2009-03-23

The Swell Season, left, and Madeline Peyroux will be performing at the Seoul Jazz Festival May 14-17 at the Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. / Courtesy of Private Curve

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

The Seoul Jazz Festival returns in May with a stellar line-up of foreign artists such as Latin jazz musician Omar Sosa; ``Once`` stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; American singer Madeleine Peyroux; Dutch singer Wouter Hamel; and soul band Tower of Power.

These artists will be performing at the four-day festival May 14-17 at the Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul.

The music festival kicks off May 14 with ``Stylish Jazz Night,`` featuring Sosa, widely considered one of the most versatile jazz artists performing.



Sosa, who was born and raised in Cuba, is a composer, arranger, producer, pianist, percussionist and bandleader known for combining elements of world music, electronic beats and Afro-Cuban sounds to create an exciting and unique Latin jazz sound. He has released numerous albums, including ``Sentir`` and ``Mulatos," both nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album at the Grammy Awards.

In 2003, the Smithsonian Institution gave a lifetime achievement award to Sosa for his contributions to the development of Latin music in the United States. At the Seoul concert, percussionist Mola Sylla, bassist Childo Tomas and drummer Julio Barreto will accompany Sosa on stage.

After having wowed Korean fans last January, The Swell Season, composed of Hansard and Irglova, will return to Seoul for two shows May 15-16. While not necessarily a jazz group, The Swell Season members gained fame for lead roles in the low-budget independent film ``Once," which was wildly popular in Korea in 2007.

The Swell Season is best known for its acoustic songs from the ``Once" soundtrack such as ``If You Want Me," ``When Your Mind`s Made Up," and the Grammy and Academy Award-winning song ``Falling Slowly."

On the evening of May 15, the two stars will be accompanied by the Irish rock band The Frames (Hansard is the band`s lead singer) and Irish singer Liam O Maonlai on stage. The next day at 3 p.m., the concert will feature only Hansard and Irglova.

``Romantic Jazz Night," held on May 16, will feature two acts in one show, singers Madeleine Peyroux and Wouter Hamel.

Hamel, a winner of the Dutch Jazz Vocal Competition in 2005, debuted with the critically acclaimed album ``Hamel." He wrote every song on the album, which won several prestigious Dutch music awards. He also attracted attention in Japan, where he released his album and performed in a series of concerts at the Billboard Live club last year. For his Seoul concert, Hamel is expected to perform songs from his new album ``Nobody`s Tune."

Peyroux, whose voice invites comparisons with jazz legend Billie Holiday, has released several critically acclaimed albums since 1996 but has had a low-key career.

She first attracted attention with her debut album ``Dreamland" in 1996, but it was years before she followed up with ``Careless Love" and ``Half the Perfect World." The albums included mostly covers of songs by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Elliot Smith and Joni Mitchell. Her fourth album, ``Bare Bones," featuring her own composition ``I Must Be Saved," just came out this month.

The festival ends on a high note May 17 with ``Funky Groove Night," featuring Tower of Power. The 10-member, horn-based soul band was formed in 1968, and still includes original members tenor saxophonist Emilio Castillio, baritone saxophonist Stephen ``Doc" Kupka and bassist Francis ``Rocco" Prestia.

Throughout its 40-year-career, Tower of Power`s line-up has undergone member changes. The band has released 19 albums, including the compilation of classic soul songs ``The Great American Soulbook."

Sejong Center is located near Gwanghwamun Subway Station Line 5, exit 1 or 8. Tickets cost from 44,000 won to 110,000 won. For ticket information in English, send e-mail to info@privatecurve.com or call (02) 563-0595. Visit www.seouljazz.co.kr or ticket.interpark.com.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr