Let there be jazz

Organisers groaned as the rain came tumbling down on the opening night of the Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2013 last Friday resulting in only a few brave souls heading out to the beach. Fortunately the weather cleared on Saturday and the space in front of the stage was filled to capacity.

This year, the event was held at a smaller venue, though there was still plenty of space to host jazz fans both on the sand and in seated accommodation in the VIP and customer zones, along with the hotel and sponsor booths.

The festival kicked off at 6 on Friday evening with a set by Stone Panda, Keng, Jenny and Tong Project. Former Deputy PM Suwat Liptapanlop, Prachuab Khiri Khan governor Veera Sriwattanatrakul, and Hua Hin mayor Nopporn Wutthikul then declared the festival officially open before handing over the stage to Indonesian artist Nita Aartsen, who impressed with her unique mix of jazz and classical music.

Next up was the Jamjun Project featuring Khru Big, Lukpad, Koh Mr Saxman, Way Station and Love Me Please, who won cheers and applause for their stimulating set. They were followed by festival stalwarts and long-time crowd The Infinity.

Among the highlights was the performance by Japanese jazz musician Jun Abe and his merry band of musicians, among them the former members of fusion jazz band T-Square and young multi-awarded drummer Senri Kawaguchi, whose ability and versatility surprised the audience.

“My line-up changes at each concert. The Hua Hin Jazz Fest was the first time the drummer and the bassist had performed together,” Abe told The Nation after the show.

The Japanese artist has just released his latest album, “Walk Around”, and it’s being distributed in Thailand by Hitman Jazz label.

Koh Mr Saxman joined Abe and his musicians on stage at the festival, jamming on several songs including “Dragon’s Gate”, on which he plays a sax solo.

“During a visit to Spain, I was impressed by an artist’s sculpture of a dragon,” Abe explained. “The original number has me performing solo on keyboards but after I met Koh, we changed the sound to saxophone. On the CD, the track has a Chinese scent as we used a Chinese percussionist for the recording.”

Friday night’s shows closed out with Thai pop outfit ETC, who presented their hits with a jazzy arrangement.

The second day of the festival featured Mellow Motif, Nanglen, Vietrio, Japan’s Les Freres, Tewan Novel Jazz, Koh Mr Saxman & The Soul Must Go On featuring King Pichet and Myra and an assortment of Academy Fantasia alumni.