Department of Cultural Affairs

The month-long Taipei International Jazz Festival will conclude this weekend with fascinating outdoor performances featuring both local talents and internationally acclaimed musicians at 228 Peace Park, guaranteeing a couple of unforgettable nights full of jazz for everyone, announced the organizers of the event yesterday.

“We believe that our citizens will enjoy a warm and romantic night with spectacular jazz performances staged by these masters during the weekend,” said Chan Su-chen, a section chief of Taipei City’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the co-organizers of the yearly event along with the Taipei International Jazz Education & Promotion Association.

Chan added that the Jazz Festival is in its fifth year this time around, and each year is getting better and better.

Chan made his comments during a press conference yesterday previewing the upcoming show. All eleven jazz artists who will take part in the weekend show were on hand, performing several numbers as a teaser for local jazz lovers.

The annual jazz festival started off July 2 to 10 with several rounds of Jazz Promenade at Taipei Water Park. The weekend event that will end the festival in a splash will bring 11 jazz masters together in 228 Peace Park near the Taipei Main Station, joining hands in what is being called the International Jazz Masters Rendezvous.

The 11 masters in this popular form of music include two new faces and a first-timer for the event, South African-origin singer Tutu Puonae and Canadian-born trumpet player David Smith.

Other regular faces in the show include American senior saxophonist John Ruocco, German jazz guitarist Joachim Schoenecker and Dutch pianist Peter Van Marle.

There will also be two drummers, Italian Mimi Verderame and Roger Biwandu of France; Belgian bass player Bart De Nolf, and of course two local names, violinist Hsieh Chi-pin and Chang Kai-ya on the piano.

The carnival will be the highlight and final note of this year's festival, with many lively performances and interaction with local audiences by the jazz players.

The International Jazz Masters Rendezvous is free to the public and will be held for two nights, tonight and tomorrow at the outdoor auditorium of 228 Peace Park from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Prior to the Rendezvous, a Jazz Carnival featuring performances by members of a Jazz camp will start at 5 p.m., allowing everyone to enjoy two nights filled with all that jazz.