J-jazz again after a 10-year hiatus. Jun’s the new blood of J-jazz.”
Les Freres is a Japanese piano duo featuring brothers Moriya and Keito Saito. Known for their funky beats and boogie rhythms on one piano with four hands, they’ve won fans in Europe, the US and Australia, mostly recently joining the New York Symphonic Ensemble for a performance that travelled across genres,
Their debut album, 2006’s “Piano Breaker”, won them a gold disc. Credited with overturning Japan’s stereotypical image of conventional piano playing, their music attracts people of all generations.
In 2012, they released live recordings “Best of Live” and this year will be heading off on a “Best of Les Freres” tour with Kirin Brewery serving as the sponsor.
Classically trained pianist, academic and arranger Nita Aartsen landed a three-album recording contract with Indonesia’s Platinum label, and released her first album with the Nita Aartsen Quatro, “All Nite Out” in 2009. She performs a blend of Latin jazz and classical music with bossa nova undertones.
Thai jazz stalwarts include Mellow Motif and Infinity and they’ll be joined by a wealth of pop and easy-listening artists, among them ETC, the Vie Trio, Artip “Keng” Charoenchaisakulsuk, Tong and Jennie, King and His Band, Cholanan “Lookpad” Limthai, Teerapak “Ten” Maneechot, “Academy Fantasia” coach Thanat “Big” Thanyaharn, Love Me Please and Asawin Duriyangkul of Calories Blah Blah. Also appearing will be Thanasit “Ton” Chaturapush from “Academy Fantasia”, Nonthanan “Kacha” Anchuleepradit, Rata “Tabby” Kokilanont, Pakamon “Lookpong” Bunyaputi and 123 Soul.
“We realise these are essentially pop artists but they will be singing jazz numbers. Real jazz doesn’t draw large audiences so we need to expand the fan base of the festival and featuring veterans and youngsters who come together with their fan club, is the way to do it,” says Itthi Nana, managing director of organiser Bangkok Fanatix.
Itthi is spending Bt15 million on organising the two-day festival and expects 15,000 spectators to turn out. In the two years since he took charge of the event, he has been successful in increasing audience participation from 8,000 to 12,000.
“Right now, we’re negotiating with sponsors to help us with an activity that will remind visitors of the charms of Hua Hin from past to present. We’re also planning on setting up a photo-shoot booth. There’ll be zones for VIPs and sponsors over the water and a walkway will be built on the beach so the sand doesn’t blow all over the seated audience,” he says.
“Hua Hin is my second home and there’s nothing I like better than walking along the beach and chatting with the locals,” says Koh, who has been involved with the jazz festival for many years.
Magical music
The Hua Hin Jazz Festival will be held on May 31 and June 1 at oceanside at the Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas. Ticket prices have yet to be announced.
