Jazz Encounters of the Jedi Kind
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14 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010 • TAIPEI TIMES BY DAVid CHEN COMPILED BY MUSIC STOP CatHeriNE SHU lla Chen (陳嘉樺) of pop sag last year. The popular Wu Jazz encounters of the Jedi kind group S.H.E is licking her announced he was leaving two E wounds after her boyfriend months ago, partly in response to allegedly strayed. the viewership decline. According to Next Magazine, But Selina seemed confident. PERFORMANCE the singer and Tommy Chao (趙 “We can only go up,” she said. noTES 士懿), grandson of Chao Hsiao- “There’s plenty of room to make (趙孝風), former president improvements.” feng WHAT: Taipei International Jazz Festival of the Taiwan Stock Exchange “Because we’ve gone as low as Corporation, were dating quietly we can,” Yu piped up, in reference WHEN: Tonight and Tomorrow at 7pm. for a year. to the show’s ratings. Afternoon jazz parades featuring Taipei Unfortunately, Tommy Chao If everything else fails, the two International Jazz Academy students run was not so diligent about keeping can flame audience interest by today and tomorrow starting at 5:30pm his side projects under wraps. talking about Selina’s upcoming WHERE: 228 Peace Park (228和平公園), Main Chao supposedly indulged his bull wedding to fiance Richard Chang Stage, near NTU Hospital MRT market by escorting a “hot chick” (張承中). The lawyer famously Station (台大醫院捷運站), exit No. 1 (辣妹) in a Porsche to a fancy hotel. proposed to the singer during ADMISSION: All events are free Ella took to her blog to a S.H.E concert in May as ON THE NET: respond to fans — though she thousands of screaming fans www.taipeijazz.com didn’t actually address the Next waved neon green glow sticks. Magazine article. “I’m doing really Selina admitted that she’s well. I’m living a dream. I have no argued with Chang over where regrets. I’m a lucky person,” Ella the two should spend their wrote in response to comments. honeymoon. Chang wants to Another one of Ella’s rumored take in the scenery of Jiuzhaigou French drummer Roger Biwandu, top left, Italian saxophonist ex-boyfriends, Wu Chun (吳尊), Valley in Sichuan, China, but Rosario Giuliani, above, and South African singer Tutu Puoane a member of boy band Fahrenheit Selina put her foot down. are part of an international cast of jazz musicians that performs (飛輪海), spoke up for his “I said ‘No!’ We can always tonight and tomorrow at the Taipei International Jazz Festival. former flame. go there later, but it’s not a PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TAIPEI INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL “She’s a morally upstanding honeymoon spot.” Selina prefers person, so if this news is true, it a romantic island getaway to the usic can bring strangers together, so from different parts of the world where they’re means this man is no good,” Wu Maldives or a jaunt in Europe. goes the cliche. But things can get more likely to have a different take on things gallantly told reporters. “She just Selina still has some time to interesting when the music is jazz that I’m accustomed to.” has to be a little more careful.” prepare herself for pregnancy and the people coming together are “That makes it exciting,” he said. S.H.E bandmate Selina Jen speculation, but Hong Kong Mmusicians trained to improvise, at least in the Indeed, the diversity of cultures and (任家萱) was asked how Ella is supermodel Gaile Lok (樂基兒), mind of violinist Hsieh Chi-pin (謝啟彬). backgrounds among this weekend’s holding up while hosting her first born Gia Lai (黎嘉儀), is finding This is the idea behind his concert program performers gives credence to the notion episode of variety show Guess out just how desperate the media at the Taipei International Jazz Festival, which that jazz is thriving as an international art Guess Guess (我猜我猜我猜猜猜). can be for a baby bump spotting. began earlier this month and ends this weekend form. “I didn’t get a chance to talk Lok, whose secret 2008 with free concerts tonight and tomorrow at the Biwandu (myspace.com/rogerbiwandu) to her until two or three days marriage to actor and singer Leon 228 Peace Park (228和平公園). is a French national whose family emigrated afterwards,” Selina said. “But when Lai (黎明) caused a tabloid frenzy, Hsieh, a jazz musician and educator who from Zaire. Hsieh says he brings the “energy” I saw her, I asked her how she was was spotted by the Oriental co-founded the festival in 2004 with his wife, pianist of African percussion into his work in modern and she said she was okay.” Sunday in Hong Kong wearing Chang Kai-ya (張凱雅), has organized two shows jazz, fusion and pop. Questions about Ella’s an “uncharacteristically simple” that feature around a dozen accomplished jazz Puoane (myspace.com/tutupuoanemusic), a relationship woes ate up a chunk dress and flats. As she carefully artists from North America, Europe, Africa and 31-year-old vocalist, is considered a rising star of Selina’s Guess Guess Guess navigated a set of stairs, the Taiwan performing together on stage. both in her native South Africa and Belgium, her premiere. Selina and co-host wind blew her clothing against Many of the visiting musicians, who include current home. Harlem Yu (庾澄慶) took over her body, exposing a small but veteran saxophonist John Ruocco, French Italian saxophonist Rosario Giuliani (myspace. helming the CTV show last week “definite bump” in her tummy. drummer Roger Biwandu and South African com/rosariogiuliani) has won a handful of awards after former host Jacky Wu (吳宗 Reports speculated that Lok vocalist Tutu Puoane, only met for the first time in Europe and, according to 憲) quit. secretly went off her contracep- at the beginning of this week. Hsieh, possesses an impressive be-bop Apple Daily noted that the tion to get pregnant. According And there hasn’t been much rehearsal vocabulary that he handles with equally two have taken on a heavy to the Oriental Sunday, Lok time as they’ve been busy teaching at the impressive speed. responsibility. Guess Guess Guess has longed to give her husband Taipei International Summer Jazz Smith (myspace.com/ has been on air since 1996, but a son, but Lai, whose parents Academy, the annual weeklong davesmithtrumpet), the trumpeter, says the show’s popularity started to divorced when he was young, was camp associated with the festival. one of his main influences comes from less enthusiastic about having But the challenge of playing his training as a classical musician. He is Bump watch is children. During a press confer- on stage with a bassist and drawn to “strong harmonies” that create on for Gaile Lok. ence earlier this year, Lai, who drummer you’ve just met is the “drama” and a “sense of motion.” PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES was dubbed one of the “Four ultimate test of skill for a jazz Attendees of past festivals will Heavenly Kings” of Canto-pop musician and will make for a recognize some returning musicians: in the 1990s, laughed off baby “fresh encounter,” said Hsieh in John Ruocco (www.jazzmasters. rumors, telling reporters an interview earlier this week. nl/johnruocco), the veteran “don’t believe everything “That’s what jazz means,” American saxophonist based in you hear!” he said. “You just improvise, play Europe; German hard-bop guitarist When paparazzi spot- together and do your best, try Joachim Schoenecker (www. ted Lok last week, your best to create the joachimschoenecker.com); Italian she was braving best music.” drummer Mimi Verderame (myspace. a heat wave to go The format of tonight and com/mimiverderame); Belgian shopping with friends. tomorrow’s concerts is nothing bassist Bart de Nolf (myspace.com/ After catching sight new to the festival, now in its bartdenolf); and Dutch pianist Peter of the photographers seventh edition. But the difference van Marle, who specializes in Latin jazz trailing her, Lok held from year to year lies in the new and percussion. Hsieh and Chang will up her jacket to hide her faces that bring their unique also participate in the concert. belly before heading into talents and skills to the mix. Hsieh jokes that this musician’s an eveningwear boutique. David Smith, a Canadian- summit is like a meeting of “Jedi Newspapers claimed she born, New York-based trumpeter knights.” But he has taken the paid particular atten- teaching and performing in reference to Star Wars, one of his tion to styles with Taiwan for the first time, says he favorite movies, even further. The empire waists and appreciates the idea of being put theme of this year’s concert has been loose, flowing skirts. into a situation where “people are billed as “The Force of Jazz.” BY HO YI BY DAVid CHEN RESTAURANTS TIDBITS you’re looking for a cool white ocean fish that Waterfront My dining companion liked the BY CatHeriNE SHU Tsubaki 椿 summer breeze in the Taipei serves breaded and pan-fried. The “Italian-style tomato and cheese Address: 46-1 Yongkang St, Taipei City (台北市永康街46-1號) area, it’s tough to beat Bitan fish fillet was tender and flaky pizza” (NT$300), which I found If(碧潭), located close to Xindian and tasted fresh, but the kebab too salty. The thin crust was ummer is the time for Telephone: (02) 2358-7377 Open: Mondays to Saturdays from 6pm to midnight Average meal: NT$600 MRT Station (新店捷運站). A major vegetables on the side were hit also too oily, but the dish won barbecues, but if you Details: Chinese menu, credit cards not accepted renovation project completed at and miss.