Singapore, 6 April 2018 (Friday) – Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will present a never-before jazz concert featuring one of China’s established jazz singer Coco Zhao and trumpeter Li Xiaochuan, in a unique concert of swing and jazz songs. The Bund – Swing to Jazz Concert will be held on 27 and 28 April 2018 (Friday and Saturday), 8pm, at the SCO Concert Hall. This concert will be conducted by Music Director Tsung Yeh.
This Shanghai-jazz-themed concert will be reminiscent of the 1900s – pieces that you are bound to have heard at least once in your life, and were extremely popular back in the days. Both Coco Zhao and Li Xiaochuan will also be coming on stage together with SCO to perform Chen Ruizhen’s Yearning, Chen Gexin’s Night in Shanghai, Irving Berlin’s Blue Skies and Jon Hendrick’s I Want Your Love. Other pieces to be played in this concert include Law Wai Lun’s Old Shanghai and W.C Handy’s St. Louis Blues, a classic jazz piece which has been arranged by Bill Holcombe and Matteo Giamario, and adapted by Law Wai Lun. A Jazz Trio of Tamagoh (drums), Christy Smith (bass) and Chok Kerong (piano) will also be performing with the orchestra. All the songs and works in this concert are arranged by SCO Composer-in-Residence Eric Watson and Cultural Medallion 2017 Recipient Law Wai Lun, a respected local composer.
Coco Zhao, labelled “China’s most promising young jazz musician” by Youth Daily, has explored the possibilities of jazz within traditional and modern music and culture, both Western and Chinese. His unique voice, imagination, and expressive singing style have made him beyond reproach as one of China’s most creative voices. Coco Zhao has gained worldwide recognition and has received invitations to music festivals worldwide, such as the 1997 International Jazz Festival in Shanghai and 2006 Montreal Jazz Festival. He also had the great honour of co-operating with world famous jazz singer Betty Carter and performed at Stacey Kent’s guest singer for her first concert in Shanghai. This concert will showcase his unique way of expression and understanding of jazz music in famous pieces such as Earl and Alden Shuman’s Give Me A Kiss, Yan Hua’s Blossom under the Full Moon, a medley of Xian Hua’s I Smile Whenever I See You and Harold Arlen’s Let’s Fall in Love, and Harold Arlen’s Over the Rainbow.
Li Xiaochuan from JZ Music is China’s most recognized jazz trumpet player and composer. He is the only jazz artist awarded by CCTV (China Central Television) Music Channel, which is to honour the most distinguished woodwind and brass musicians in China. He has been invited to perform in many distinguished Jazz festivals, such as the JZ Festival Shanghai, Hong Kong Jazz World Jazz Festival, Luxembourg Echternach Festival and the Denton Music & Arts Festival USA to name a few. Li Xiaochuan has also performed with esteemed Jazz musicians such as Billy Drummond, Uri Caine, Louis Nash, Seamus Blake, Stefan Karlsson, and Tito Puente Jr. This concert, he will be presenting well-known jazz pieces in two different medleys: the first will include Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade and Frank Foster’s Shiny Stockings; the second which will consist of Li Xiaochuan’s very own composition Reunion, and Miles Davis’ Flamenco Sketches.
Meet-the-Artiste Package
There is a $150 Meet-the-Artiste bundle which includes 1 top-priced ticket worth $102, a pre-concert reception, intermission drinks with a jazzy cocktail specially concocted for this concert, an exclusive meet-and-greet with Maestro Tsung Yeh and guest artistes Coco Zhao and JZ Music’s Li Xiaochuan, an autographed house-program and one SCO CD.
To enhance the concert experience and ambience, members of the audience are highly encouraged to dress up in Shanghai Chic. The Best-Dressed audience of the night will stand to receive a souvenir from SCO.
Concert Details:
The Bund – Swing to Jazz
Date: 27 & 28 April 2018 (Friday & Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket prices (before SISTIC fees): $98, $78, $68, $48/$30*, $25**
*Concession price
**Restricted View Seats
For more information, photographs, and interviews, please contact the Media Officers below:
Media Contacts
Valesha Soon Weixuan
Senior Executive (Marketing Communications)
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DID: 6557 4037 / 9187 3418
Koh Mui Leng
Assistant Director (Marketing Communications)
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DID: 6557 4047 / 9833 0556