“After a successful run of eight years, the festival is considered by jazz aficionados a must-attend event,” an official from organizer Taipei City Government said July 17. “The festival also allows us to showcase the latest jazz developments and trends in Taiwan.”
Themed exchanges between the East and West, the event features 22 artists from eight countries presenting seven solo and joint concerts. It will open with performances by Taiwan music groups One Piece and Our Piano Trio.
Overseas acts include 2014 Grammy Award nominee trombonist Alan Ferber from New York and Israeli percussionist Gilad Dobrecky. Canadian-born trumpet master David Smith is scheduled to play a set of well-known pieces with Taiwan’s Tijepa Jazz Groove Band.
Local musicians such as Pingtung County’s moon guitar legend Wu Teng-jung and The Clockfish Trio will also perform at the event. Wu is expected to impress all and sundry with a folk combo performance alongside Western-styled Chipin and Kaiya’s Jazz.
“The program for the two-day festival is a special one and not to be missed,” the official said. (DF-JSM)
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