14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009 • TIMES BY David Chen MUSIC

he Taichung Jazz Festival (台中爵士音樂 節) welcomes the autumn season with a Festival notes: stop diversity of jazz styles, ranging from the What: Taichung Jazz Festival Tbe-bop avant-garde sounds of Italian trumpeter When: Tomorrow until Oct. 25 Continental 市民廣場 Enrico Rava and the tango-infused music of Where: Civil Plaza ( ), Jingguo French accordionist Richard Galliano to the Boulevard Parkway (經國綠園道) and Gongyi vocal harmonizing of German group Stouxingers Road (公益路) and the electric blues of Joey Gilmore. On the Net: www.jazzfestival.com.tw compiled BY Catherine Shu The festival, which starts tomorrow and drift Details: Entrance is free runs until Oct. 25, continues to grow. Last year but has lagged in the charts. the event attracted around 290,000 people, clear tango influence. Galliano has worked His record label issued a pouty according to the Taichung Cultural Affairs with Astor Piazzolla and includes the Argentine statement after the numbers were Bureau. The bureau touts the festival as “the composer’s work in his repertoire. in, bemoaning the fact that there nation’s largest,” and expects to break the The Stouxingers are a German a capella is no accounting for taste among 300,000 mark for attendance this year. group, distinguished by their ability to sound listeners. Pan himself sarcastically The event takes place along the city’s scenic like a full band with instrumentation. The asked fans for a “loving hug,” a Jingguo Boulevard Parkway (經國綠園道), with the award-winning sextet not only sings lyrics, but play on the title of Yaoyao’s album. main acts performing at Civic Square (市民廣場). also reels out an array of unconventional noises Yaoyao’s own label called the Many of this year’s acts hail from Europe. — they click their tongues in rhythm, beat-box kvetching “pointless.” Enrico Rava, tomorrow night’s headliner, is and imitate brass horns with their voices. The “Everyone thinks they are one of Italy’s most prominent jazz musicians group performs next Sunday. The program also number one, so why don’t they and a veteran of the international scene. The pays heed to jazz’s roots by featuring American just proclaim themselves number 70-year-old trumpeter started his career working blues-man Joey Gilmore tomorrow night. one?” it said in a statement. with Latin jazz saxophonist Gato Barbieri and The 65-year-old guitarist and singer has Yaoyao’s debut album has ruffled a few While Yaoyao’s album topped dabbled in free jazz and avant-garde throughout spent the last week wowing audiences in Taipei feathers in the Mando-pop world. ’s two major music charts, the mid-1960s, while playing in a quartet with with his soulful singing and deft guitar work. Photo: Taipei times Penny Lin’s (林韋君) twin peaks soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy. Rava now Blues fans shouldn’t pass up this last chance were getting some attention mainly performs be-bop. to see Gilmore, who won the International neumatic media personality of their own. Next Magazine French accordionist Richard Galliano and his Blues Challenge in 2006, a major competition Yaoyao (瑤瑤), real name worked itself into a lather over quartet take the stage next Sunday. Galliano, a held by the Blues Foundation in Memphis. He Kuo Shu-yao (郭書瑤), is its beachside photo shoot with highly revered figure among accordionists, draws appears tomorrow at 7pm in Civic Square and Pclimbing off the DD-list with her the model and soap actress. The from diverse roots, spanning Mediterranean later in the evening at 10:30pm in Hotel One in best-selling new album — but gossip rag gloried in the fact that folk, French Chanson and Musette and classical Taichung, located at 532 Yingcai Rd, Taichung her ascendance in the charts has Lin had insisted on going surfing music. But careful listeners can also discern a City (台中市英才路532號). reportedly reduced one pop rival even though the photographer Nearly 40 acts from both Taiwan and to tears and another to a hissy fit. said the waves were too rough; Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava headlines the Taichung Jazz abroad are also scheduled to perform. For Singer Angela Chang (張韶涵) celebrated when the stick-on Festival, which starts tomorrow and runs until next Sunday. the full schedule, visit the festival Web site at burst into tears at a recent press bra Lin was wearing underneath Photo courtesy of the Taichung Jazz Festival www.jazzfestival.com.tw. event, which our sister paper her bikini top fell into the ocean; The Liberty Times attributed to panted as said top rolled upwards the fact that her latest album, and Lin’s right breast was nearly BY Diane Baker 5th Season (第五季), has been exposed; and muffled its regret COMMUNITY superseded by Yaoyao’s Hug of when Lin modestly held the Love: Farewell to 18 (愛的抱抱:告別 surfboard in front of her chest. 18歲) in Taiwan’s music charts. The rest of Next Magazine’s To be fair, Chang has plenty of fluff piece reported that Lin, who Living the dream reasons to cry that have nothing split with her boyfriend three to do with her rival, who was months ago, was spotted in a tete- inding something to do that the entire Tsai’s energy and enthusiasm are previously best known for riding a-tete with actor Wallace Huo (霍 family or a big group of friends could infectious. They’re what keep the a mechanical horse braless in 建華) at a nightclub. Lin insisted enjoy for a couple of hours can be community’s volunteers, resident foreign a commercial. The pop star that Huo “just came by to say Fdifficult. These budget conscious days have artists and scores of students working and actress is in the midst of a hi,” though he clearly had more made it even more difficult. But tomorrow long hours for minimal pay (the artists) well-publicized feud with her than that to say, because the chat afternoon Taipei residents have the chance in summer camp-like conditions (for the mother and father, who say she lasted for three hours. to experience some spectacular silliness university students sleeping on floors is a negligent daughter and left Hopefully Lin will have more — for free. around the community), building floats them mired in poverty even as she luck in love than fellow actress and The Dream Community (夢想社區) in and giant puppets and making hundreds enjoys the limelight. Chang, on the model Kelly Lin (林熙蕾, no relation), Shijr (汐止), Taipei County, is putting on of costumes. other hand, accuses her parents of who recently split from her fiance, its eighth annual carnival parade, starting Jade Brant, an American costume mismanaging her earnings. singer and actor Ken Zhu (朱孝天). at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall at 3pm. designer and seamstress, has been in Since news of the family scandal The break-up came several days The idea of a creative community, with Taiwan for four months. She came to broke last month, Chang has after the duo announced they were annual parades, festivals and outreach the Dream Community because she met pleaded with the media to leave the delaying their wedding and just a programs, is the dream of Gordon Tsai (蔡 Tsai in New Orleans during this year’s matter alone and refused to answer few months after Lin and Zhu finally 聰明), whose incredible energy and drive Mardi Gras, although she had heard about further questions. Last weekend went public with their four-year have made him famous. It’s not often you him from friends who had residencies marked her return to the public relationship. Various media reports see a middle-aged Taiwanese man covered in Shijr. Whatever floats their boats. Photo: Diane Baker, Taipei Times eye after keeping a low profile for said that Lin was unhappy with in purple body paint and wearing little more “His energy is incredible, he’s community, he knew what to expect. nearly a year and a half, with a Zhu’s income and stalling career. than a loincloth, wings and a halo (2007) crazy,” she said of Tsai. “These kids are Two Indonesians were hard at work was not enough food,” said Tsai, whose performance and autograph signing The actor is currently appearing on or white bodypaint and a big diaper (2006), incredible. Most are university students putting the finishing touches on the floor parents and grandparents farmed the land session to promote 5th Season. MoMo Love (桃花小妹). Lin thought running up and down the street encouraging in their first year. They have bottomless of a float carrying a giant monkey-eating the Dream Community was built on. Unfortunately, Chang started the TV series would turn her bystanders to try a little samba. energy; some stayed up to 4am the other demon, while a dozen students worked on There will also be a boat, buffaloes, a sniveling after just two songs. fiance’s life around. But instead, His antics usually leave younger parade day working on their projects.” another papier-mache demon. In between giant pig and samba cows throwing beads, Afterwards she denied that he has allegedly fought with participants wide-eyed and giggling. Ho Ying-chi (何英琪), one of the full- was a “rocking Buddha” sculpture, he said, and a lot of samba girls, for a Yaoyao’s dominance in the charts crewmembers and showed up to But it’s exactly that “not supposed to” time workers at the community, said wearing a pair of headphones. There will total of about 10,000 participants. had caused the tears, and said she work hungover. attitude that propels Tsai, who says you there were about 10 foreign artists, from be a local heavy metal band playing on its This year’s parade route is much was just touched by the continuing Reports of Zhu partying in don’t have to be a “professional” artist Brazil, the US, India and Bali, working float, Ho said. shorter — just from CKS Memorial support and affection of her fans. nightclubs while filming in Taichung to be creative and that you don’t have on this year’s parade, while five Czechs The theme of this year’s parade is Hall, up Zhongshan South Road (中山 “It’s been 10 years since I was were allegedly the final straw for to have a lot of money to enjoy making, made “master” creations for students to the early migrants from China and the 南路) to Renai Road (仁愛路) and then first signed to a record label. I care Lin. The couple met in 2005 when performing, viewing or supporting art. copy or improve upon during a residency Aboriginals they encountered here, Tsai onto Ketagalan Boulevard (凱達格蘭大道) less about sales numbers than the Zhu was at his peak, starring in hit “My dream is to create a world- earlier this year. said — though it was hard to reconcile — because the parade will be followed affirmation of my fans,” Chang said. series Meteor Garden (流星花園) and famous Taiwan carnival and to give Kalamandalam Shiju Kumar from some of the floats on view with that idea. by a two-hour stage show. The parade “If there is a talented new performing with popular boy band local communities the confidence to Kerala, India, was painting some papier- “It’s about our ancestors working on starts at 3pm and is scheduled to finish singer out there, people should F4. “She had no idea Zhu would so promote their culture, community, mache pieces for one of the floats. He their farms, conflicts with Aboriginal sometime between 5:30pm and 6pm — it’s support him or her,” she added. quickly burst into fatness, become environment through the parade ... Many was a prime example of the Dream people, so we have farmers, pioneers, hard to be precise when you have dozens Fellow pop singer Peter Pan (潘 stagnated in his career and find less people think only money can support Community mantra of “everyone pitches Aborigines — also a lot of ghosts, of floats and 100 marching groups arriving 裕文), however, was less gracious. and less work, while her own light their dreams but in many countries it is in,” since he’s a well-known Kathakali especially the ghosts who eat people,” he from around the country and no time for The singer’s latest album, Dreamer grew brighter,” The Liberty Times the poor people who support the local dancer and poet in India, not a painter. said, laughing. a full rehearsal. The show will run from (夢.想.家), received good reviews, tartly wrote. arts,” Tsai said on Tuesday. But since this is his sixth time at the “Farmers worked hard, suffering, there 7pm to 9pm.

BY Catherine Shu BY Ian Bartholomew RESTAURANTS TIDBITS A-ching 阿菁 here are some restaurants blinds, features that give guests 鮮蔬菠菜寬麵), served with a salad, you go to for food, and full control over the extent of their bread, soup, coffee and dessert. Address: 8 Taishun St, Taipei City (台北市泰順街8號) Telephone: 0926-614-364 there are others you go to open-air experience. While the tagliatelle was bland, Tfor atmosphere. Arcadia falls Arriving on a wet Sunday the dish nevertheless carefully tarting this Sunday, Roxy Open: 11am to 6pm every day; call ahead to confirm business hours Average meal: NT$70 Details: Chinese and Vietnamese menu in the latter category. Checking after a 20-minute drive along observes religious and dietary Roots is rolling out a monthly out the Web site, it became mountain roads, the place was restrictions. Caribbean Pride brunch menu Sconcocted by guest chef, Lilian clear that the food would be thronged with a lunchtime crowd A children’s menu includes the elegantly presented, highly of families. The menu, though spring chicken and a mini five- Molina from Belize, served between processed fast variety so beloved extensive, is predictable and ounce sirloin (NT$300), served 11am and 5pm on the second Sunday ounded by a native of Ho vinegar. For take-out diners, the in Taipei’s business lunch cafes. cleverly priced at a comfortable with fries. Despite my reservations of every month. Chi Minh City, the month- spring rolls are wrapped in saran Its setting on the other hand, in mid-range, just a trifle more than about the highly processed nature Dishes include Creole seafood old A-ching (阿菁) is a wrap, packed in plastic containers a 6.5-hectare private forest in you would expect to pay at a of the food, the menu has clearly soup, served with butter okra Fmodest hole-in-the-wall on and stored in a refrigerator out 三峽鎮 and callaloo greens and coconut Sansia Township ( ), seemed nondescript restaurant in Taipei. been meticulously designed to Taishun Street (泰順街), but front. The rolls are frequently immensely appealing. The selection of six hot pots encompass a wide spectrum of rice (NT$320), fry jacks early the restaurant’s short menu made so the rice paper remains Perched on a hillside was clearly a favorite among tastes. bird special, served with stewed is packed with low-priced tender instead of drying out and overlooking a river valley, Arcadia diners; served with a choice of A large variety of elaborate chicken, refried beans, fry jacks, Vietnamese classics, including becoming tough and chewy. provides magnificent views from pork, beef or mutton, and with a tea drinks (NT$160 to NT$180) fried mashed banana, and a a delicious banh mi, or baguette A fried version (炸春捲) is also its outdoor dining area. Scenic drink and dessert (NT$400). The are available, as well as, amidst choice of eggs (NT$280), and goat sandwich, for just NT$50, and available for NT$50. The green cafes are not exactly a rarity in Italian fresh tomato hot pot (義式 the selection of waffles, French curry with split peas and coconut sweet Vietnamese coffee for papaya salad (涼拌木瓜, NT$50), the hills surrounding Taipei, but 鮮採蕃茄鍋) had a powerfully salty fries and the like, an English rice (NT$250). Unfortunately, NT$35 a cup. which is also kept ready-to-serve Arcadia distinguishes itself with soup base that might, despite its afternoon tea special (NT$320, 英 there’s no mention of ackee and The restaurant’s banh mi (法 next to the spring rolls, is another the remarkable efficiency of its name, have originated in a tin, and 式下午茶) that bizarrely combines saltfish patties. 國麵包, NT$50) is the highlight of option for health-conscious operation and careful attention some rather dodgy mass-market bagels, custard puffs, cake and Over at the Marco Polo A-ching’s streamlined menu. The diners. The crunchy stripes of to detail. Seated in an outdoor dumplings floating atop. New Orleans spicy chicken Restaurant, guest chef Sergio fresh baguette is toasted until unripened papaya are topped with booth, it was a pleasant surprise The serving of meat was wings (available between 2:30pm Carboni, whose restaurant held one the crust is flaky while the inside toasted peanuts, carrots, chopped to discover sliding glass windows not particularly generous, but and 5pm). Michelin star for 18 consecutive remains soft and chewy, and pork, cilantro and shrimp and on three sides and also roll-up there were plenty of vegetables, One of the waiters said that the years, is cooking up classic Venetian stuffed with julienned pickled soaked in a tangy sauce. If you Modesty is an admirable quality at A-ching. and the whole outdoor dining area is hot during cuisine. A four-course set lunch or carrots and daikon radish, order the salad for takeout, make Photos: Catherine ShU, Taipei Times ensemble appeared summer, but with fall in full swing, dinner menu costs NT$2,980 with a large strips of sweet pickled sure to ask for some slices of appetizing even if the setting could not have been la carte offerings starting at NT$350 cucumber, fresh cilantro and lime; the salad tastes best with flavor-wise it left more pleasant. Furthermore, a per dish. pieces of cha lua, a light sausage lime juice drizzled over it. sweetened condensed milk and much to be desired. more formal indoor dining area is Hailing from Cremona, Italy, made from pounded pork, fish Ironically, A-ching’s two pho served on ice. A-ching’s version Two vegetarian also an option. Out back, visitors Carboni comes from a family sauce and potato starch. The selections, which headline its is satisfying for sweet tooths, but options are can find a small herb garden that restaurant business that has been in cha lua makes the sandwich menu, pale in comparison to its surprisingly mild, which might available, one a hot provides a veneer of freshness to operation since 1920. taste rich and substantial, but side dishes. The pork pho (豬肉河 come as a disappointment to pot (NT$400), and the operation, beyond which lie The four-course set menu includes its springy texture, the crunchy 粉, NT$70) and beef pho (牛肉河 people who like their coffee to the other pine nut walking trails that lead to various preserved cod fish tart with zucchini veggies and the baguette’s paper- 粉, NT$70) are both served with leave them bouncing off the walls. and wild mushroom lookouts, as well as picnic and and anchovies, black ravioli filled thin crust make the banh mi a big portions of handmade rice on spinach tagliatelle barbecue areas. Arcadia also with goat cheese and the choice wonderfully light meal. noodles, but only a few lonely (NT$380, 松子野菇 offers accommodation for those of pan-fried beef tenderloin with A-ching’s spring rolls (生菜春 bits of overcooked meat that interested in a lengthier stay. While Amarone wine sauce and black truffle 捲, NT$50) are also very good. are lost underneath mounds of I cannot recommend Arcadia as a served on red onions or oven-baked Go for the view, stay Rice vermicelli, shrimp, pork and cilantro and bean sprouts. Arcadia 花岩山林 place to indulge in fine dining, the sea bass. for the view. scallions are bundled into rice The only beverage available food is more than adequate if you To make a reservation, call (02) paper and served with a sweet- at A-ching is Vietnamese coffee Address: 104-1, Youmu Rd, Youmu Ward, Sansia Township, Taipei County (台北縣三峽鎮有木里有木路104 之1 號) Photo: Ian Bartholomew, Taipei Times know what to expect and, as far as 2376-3156. The address for Marco and-sour dipping sauce made (越南咖啡, NT$35), which is Telephone: (02) 2674-9618 Open: 10am to 10pm Average meal: NT$500 a lovely rustic experience goes, it Polo is 38F, 201, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, from chopped chili, garlic and flavored with a liberal dousing of Details: Chinese menu; credit cards accepted On the Net: www.arcadias.tw, arcadias.emmm.tw is certainly an excellent choice. Taipei City (台北市敦化南路二段201號).