Visiting jazz stars honour King
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Simone Kopmajer and John di Martino wow their audience with tributes and innovation
It was a double delight for fans of jazz a week ago when blonde jazz diva Simone Kopmajer from Austria and American pianist John di Martino came to town for a “Jazz in the Theatre” concert.
The audience – more than half filling the 600-seat Aksra Theatre – greeted the two artists on the Hitman Jazz label enthusiastically and remained largely absorbed in the beautiful music throughout each musician’s hour-long segment.
Di Martino and his band thrilled listeners with tunes composed by His Majesty the King, with most of his play list coming from his new album, “A Tribute to the King of Jazz”, launched just ahead of the monarch’s birthday last week.
Most were instrumentals. The pianist, also a composer and arranger who has worked with many singers in various genres, was backed by bass violin, guitar, drums, saxophone and flute. For a few songs a young woman whom di Martino introduced only as Lily also played violin.
There was no introduction at all for Kopmajer when she joined in ahead of her own segment, leaving many listeners puzzled while she sang “Love at Sundown” and “Magic Beams” in a sweet and mesmerising voice. But they rewarded her with enthusiastic applause nonetheless.
The instruments blended well together and the musicians seemed to make the music “just right” for the audience. This was particularly true with “Falling Rain” and “Echo”.
Thai flute master Tanis Sriklindee appeared as what di Martino called a “surprise guest” for “Love in Spring”. The pianist repeatedly mispronounced the name “Tunis”, but the Thai flute dominated this segment and its improvisation with the other instruments was particularly impressive.
Tanis rejoined di Martino for the encore, which began with “The Ultimate Dream”.
Again, the piano and Thai flute blended wonderfully and the combination earned a lengthy round of applause.
The last song of di Martino’s segment was “Duen Phen” (“Full Moon”), a classic piece from the songs-for-life era written by the late political activist Assanee Ponlachan.
The other musicians joined them for more impressive improvisation on what Tanis called a “special version” of the song.
When it was her turn to claim the stage, Kopmajer greeted the audience with “Sawasdee kha”, saying this was her third performance in Thailand.
Backed by Di Martino and his band, she sang tunes mostly from her latest album “Emotion”. These included “Sleepwalk”, “Go”, “Change the World”, “Emotion”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Rolling in the Deep”. She also offered covers of familiar pop hits, lending them a taste of jazz.
Her natural and flowing style impressed the audience and easily won cheers and applause. She also has a marvellous gift for mimicking different musical instruments. But it seemed she was better with slower tempos.
Her singing was not as freely flowing when she performer quicker tunes, such as “Fire” near the end of the concert.
Just the same, listeners couldn’t help but be charmed when she said thank you in Thai and gave an occasional wai. She also dedicated “Nothing’s Gonna Change” to her fans in Thailand, a track from her previous album, which was the country’s best-selling vocal-jazz album of the year.
Kopmajer’s beautiful singing blended wonderfully with di Martino’s sweet piano performance, and, for the encore, they made sure the audience was thoroughly satisfied with a terrific rendition of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”.
