The Greatest Jazz Musicians Are Coming

The renowned female jazz singer Dianne Reeves, talented guitarist Al di Meola, who can play various genres from heavy metal to jazz, top bassist Marcus Miller, a cappella group Take 6 which boasts beautiful harmony of six males…

With these top jazz musicians, the “JVC Jazz Festival” will take place on November 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

First held in 1984, the JVC Jazz Festival is now held in over 10 cities worldwide every year—from Miami, New York, and Chicago of the U.S. to Hague, the Netherlands and Paris, France. A total of 43,000 musicians have participated in the festival so far, attracting 36 million people. The festival was held in Seoul for the first time in Asia last year. Renowned jazz guitarist Pat Metheny participated in the festival, which was held in the Olympic Hall of the Seoul Olympic Park and had a turnout of 5,000 people.

In this year’s festival, three groups will take the stage per day for two days. On November 4, pianist Kim Kwang-min, Dianne Reeves, and Al di Meola will perform while the Japanese fusion jazz group Four of a Kind, U.S. a cappella group Take 6, and Marcus Miller will take the stage on November 4. Each group will perform for 40 to 50 minutes.

Acclaimed vocalist Dianne Reeves won the best jazz vocal album at the Grammy Awards for three albums including “In the Moment- Live in Concert” (released in 2000). She has appeared in the popular TV series “Sex and the City” and sings various genres including jazz, R&B, and pop.

The Al di Meola Band is a string band of nine people, with the violin, viola, and cello, as well as the guitar, played by Al di Meola. Al di Meola first played the electric guitar but turned toward fusion jazz and now plays jazz and rock guitar.

Take 6 has won the Grammy seven times with its excellent harmony and sense of rhythm.

The grand finale will be provided by Marcus Miller. He not only writes and arranges music but also plays the clarinet and saxophone. He won the best contemporary jazz album in the 2002 Grammy Awards. He is hailed as the musician that brought the bass guitar to the forefront of music from its supplementary role of adding to the rhythm.

Kim Kwang-min who opened the festival with his performance, said “Apart from the university classes I give, I am devoting all my time to practicing for the festival. It will be an opportunity to experience world-class jazz.”

November 4 and 5, 7:30 p.m., Grand Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. 40,000~120,000 won. 02-541-6234

Sun-Woo Kim sublime@donga.com