Autumn nights with Jazz

A host of top classical and contemporary Jazz groups to perform in Korea throughout the fall season


Top-notch groups of jazz musicians are coming to Korea to celebrate the romantic fall season.

The European Jazz Trio, a premier ensemble from the Netherlands, will give a concert at LG Arts Center in Seoul on Sept. 16. The trio debuted in 1984 and became internationally recognized after the release of their second album “Norwegian Wood” in 1988. Even though the founding members have since departed, the current members have well developed the musical style and tradition of the band. The current members of the trio are pianist Marc Van Roon, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Roy Dackus.

The trio is also famous for their love of Korea. Since 2002, the jazz band has held concerts every year in the country. They have also reinterpreted a few Korean songs like “Arirang” and “Oh! Pilseung Korea,” a cheering song for the Korean national football team, in a jazz rendition.

Duke Ellington Orchestra (Jarasum Jazz Festival)

For the upcoming concert, the trio is likely to give something special for the audience with their reinterpretation of K-pop songs, Young and Ipsum Inc., promoter of the concert, hinted. Tickets are from 22,000 won to 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 720-3933.

Jarasum International Jazz Festival, Korea’s biggest jazz festival featuring jazz groups from all over the world, will kick off Oct. 12 for a three-day run. The festival, in its ninth edition, will be held on Jarasum Island in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. It has established itself as a major jazz festival in Asia, claiming to have over 940,000 fans in attendance over the last eight years.

This year, the festival will explore classical and contemporary jazz by inviting professional jazz bands including The Jimmy Cobb, Larry Coryell, Joey DeFrancesco All Star Trio, Duke Ellington Orchestra, South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, jazz guitarist John Scofield and many others.

The Duke Ellington Orchestra, founded by the jazz legend himself, will offer the sound of original classic jazz, one organizer said. This will give the audience a rare opportunity to appreciate the classical jazz performed in big band style, she added.

As part of its cultural exchange programs, the festival holds a special stage for Polish jazz artists. Trumpeter Tomasz Stanko, regarded as Poland’s greatest jazz musician and also a pioneer in free jazz shows, will come. Stanko, 70, is famous for delivering the message of freedom by associating it with jazz when his country was under communist regime.

Other Polish artists who continue the tradition of the European country’s jazz music are also scheduled to perform in the festival. The list includes saxophonist Maciej Obara, party band Senk Ze and piano trio Stryjo.

A three-day pass is 60,000 won. For more information, visit jarasumjazz.com or call (031) 581-2813~4.

Norah Jones, a multiplatinum winner and an iconic figure in the contemporary pop jazz genre, is also coming to Seoul for the first time in seven years. Under the title “Norah Jones Live in Seoul,” the singer-songwriter will hold her concert on Nov. 17 at Jamsil Gymnastic Stadium in Seoul. Jones, who released new album “Little Broken Hearts” in May, is likely to present her rich and beautiful voice to her Korean fans.

Tickets range from 99,000 won to 165,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit ticket.interpark.com.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)