On the other end of the spectrum, Hiromi Uehara of Japan, who performs in Taipei next week, could be the jazz pianist of the future. Uehara started out as a child prodigy, and at the age of 17, a chance meeting with pianist Chick Corea in Japan led to an appearance with him on stage the next day. Now 29, Uehara has won praise from jazz critics for her technically brilliant and passionate compositions, which blend jazz, classical, fusion and progressive rock.
The series concludes on Sept. 15 with American vocalist Dianne Reeves, who is perhaps best known as the featured singer on the soundtrack to the George Clooney film Good Night, and Good Luck. Reeves’ voice often invokes comparisons with Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, and she is the only artist to have won a Grammy Award in any vocal category three years in a row. Reeves, who keeps a full touring schedule, is particularly renowned for her engaging live performances.
“The truly great and fun part of these jazz musicians [is that] they can interact with the audience, something you’ll never get from the CD,” says Tung.
But it’s not just about coming and soaking it all in. The concerts give Taiwanese audiences a chance to respond in a live setting and share “their culture” with the performers, he says.
The 2008 Summer Jazz Party 2008 also includes performances from two local jazz groups, Delta on the Main Street Jazz Band and Sizhukong (絲竹空), who perform next Friday and Saturday at the Experimental Theater (實驗劇場).
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