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Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Stacey Kent; Grammy Award-winners Antonio Sánchez and Richard Bona; China’s finest jazz guitarist Lawrence Ku; Acclaimed Shanghai-based trumpeter Li Xiaochuan; Sultry Shanghai-based singer-songwriter Voision Xi all-star line-up of acclaimed local and overseas jazz musicians presented, with more than 100 ticketed and free performances over seven days
Freespace Jazz Fest, the flagship annual musical event of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA or the Authority), returns on an unprecedented scale from 3 to 8 October and 26 October 2023. Entering its fifth edition, the festival features an all-star lineup of more than 500 jazz musicians from 11 countries and regions who together will present over 100 outstanding performances. This year’s jazz extravaganza promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers, transcending cultures, styles and genres. Tickets are now available on the SISTIC ticketing platform.
Top talents to shine on the Wonderland stage including Grammy Award-winners Antonio Sánchez and Richard Bona, and many more from China and around the world
For three consecutive nights on the weekend of 6 to 8 October, top musicians and bands from South Africa, the UK, the US, Mainland China, Poland and Hong Kong will take turns to perform at the “Jazzscapes” outdoor stage at Wonderland, including:
- Lawrence Ku, one of China’s finest jazz guitarists, leading a dynamic trio
- Regular cross-genre collaborator the Patrick Lui Jazz Orchestra featuring Hong Kong jazz masters Eugene Pao and Ted Lo
- The electronica- and psychedelic jazz-fusion sounds of British trio The Comet Is Coming
- Acclaimed Shanghai-based trumpeter Li Xiaochuan leading an 11-person ensemble
- The Afro and Latin jazz beats of Grammy Award-winning bassist and vocalist Richard Bona
- South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini
- Sultry Shanghai-based singer-songwriter Voision Xi
- Polish bassist Kinga Głyk and her band
- Antonio Sánchez & Bad Hombre led by the four-time Grammy Award-winner
The rundown for each night is meticulously curated by the District’s music team, allowing audiences the opportunity to explore the diverse and malleable styles of jazz. One-day and three-day passes are available for “Jazzscapes” at Wonderland, and with no designated seating, music lovers can comfortably enjoy the music while standing or relaxing on the lawn.
Korean musician Dasom Baek joins hands with Hong Kong musician Olivier Cong for a night of cross-cultural and highly inventive musical exchanges; internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Stacey Kent brings festival to a perfect close.
Following her scintillating online performance at last year’s festival, Korean musician Dasom Baek (daegeum) will finally make an in-person appearance on the West Kowloon stage, forming a trio with Ina Kang (geomungo) and Eunsil Noh (vocal) and joining hands with Hong Kong musician Olivier Cong for a night of cross-cultural and highly inventive musical exchanges on 4 October (Wednesday) at The Box, Freespace. Baek’s boundary-crossing performance will blend traditional Korean instrumental sounds with electronic elements, offering the audience an exploration of the limitless possibilities of her spirited brand of jazz.
In addition to the outdoor stage at Wonderland, Freespace, Harbourside Lawn West, the Art Park Great Lawn and Lau Bak Livehouse, this year’s festival will see events expand to the Xiqu Centre for the first time. International jazz star Stacey Kent will grace the stage of the Grand Theatre at the Xiqu Centre on 26 October for a memorable night of music together with trio members Art Hirahara and Jim Tomlinson. Widely lauded on the international stage, Kent has sold more than 2 million albums worldwide and tickets to her performances are always highly sought-after. Her first performance in Hong Kong since her 2018 Asia tour is sure to arouse a huge interest locally. In addition, the festival will present some 10 fascinating performances at M+.
Continuing to spotlight Hong Kong’s jazz scene – top local musicians join hands with rising stars to promote the city’s jazz culture
The festival will continue to spotlight local jazz musicians, with the 80-person chorus Vocal Jazz Tribe taking to the stage to showcase the marriage of jazz harmonies with interpretations of Cantopop hits and jazz classics. Also making appearances are Hong Kong Film Award-winning composer and arranger Yusuke Hatano and his band Yusuke & Buddies; the Joyce Cheung Trio featuring Tsui Chin-hung, one of the best jazz guitarists in town; and Enoch Cheng will lead five other musicians for a one-time nostalgic experience presenting a mix of jazz and R&B originals alongside an all-time-classics repertoire from the 1960s and 70s.
To further promote the local jazz culture among families, and children in particular, this year’s festival will stage a new, fun and interactive musical, Mischievous Boy, for young music fans at The Box, Freespace on 7 and 8 October (Saturday and Sunday). With musician/actor Yau Chung-wai as director, Tsui Chin-hung as musical director as well as singer Crystal Cheung Man-ka, actress Chan Wing-shuen and actor Mok Kok Pong Michael, the show will introduce the delights of jazz through storytelling and plenty of catchy jazz tunes.
What’s more, multi-talented local pianist Daniel Chu will take on a new role this year, moving from onstage to offstage to host sharing sessions at Lau Bak Livehouse scheduled from 3 to 5 October (Tuesday to Thursday), where he will chat about jazz with outstanding arts and cultural professionals from various Hong Kong circles. More details will be announced soon.
Bands from Asia take music lovers on an avant-garde adventure; Triple the fun with free music, workshops, a market and F&B offerings
Throughout the festival, various corners of the District – including Lau Bak Livehouse and the free outdoor stage at Harbourside Lawn West and the Art Park Great Lawn – will stage free performances by a multitude of experimental jazz bands from around the world, including Pakshee (India), Senyawa (Indonesia), SINNOI (Korea), RS5pb (Japan), T-Bone (Thailand) and more. Festival-goers can also enjoy a tailor-made series of free introductory jazz workshops organised by local jazz group Fountain de Chopin at The Room, Freespace. The Art Park Great Lawn will once again stage a weekend market featuring creative craft and specialty beers presented by Hoegaarden, Stella Artois and Goose Island, and savouring delicacies by ADD+; while the Harbourside Lawn East of the Art Park will present a series of workshops and events, offering audiences a grand feast of music, art, and food.
Paul Tam, Executive Director, Performing Arts, WKCDA said: “Now that Hong Kong has fully reopened to the rest of the world, we are delighted to once again invite top-notch musicians from Mainland China and around the globe to join our local talents in the West Kowloon Cultural District. We hope the Freespace Jazz Fest can develop into one of Asia’s best annual jazz events, providing a platform for musicians to showcase their talents and attracting more local, mainland, and international music lovers to attend and experience Hong Kong’s unique and diverse East-meets-West jazz cultural blend.”
Information on Ticketing and Other Programmes
For the latest programme and ticketing details, please refer to the District website: https://www.westkowloon.hk/en/jazzfest
*The Freespace Jazz Fest is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to this programme only, but does not otherwise take part in it. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in the materials/activities (or by members of the GRANTEE’s team) are those of the organisers of this programme only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Remarks
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
About the Art Park
The Art Park is the green heart of the West Kowloon Cultural District. With a rich variety of trees and green planting as well as open lawn spaces, the park provides a vibrant venue for open-air performances, art exhibitions and other cultural events. The Art Park also features a growing range of facilities, including the waterfront promenade, several large lawn areas, and harbourside restaurants and cafes for leisure and relaxation.
About Freespace
Freespace is Hong Kong’s new centre for contemporary performance. Located in the heart of the Art Park, Freespace presents multi-genre performances and events, produces boundary-pushing collaborations, and promotes new ways of seeing and experiencing performance. Freespace houses The Box, a flexible space for cutting-edge performances and one of the largest black box theatres in Hong Kong, two multi-purpose spaces, The Room and The Studio, designed for creative exchange and artistic collaborations, and Lau Bak Livehouse, an intimate bar cafe presenting live music from Hong Kong and around the world.
About Wonderland
Wonderland is an outdoor venue which spans 140,000 square feet, formerly known as Nursery Park. It is dedicated to gathering local and international performance partners in addition to staging music shows and curating a series of special events will be curated. Its visions are to become a new arts and entertainment landmark, to promote arts and cultural development, and to nourish young talents.
About Xiqu Centre
The Xiqu Centre at the West Kowloon Cultural District is the first landmark performing arts venue. It acts as the eastern gateway to the district. Specifically built for performances of Chinese traditional theatre, it will also provide a centre for the production, education and research of this unique art form. The Xiqu Centre was named one of the "100 Greatest Places in the World" by Time magazine in 2019.
About Mega Arts and Cultural Events (ACE) Fund
Mega ACE Fund targets mega arts and cultural events in Hong Kong organised by the private sector or non-governmental organisations, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an arts and cultural metropolis, providing opportunities for the arts and cultural sector to flourish, as well as fostering Hong Kong’s development as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
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