14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008 • TIMES The Big Easy in Taipei

Nbugu Kenyatta, a veteran of Taipei’s live music Liz Yang fights the good fight for there’s one fixture in Taipei’s another group formed with his family. scene, plays New Orleans funk, R’n’B and soul music Wookies everywhere. photo: Taipei Times ever-changing live music Kenyatta continued to study music while with his band the Kenyatta Trio every Friday at the circuit, it’s Nbugu Kenyatta. earning his education degree at Southern Tavern and every Saturday at Capone’s. If Since arriving 16 years ago, University at New Orleans, which he says Photo: David Chen, Taipei Times hen the and Sonia Sui (隋棠) to act as the drummer and has been rocking gave him the opportunity to share the stage media the spokeswoman for beauty Taipei with the groove-oriented music of with greats such as jazz pianist Herbie W resort to product manufacturer COTA, his hometown, New Orleans. Hancock, guitarist Carl Le Blanc and avant- dredging up old romances, for a fee of NT$2 million. Nowadays the 54-year-old plays with garde jazz composer Sun Ra. readers know that the gossip The economic downturn his band, the Kenyatta Trio, at the Tavern One of his most valuable experiences rags are scraping the bottom seems to be just a rumor every Friday and Capone’s on Saturdays. was playing the clubs on New Orleans’ of the barrel. in such circles and clearly The group covers many styles, ranging from Bourbon Street starting from the age of This week’s tantalizing doesn’t have much bearing R’n’B and soul to reggae and funk. 17, he said. He became proficient in many tidbits (“tit-bits” might be more on the lives of supermodels. In the early 1990s Kenyatta made a different styles, including reggae, R’n’B, appropriate in the circum- Liz Yang, who is of mixed Tai- splash as part of the house band at the funk, jazz and blues, all of which are an stances), include Fun Taiwan wanese-Guatemalan descent, now-defunct club TU, breathing fresh air important part of playing music in New presenter Janet Hsieh (謝怡芬) has cut a swath through the into Taipei nightlife with the sounds of Orleans, he said. “You have to play more being manhandled in public country’s modeling world with traditional New Orleans jazz. Later on, than one style. You have to be versatile … by Super Idol judge Wang Chi- her bold poses, attitude and club owner Ted Su (蘇誠修) asked Kenyatta You have to play all of it.” ping (王治平) at an event held romantic involvements. to bring his electric band, ARRK, which “Fulfilling” is how Ray Anthony, to promote the upcoming 2008 While Liz Yang may be played classic funk and R’n’B in the spirit current guitarist for the Kenyatta Trio, Urban Simple Life (簡單生活 riding a wave that lifts her of acts like the Meters, Dr John and the describes playing with Kenyatta. “You’re 節) festival and Ethan Ruan (阮 above the troubled waters of Neville Brothers. playing with people that really enjoy 經天) who, according to Next, these troubled times, other They played up to four hours a night, playing the music,” he said. developed a pocket rocket beautiful people are definitely seven nights a week, and Kenyatta loved Kenyatta met his wife of 10 years, Kim struggling. every minute of it. “They actually had to Wei (魏宣愉), in Taipei. He sees himself as Television shopping ask us to stop playing and take a vacation a “liaison” between New Orleans music channels have taken a beating, because … being from New Orleans we’re culture and Taiwan and likes the occasional and hosts such as Si Rong (斯 used to playing 24 hours, 24-7,” he said, times when he gets recognized on the street 容), the “queen of consumer sipping on a beer at Capone’s. by past audience members. “It gives me electronics,” have been forced Kenyatta, also known by his original such a great feeling that — hey, people to rely more heavily than name Abe Thompson, developed a passion know me.” ever on such tricks as plastic for music at the age of 10, when he would Lately the Trio’s set has included Jimi surgery to maintain their spend hours waiting for his brother to give Hendrix tunes, reggae and several original Is that a pencil in your pocket, or are appeal with fickle audiences him a turn on the drum kit. The first song songs by Kenyatta, which he wrote just you hugging a sexy fan? and nervous TV producers. he learned was James Brown’s Cold Sweat. after recovering from a stroke nearly two  photo: Taipei Times There is nothing Si won’t By high school he was practically eating years ago. sell, according to Next, and and breathing music. He sang with his five The health scare hasn’t changed while embracing a fan at a she has lost a further 8kg off brothers and two sisters in a Motown-style Kenyatta’s feelings about playing on stage, charity clothing auction. her surgically sculpted body group called the Tempressions (inspired which he describes as “heaven.” They’re just the warm-up to make herself even more by the Temptations and the Impressions), Besides, what would he do without acts, though. Speculation is appealing before the camera played the snare drum with his high school music? “It’s a part of me. I can’t live rife that singer so she can help you decide to marching band, and performed psychedelic without it.” (黃立行) may be re-igniting a buy that diamante cummer- rock and R’n’B with the Energy Funk Band, — David Chen 13-year-old relationship with bund you’ve always wanted. Faith Yang (楊乃文). While some have to go The relationship stalled under the knife to ensure the more than a decade ago as the fat monthly paycheck keeps two Golden Melody Award- rolling in, others just lay back Performance notes: winning singers (Yang won and think of England. Well, in best female singer in 2000 and the case of Michelle Reis (李嘉 What: The Kenyatta Trio Huang won best male singer 欣), she was probably thinking When: Every Friday night from 9pm to 11pm at the Tavern, 415, Xinyi Rd Sec 4, in 2005) each focused on about dollar signs. Taipei City (台北市信義路四段415號). Tel: (02) 8780-0892. Every Saturday from 9pm to developing their careers and The Macau society belle 11pm at Capone’s Restaurant, 312, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市忠孝東路 engaging in separate romantic with a roving eye for wealthy, 四段312號). Tel: (02) 2773-3782 interludes. married men has wed Julian Details: No cover charge Huang, who has worked Hui (許晉亨), the son of Hong his way through a formidable Kong construction baron Hui list of singers, TV personalities Sai-fun (許世勳). and models, even being Next magazine reports dissident at home and say that because of the dictatorship associated with (蔡依 that parental approval for Lessons in liberalism political exile abroad Civil rights activist and former in North Korea we should also have 林) for a short time, has always the match had been withheld informed his later work dissident Samuel Lee will give an authoritarian government [in South insisted that his only serious until it was revealed that Samuel Lee, like many South Korean as a founder of the a lecture on South Korea’s Korea],” said Lee, who was born in girlfriend had been Yang. Reis was already two months university students in the 1960s, People’s Solidarity for democratization. North Korea. pregnant. Hui Senior was participated in the April Revolution Participatory Democ- Photo courtesy of the Lung Yingtai When asked to cite the processes Both icons of cool, Huang Cultural Foundation and Yang could have been definitely not in a fun mood demonstrations that eventually toppled racy, one of South  that enabled South Korea to move made for each other, and for the event, especially as Syngman Rhee’s military regime. He Korea’s most powerful dictatorial rule to beyond its authoritarian past, Lee the gossip rags are salivating the family had gone out of its later continued his dissident activities in civic organizations, and political democracy paused before answering. at the prospect of further way to protect Junior from West Germany, where he coordinated a as Secretary-General and also economic “Gradually increasing the influence developments. the clutches of entertainment protest movement against Park Chung- of UNESCO’s Korean development and and power of civil society, including the Huang is scheduled to industry gold diggers. hee’s dictatorship. National Commission — [the development of a] intellectuals and religious leaders,” he release a new album on Dec. The Hui clan had put “I had organized a democratic experiences he will address peaceful relationship with said. “And also, of course, the student 5, the title of which roughly the kibosh on Junior’s movement … called [the] Forum for in a talk tomorrow titled Why We North Korea,” he said. movements.” translates as “In the End You relationships with Carina Lau Democracy in Korea,” Lee said in a Are Where We Are: A Personal Account Lee, who is currently professor of Samuel Lee’s lecture is tomorrow Can Only Lie Down” (最後只好躺 (劉嘉玲) and Gigi Lai (黎姿), but telephone interview with the Taipei of South Korea’s Path to Democracy. social philosophy at Seoul’s Soongsil from 2pm to 5pm at the GIS Convention 下來). The new work might not Reis played hardball and won. Times. “We were fighting against the The talk, part of the MediaTek University, said that the military Center, B1, 85, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, be completely unrelated to the Although the nuptials were dictatorship in [South] Korea. But after lectures hosted by the Lung Yingtai dictatorship in North Korea helped Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段85號B1). star’s pursuit of his old flame, a relatively low-profile affair, giving … interviews … in the German Cultural Foundation (龍應台文化基金會), justify authoritarianism in the South. The lecture is in English. Admission is the vernacular press suggests. Reis was not going to let this press, I couldn’t return to Korea until will be held in English with simultaneous “Many thought that … democracy free, but pre-registration is required. The fascinating observation stop her being the belle of 1982 — after 14 years [of] staying in interpretation in Mandarin. could not be realized because of our Call (02) 3322-4907, or register online at that body hair is not an the ball, and Next magazine Europe, harbored in exile.” “I would like to describe the process antagonism and struggle against North www.civictaipei.org. insuperable obstacle to reports that she spent NT$21.5 His early experiences as a student of how we changed our country from Korea and any military government will — Noah Buchan success as a model in Taiwan million on two wedding gowns is the other issue that has and five evening gowns for caught the interest of Next the occasion. Now that the magazine’s editors this week. Lothario and the gold digger Top Five Mandarin Albums Nov. 14 to Nov. 20 3 Rainie Yang (楊丞琳) and Rainie’s Proclamation — Not Yet a Woman Supermodel Liz Yang (楊俐 are man and wife, the story, (半熟宣言) with 5.39% 思), who has publicly com- as far as the gossip rags are 黃靖倫 (倫語錄 mented that she is “hairy,” was concerned, has only just 11 Jing Huang ( ) and Jing-Jing’s Note ) with 29.92 percent of sales 4 Original soundtrack from Cape No. 7 (海角七號) with 2.91% selected over better-known begun. — compiled by Ian models Bianca Pai (白歆惠) Bartholomew JJ (林俊傑) and Sixology (JJ 陸) with 2.53% 2 Mayday (五月天) and Poetry of the Day After (後青春期的詩) with 23.7% 5 Album chart compiled from G-Music (www.g-music.com.tw), based on retail sales

[ EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT ]

her granddaughter to work in a factory drumming. Over the next two weeks, Tickets are NT$400 to NT$1,000, NT$350 tonight and tomorrow, that makes matches. The girl befriends three joint concerts, in Kaohsiung, available through NTCH ticketing includes one drink Theater a little boy and together they discover Taichung and Sinjhuang, will take Women Write History, Our that the matches are alive. One night, place featuring drummers from the Upcoming 2008 Taiwan Connection Music Post-rock bands Sorry Youth Spoken Culture (女人寫歷史， a disaster threatens the lives of both Taiwan association and their sister Festival — Hu Nai-yuan and and Orange Grass (橙草) appear 自己說文化！) is part of The Voyeur children and their match friends. association in Japan. the TC String Orchestra (2008 tomorrow night at the The Wall (這 Former Pulp frontman Jarvis Theater’s (窺視者劇團) “Herstories Nadou Theater (納豆劇場), 79 Xining Wednesday at 7:30pm (Kaohsiung) Taiwan Connection 音樂節 － 胡 牆). On Sunday the venue hosts One Cocker and Brett Anderson, Project” and combines the stories and N Rd, Taipei City (台北市西寧北路79號) Kaohsiung Municipal Social 乃元與TC弦樂團) will see renowned Blood, a party of indie bands including former frontman of Suede, headline experiences of 10 women. Tomorrow at 3pm Education Center (高雄市立社會教育 Taiwan violinist Hu Nai-yuan (胡乃元) post-rock outfitBugs of Phono, 2008 Urban Simple Life (簡 Crown Art Center Theater (皇冠小劇 Tickets are NT$200, available through 館), 115 Hsuehfu Rd, Kaohsiung City (高 performing a program of easy listening Echo’s lead singer Wu Po-chang (吳 單生活節), which takes place 場), B1, 50, Ln 120, Dunhua N Rd, Taipei NTCH ticketing 雄市學府路115號) classics including Mozart’s Eine Kleine 柏蒼) and Waa Wei (魏如萱), along on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 at Taipei’s City (台北市敦化北路120巷50號B1) Tickets are NT$300 and NT$500, Nachtmusik, K.525, Kreisler’s Preludium with rockers The Darlings and solo Huashan Culture Park (華山文化園 Tonight and tomorrow night at available through ERA ticketing and Allegro and Elgar’s Introduction artist Oliver from Hong Kong. 區). Also scheduled to perform at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at Classical music and Allegro, Op.47. B1, 200, Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei the combination music festival/ 2:30pm Between Black and White — As part of the 2008 Taiwan Sunday at 2:30pm City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1). Call street fair are local acts 1976, Tickets are NT$250, available Pascal Roge Solo Piano Recital International Piano Festival Chiayi Performing Arts Center (嘉義 (02) 2930-0162 or visit www.the-wall. Sodagreen (蘇打綠), Chang through NTCH ticketing (遊藝黑白 － 帕斯卡.羅傑鋼琴獨奏 (2008台灣國際鋼琴藝術節), Oxana 縣表演藝術中心), 265, Jianguo Rd Sec 2, com.tw for more information Chen-yue (張震嶽) and Free 9, 會) sees the celebrated interpreter of Yabloskaya and Andrei Yeh (葉孟儒) Minsyong Township, Chiayi County (嘉 8pm tomorrow and 7:30pm Sunday Tizzy Bac, and Lin Sheng-xiang Brett Anderson performs next weekend at A hubristic engineer attempts French composers perform a program will perform with the National Taiwan 義縣民雄鄉建國路二段265號) NT$400 tomorrow and Sunday (林生祥). Simple Life, which will Urban Simple Life.  photo Courtesy of Brett Anderson to create a purification system featuring the works of Faure, Satie, Symphony Orchestra (國立台灣交 Tickets are NT$300 to NT$800, also feature a T-shirt market, a to eliminate pollution in RU-XU Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc. 響樂團) in a program that includes available through NTCH ticketing Indie-folk and pop band 929 plays “street market” for vendors selling Huashan Culture Park (華山文化園 Pithead (如徐礦坑). But the problems Sunday at 7:30pm (Taichung) and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.3 and tonight at Witch House (女巫店). original designs and handicrafts, 區), 1, Bade Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北 he encounters threaten the health of Tuesday at 7:30pm (Taipei) Shostakovitch’s Piano Concerto No.1. Tomorrow alt-rock band Neon takes and a market for organic products, 市八德路一段1號). Call 0800-612-168 the citizens in the city where he lives. Taichung Chungshan Hall (台中市中 Tomorrow at 7:30pm to the stage, and on Thursday it’s folk is organized by Neutron Innovation or visit www.SimpleLifeTW.com for Eslite Bookstore, Tainan (台南誠品書 山堂), 98 Hsuehshi Rd, Taichung City National Concert Hall, Taipei City Contemporary singer Chang Jie (張頡). (中子創新), the outfit behind the more information 店), B2, 181, Changrung Rd Sec 1, (台中市學士路98號) and the National Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,500, Drum ’n’ bass takes center stage 7, Ln 56, Xinsheng S Rd Sec 3, Taipei taike (台客) TK Rock (台客搖滾嘉年 NT$1,500 a two-day pass or Tainan (台南市長榮路一段181號 B2) Concert Hall, Taipei City available through NTCH ticketing tonight at VU Live House with City (台北市新生南路三段56巷7號). For 華) festival. See next Friday’s Around NT$900 for a one-day pass when Tonight and tomorrow night at Tickets are NT$400 to NT$2,000 for Tech Step, featuring DJs presented more information, call (02) 2362-5494 Town section for a full preview. purchased in advance online at 7:30pm and tomorrow and Sunday at both venues, available through ERA Ju Percussion Group Winter by Tranquility Bass productions. or visit www.witchhouse.org 2008 Urban Simple Life tickets.books.com.tw or at 7-Eleven 2:30pm ticketing Concert — Percussion Happens Tomorrow Spiked Taiwan presents Performances start at 9:30pm. (簡單生活節) stores; NT$1,200 for a one-day pass Tickets are NT$300, available Daily (朱宗慶打擊樂團冬季公演 Breakin’ Point 2 with DJs Junior, Restaurant/bar with queer/feminist Noon to 10pm Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 purchased at the door through NTCH ticketing 2008 Taiwan Taiko Association － 擊樂進行式) features works by vDub and Scottyballer. bookstore and large collection of Concert — A World of Harmony a host of international composers B1, 77, Wuchang St Sec 2, Taipei City board games open 11am to midnight The Little Matches Girl (賣番仔火 (2008鼓動台灣 － 韻響世界) including Emmanuel Sejourne, Eric specifically for the Ju Percussion Group Sun Yat-sen Hall of the National Sun (台北市武昌街二段77號B1). Call (02) Sundays through Wednesdays; 11am 的小女孩) by Taiyuan Puppet Theater brings Taiwan’s taiko practitioners Sammut, Gerard Lecointe, Aurel Hollo, and which are a showcase for its Yat-sen University Art Center (高雄中山 2314-1868 for more information to 1am Thursdays through Saturdays Company (台原偶戲團) tells the story together with Japanese drummers to Toshimitsu Tanaka and Chang Yi-hui unique sound and stage presence. 大學逸仙館), 70 Lienhai Rd, Kaohsiung Shows begin at 11pm tonight and Entrance fee for music shows is of a greedy grandmother who forces celebrate the perennial appeal of taiko (張玉慧), which have been written Today at 7:30pm City (高雄市蓮海路70號) tomorrow NT$300, includes one drink