Jazz stars headline Luala concert series

2 Hinh nen dep | saint james medical school |

A jazz performance featuring leading Vietnamese jazz saxophonist Quyen Thien Dac and his Phu Sa bandmates kicked off the spring-summer season of Luala concerts on Saturday, a series of free shows in downtown Ha Noi.

Giant steps: Tenor saxophonist Quyen Thien Dac and his band perform on the pavement yesterday to kick off the spring-summer season of Luala concerts. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI —

Taking place on the pavement in front of the Music Publishing House, 61 Ly Thai To Street, the performance attracted a large number of passers-by and pedestrians, including many foreign tourists.

The open-air concerts aim to offer people the opportunity to enjoy different types of music.

During the two-hour show, the trio, consisting of Dac, who studied jazz in the US and Sweden, percussionist Le Quoc Hung and guitarist Vu Ngoc Ha, presented various famous international jazz pieces. They also performed their own compositions featuring Vietnamese folk melodies.

Besides the jazz concert, an open-air display of more than 60 colourful paintings by children aged from five to 12 from the Ha Noi Children Palace are on view. The display will run until Friday, following a mini exhibition by 10-year-old "junior painter" Vu Tuan Kiet, whose paintings have received positive comments by fine arts community www.soi.com.vn.

Another display featuring unique art installations by four Hanoian painters will start on April 26.

The spring-summer Luala concerts and art displays will be held every weekend until May 6. The music performances will take place from 4-6pm on Saturdays, and from 9-11am and 4-6pm on Sundays.

On April 15, jazz trio Phu Sa will share the stage with string musicians from the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra who also performed during last year's festival.

Hundreds of people of all ages gathered to enjoy orchestral performances during last year's event. The concerts were listed as one of the top 10 music events of 2011 by the Viet Nam Musicians' Association.

It is also one of the nominees for the title "Show of the Year" at the 2011 Devotion Awards, the winners of which will be announced on April 22. — VNS

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