Highlight
American jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves appears on Monday at the National Concert Hall to conclude the venue’s annual Summer Jazz Party. Reeves often draws comparisons with singers Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn, and she recently gained wider attention as the featured vocalist on the soundtrack to the George Clooney film Good Night, and Good Luck. She has won four Grammy awards and is the only artist to have won a Grammy Award in any vocal category three years in a row.
Reeves, who last appeared in Taipei in 2005, keeps a full touring schedule and is known for her engaging live performances. Her touring band features Romero Lubambo on guitar, Peter Martin on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums.
Before the concert there will be an introductory talk on Reeves’ music given by Fu Ching-liang (傅慶良), head of Universal Records Taiwan’s foreign division, in the foyer of the concert hall. Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be available before the show.
▲ Jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves live at the National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳), 21-1 Zhongshan S Rd, Taipei City (台北市中山南路21-1號)
▲ Monday at 7:30pm; introductory talk starts at 7pm
▲ NT$600 to NT$3,000 tickets, available through NTCH ticketing or online at www.artsticket.com.tw
▲ On the Net: event.ntch.edu.tw/2008/JAZZ
Upcoming
Vibe is commonly host to all kinds of freaks, but what makes this weekend special is that they’ll be on stage. You couldn’t get a more divergent lineup of musicians if you tried.
Dr Reniculous Lipz will be word-smithing his unique style of hip-hop, which integrates solid lyrics and an almost surreal sense of humor. His London accent and billy-goat trip-trip-tripping-across-a-bridge rhythms make for an original show that is a far cry from commercial hip-pop.
Each of the bands playing is a true original, with alt-country Point 22 (.22) bordering on the ridiculous but keeping it together with very talented musicians who are all veterans of the local scene. Wade Davis, Steve Taylor and Pete Holmes were dressed in Royal Tenenbaums-style tennis outfits at their gig during Canada d’Eh, and like to rock the crowd with tunes like Dry Humping.
The cherry on this cake of weirdness is Rabbit is Rich (兔子很有錢), a band that has been likened to the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. Lead singer Andrea Huang (黃盈誼) belts huge sound out of her tiny body and has a hair-thrashing, high-energy performance.
▲ Point 22 vs Rabbit Is Rich vs Dr Reniculous Lipz
▲ Roxy Vibe Livehouse, B1, 155, Jinshan S Rd Sec 1, Taipei (台北市金山南路一段155號B1)
▲ Tomorrow from 10pm until late
▲ NT$300 cover includes one free drink and all-night entrance
Theater
Jimmy Liao’s (幾米) illustrations are among the most easily recognizable by a Taiwanese artist. His A Chance of Sunshine was turned into a movie called Turn Left, Turn Right (向左走˙向右走); now it’s getting treatment as a musical. It tells the story of a man and a woman who live parallel lives and seem perfect for each other — but fate keeps them apart.
▲ Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋), 2, Nanjing E Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市南京東路四段2號)
▲ Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30pm
▲ Tickets are NT$600 to NT$3,600, available through NTCH ticketing
A family falls apart after the death of its matriarch in Short One Player Theater Troupe’s (三缺一劇團) latest work, An Obituary Written by Everybody (大家一起寫訃文).
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