Whether you’re a jazz music lover or starting to explore, Esplanade Singapore has something for you with a jazz music festival in July. The month-long festival includes performances, workshops and Jazz in July shows at the Esplanade from local to international acts such as Jazzmeia Horn, Pasquale Grasso Trio, Shai Maestro and Pedro Martins. Looking ahead to October, there’s also Gilberto Gil – the bossa nova music legend will be playing a farewell concert.
TAN XIANGHUI, a jazz music lover and the producer at Esplanade Singapore, shares what’s in store. Plus, read his personal recommendations for both aficionados and newbies to jazz music.
Why the focus on jazz music?
Esplanade Singapore has been organising Jazz in July since 2008. It’s the longest running annual jazz event in Singapore for the local jazz community.
We want to represent the range of jazz practitioners in our ecosystem, from the young virtuosos to Cultural Medallion winning octogenarians. It’s a chance for us to bring the range of wonderful musicians we have to public attention.
For a small island nation in the tropics, there’s a lot of jazz music practised here. Its history goes back a century, from colonial times to the influx of the Filipino jazz dynasties, to cabarets and dance halls.
Today, while some practitioners regularly perform in clubs and lounges, others are less visible. They ply their trade in the world of mass entertainment, touring and producing for pop stars, holding jobs as educators or even working other day jobs in the corporate world.
Jazz in July brings together Singapore jazz musicians of all stripes with bands from the region and further out for shows at Esplanade.
The international lineup for Jazz in July includes vocal, guitar, piano and even jazz fusion.
We’re featuring some of the hottest artists that grace the most prestigious international festivals and venues. Each of them present a different facet of jazz. This boutique selection of ticketed concert shows at Esplanade Singapore will appeal to converted fans and those desiring a deeper engagement.
Who should I listen to if I’m…
Someone who’s completely new to jazz music?
Come for our outdoor performances, Big Band Sundays. The lively, brassy, swinging music is perfect for everyone in the family. A lot of the local swing dance community come out to dance there so it’s great fun.
Just before the big band performances, there’ll also be dance workshops where you can learn some simple moves. Before that, there are jazz performances at the Concourse of Esplanade Singapore. So for a single afternoon you get a lot of different jazz exposures.
Vocal jazz is also another very accessible aspect of jazz. I would highly recommend Grammy nominee Jazzmeia Horn. She’s a vocal powerhouse with a ton of soul and character, personally one of my favourite jazz singers of her generation. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned jazz listener or not, her sheer expressiveness will blow you away.
Someone who only knows jazz from a Spotify or YouTube music compilation?
Come for Pasquale Grasso Trio’s concert. The music is literally like listening to a classic vinyl from the 1960s, except with the unbeatable energy of a live performance, manifested right before you.
Pasquale is an amazing player; Pat Metheny called him “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life”. Bassists Ari Roland and Keith Balla, who play with him, are both killer musicians who take no prisoners.
A jazz music lover?
Shai Maestro’s performances begin with simple musical ideas that blossom into cinematic soundscapes and lush melodies over the course of an hour or so. It’s totally improvised so no two performances are the same.
If you’re a true aficionado, come for any of the weeknight at the Esplanade Concourse. Each night showcases a different artist, some of whom don’t perform regularly in public, such as Matthew Tan of Recorda WE. For me, he’s one of the most creative and spontaneous young musicians around.
What does Esplanade Singapore hopes attendees will gain from these performances?
Our festival is a great entry point to jazz because of the huge variety presented.
We want to help people realise that this music covers a whole spectrum of moods, feelings and emotions. It’s in effect, the soundtrack of our lives – whether you’re looking out in the rain, in romantic company, or wanting to feel something complex and/or beautiful.
For me, it’s the most rewarding thing when people find themselves enjoying something they never thought they would. Jazz music is for everyone.
How is Jazz in July different from the Mosaic Music Series, which is also running in July?
The Mosaic Music Series is Esplanade Singapore’s flagship contemporary music brand. Apart from jazz music, it also includes other genres like indie and global pop music. It’s a series of concerts that span across the year.
On the other hand, Jazz in July is a concentrated 31-day festival that focuses on jazz and the many subgenres that are under this family of music. We have everything from early swing to big bands, bebop, cool jazz, vocal jazz, bossa nova, edgier jazz fusion and the most hardcore of all, free (improvised) jazz.
Most of the performances are free, with a different set of artists every day. We want people to discover more jazz music and beyond the festival, explore even more jazz for themselves.
Coming up in October – Gilberto Gil’s farewell concert
The 81 year old Brazilian music legend returns to Esplanade Singapore, 13 years after his last performance at the same venue in 2011. It’s the last chance to catch the father of the Música Popular Brasileira and tropicalia movements of the 1960s as well as former Minister of Culture for Brazil – this concert is part of his farewell tour.
How would you describe Gilberto Gil’s style of music?
It’s difficult to pin him down to one sound because this giant of Brazilian music has played many different genres over his multi-decade career. From bossa nova to Brazilian pop, it’s hard to overstate his impact on music in the country.
However, there is this unique quality that he shares with his peers, be it Joao Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, or Sérgio Mendes – it’s this effortless mastery of mood that is unique, whether they’re singing a plaintive ballad or a playful samba. It’s something in their blood that is near impossible to replicate. There aren’t many masters from that era who still tour now, so this will be a really special concert that we’re so happy to be able to bring to our audiences.
What can we expect at Gilberto Gil’s concert?
As it’s his farewell tour, he will be performing with his family members. At his show at Esplanade Singapore, he’ll be playing his greatest hits across his career, including his own bossa nova songs.
More information and tickets
For the detailed lineup of Jazz in July at Esplanade Singapore, head to esplanade.com. Jazzmeia Horn performs on 5 and 6 July, Pasquale Grasso Trio on 12 July, Shai Maestro on 22 July and Pedro Martins (standing room only) on 26 July. Tickets are $50 for each performance, with limited concessions and Esplanade&Me Specials available.
6828 8377 | esplanade.com
1 Esplanade Drive
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