By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, Reported by Chen Guanxin
Organized by the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, the "2013 Taichung Jazz Festival" officially begins today and runs through October 27 at Civic Square. This year’s theme, "Classic Jazz Rising – This is Jazz," features over 50 performance groups from 11 countries, taking audiences on a journey from classic jazz "historic scenes" to today’s globally popular "world stages." The international acts invited this year represent a diverse jazz medley — from authentic American jazz to modern jazz from France, Denmark, Norway, Australia, and more, plus world jazz infused with Israeli folk flavors.
The annual music extravaganza — the Taichung Jazz Festival — kicks off today. (Photo provided by Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau)
At 2:00 PM today, the festival opens with a lively “Creative Costume Parade.” The parade is led by marching bands from three high schools — Xinmin High School, Lingdong High School, and Ciming High School — along with the Kidsari Band and a classic convertible car fleet. Starting at Civic Square, the parade will proceed along Gongyi Road, Zhongming South Road, Section 2 of Taiwan Boulevard, and Zhongxing Street, delivering a spectacular and exciting opening procession.
Starting at 3:00 PM, top-tier acts on the Main Stage, J1, and J2 stages will take the stage one after another. These include Malaysian jazz diva “Malaysia’s Teresa Teng” Winnie Ho, Japanese jazz beauty Keiko Kobayashi, and French jazz vocalist Anne Ducros, who closes the first day. With their exceptional musical skills, they will wow the audience and inaugurate the jazz festival in dazzling fashion.
Tomorrow (October 20), performances will feature renowned American jazz harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens, known as the “Ambassador of Samba Jazz,” and Australian jazz guitar quartet Albare Quartet, whose music has topped the U.S. jazz charts for ten consecutive weeks. Hendrik Meurkens, hailed as the most important jazz harmonica player since Belgian jazz legend Toots Thielemans, blends jazz with Brazilian styles to create his unique Samba Jazz. His smooth, flowing melodies are sure to captivate the crowd. The Australian Albare Quartet will infuse their music with blues and soul elements, guiding listeners into a beautiful musical experience filled with charm in the ordinary.
The 2013 Taichung Jazz Festival offers nine days of continuous, exciting performances. In addition to world-renowned jazz bands bringing classic musical feasts from around the globe, side events including a jazz cinema, international food exhibition, and cultural and creative market will provide attendees with a rich and unforgettable musical experience, showcasing Taichung’s unique jazz spirit and urban style.
To accommodate event schedules, the Transportation Bureau has coordinated with bus companies to add extra service runs. City buses with route numbers below 300 offer free rides for trips within 8 kilometers when tapped with an EasyCard. The public is welcome to take advantage of this. To ensure pedestrian safety during the event, from today through October 27, Gongqian Road (from Gongyi Road to Lane 470 of Yingcai Road) will be closed on weekends from 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM and on weekdays from 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM. For more event details, please visit the official website: www.taichungjazzfestival.com.tw.
● Further Reading:
Tipsy Nights in Taichung: Top 20 Popular Nightclubs (Part 1)
http://goo.gl/zeDBNe