All jazzed up in Hua Hin

Now a sprightly 88, jazz legend Benny Golson wowed the crowd at last weekend’s True Jazz Festival at True Arena in Hua Hin not just with his music and energy, but also with his praise for the musical genius of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol before playing the royal composition, “Love in Spring”, on his tenor sax.
    “He (The King) has his beautiful mind, his beautiful heart,” said Golson, who also jammed with popular Thai saxophonist Koh Mr Saxman.

    Thailand All-Stars Jazz Orchestra, conducted by pianist Dr Den Euprasert, dean of the Conservatory of Music at Rangsit University, also paid tribute to the late Monarch, performing “Sang Thien” (“Candlelight Blues”).
And while he isn’t a jazzman, the audience was delighted to welcome Thanachai Ujjin, aka Pod ModernDog, who performed “Rak Khun Khao Laew” and “Busaba.”

    The shows on the first day ran late throughout but that didn’t bother the last band on the schedule, Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles, who performed without a break for more than two hours.
    The second day opened with Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, who impressed the foreigners in the audience with their “phin” and “khaen”solos. Fusion jazz was next on the menu with The Yellowjackets followed by Soul After Six playing such singalongs as “Kon Hin La Mer”, “Jang Wah Cheewit”, “Roo”, and “Thing Chan Wai.”
    The audience welcomed Al McKay, the former guitarist of Earth Wind & Fire with loud applause and shouts and thoroughly enjoyed his set of hits with his new band that included “September”, “After Love Has Gone”, “Boogie Wonderland”, “Let’s Groove”, and “Fantasy”.