Jazz band set to sway in City
Well-known saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan and his jazz group, the Saigon Big Band, will entertain HCM City fans with a concert at the Opera House on January 17.
The Tran Manh Tuan & the Saigon Big Band-A new Year’s Celebration concert will include the debut performance of Saigon Big Band, the first of its kind in HCM City.
In the first part of the show, the 20-member band will play Tuan’s compositions, which are a mixture of jazz and traditional Vietnamese music.
Vietnam’s leading đàn tranh (zither) musician Hai Phuong and đàn kìm (two-string musical instrument) player Anh Tan will perform with Tuan and the band.
Classic jazz songs for the big band will be presented during the second part of the show.
Jazz singer Tuyet Loan, known as the Vietnamese queen of jazz, will show off her strong and clear voice in the show, accompanied by a dance performance of the Saigon Swing Cats.
For fans of late composer Trinh Cong Son, Tuan will present his song Con Mắt Còn Lại (The Remaining Eye), a remix in a jazz style, during a special part of the show titled Trịnh Công Sơn in the Mood of Jazz.
He said he hopes the performance will surprise fans of both jazz and the late composer.
Tuan has also invited veteran percussion player Ngoc Quan and bass player Thanh Tan to perform with the band.
The concert will be held at the Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.
Tickets range from VND200,000 to VND1 million (US$10-50) and are available at the venue and the Sax ‘n’ Art Club on 28 Le Loi Street in District 1.
After the New Year’s concert, the Saigon Big Band will perform outdoors in front of the Opera House on the first Saturday of every month.
“The monthly performance will motivate us to continue on our road, which may have difficulties because jazz music is not that popular here,” Tuan said.