The Bangkok Jazz Festival takes place from March 9th to 14th and boasts an impressive line-up of international artists and local musical talent.

Among the performers scheduled to take part in this year’s event are jazz bassist Christian McBride, trumpeter Randy Brecker, virtuoso guitarist Steve Lukather and Darryl Jones, the bass player known for his frequent appearances with The Rolling Stones.

There will also be performances from Asian Fourplay, Jazz Kamikaze, Tokyo Blue and Mariko Endo.

Bangkok’s Central World Plaza – said to be the second largest shopping complex in south-east Asia – provides the location for the festival.

Situated in the Ratchaprasong shopping area of the Pathum Wan district, the plaza can be accessed by taking the Skytrain to Chidlom Station.

Over 30,000 jazz fans are expected to descend on Central World Plaza for the festival.

The cool December weather has always made Bangkok an ideal location for outdoor concerts, and this year on December 11 and 12, Niu’s on Silom jazz club, wine bar and restaurant at Baan Silom Arcade, will present the first Niu’s International Bangkok Jazz Festival, an open-air festival featuring Thai and international jazz and blues musicians.

Thai jazz star Koh Mr Saxman.

The two-day festival will see a world-class line-up of four bands on both nights playing outdoors in the atmospheric European-style piazza of Baan Silom Arcade on the corner of Silom Soi 19.

The night of Friday, December 11 will feature Thai jazz star Koh Mr Saxman with Gwilym Simcock, Phil Wiggins Corey Harris and James Carter.

Koh has taken jazz saxophone in Thailand to new heights, playing a mix of standards and his own compositions. At 28, Gwilym Simcock is already a multi award-winning pianist who’s been compared with Keith Jarrett, and Chick Corea has described him as an original. Gwilym will bring a trio to the festival playing his unique blend of classical inflected jazz.

From the USA, harmonica player Phil Wiggins and guitarist Corey Harris, a former New Orleans street singer, have the authentic, old-time blues sound that is fast disappearing from the music scene. Harris starred in the Martin Scorcese documentary Feel Like Going Home, the story of the blues from its African origins, and he and Wiggins play roots music at its best.

US saxophone virtuoso James Carter blew Bangkok away at his Niu’s gig in August playing soprano, tenor and baritone saxes, as well as flute and bass clarinet, all with the same ferocious attack and broad palette of sounds. The Los Angeles Times called him “the Jimi Hendrix of the saxophone”, while Time magazine commented that his muscular sound “wraps itself around the listener like an anaconda”.

Multi award-winning pianist Gwilym Simcock.

Then on Saturday, December 12, Francois Lindemann from Switzerland will lead musicians from multi-ethnic backgrounds to build an exhilarating hybrid of cross-cultural jazz using a mix of traditional instruments.

Playing in the band alongside Francois at the festival will be trail-blazing Thai jazz and fusion legend Tewan Sapsanyakorn. Tewan has appeared on the festival circuit in Asia, Europe and the US with his band, Tewan Novel Jazz, with Tewan playing violin and Thai flute as well as sax.

Of vocalist Eden Brent, Blues Revue has said: “In Eden’s huge playing and singing you can hear the ghosts of the Mississippi in a duet with the future of the blues.” Eden lives by the Mississippi, close to the blues heritage site where she performed alongside BB King at the 2005 US Presidential Inauguration.

One of the finest young sax soloists in contemporary jazz, Chris Potter has played with many of the world’s leading names including Herbie Hancock, John Scofield and Dave Holland, and was featured on Steely Dan’s Grammy-winning album, Two Against Nature.

Born in Cameroon and now living in New York, bassist/vocalist Richard Bona is known as the African Sting. He brings a hard funk jostle to jazz that is peppered with bossa nova, Afro-beat and traditional song. He has played with a huge list of star names, including Steve Gadd, Pat Metheny and Michael Brecker.

Vocalist Eden Brent.

Richard’s music inspired the Los Angeles Times to enthuse: “Imagine an artist with Jaco Pastorious’ virtuosity, George Benson’s vocal fluidity, Joao Gilberto’s sense of harmony, all mixed up with African culture. Ladies and gentlemen, that’s Richard Bona!”

Tickets for Niu’s 1st International Bangkok Jazz Festival are 3,500 per night or 6,000 baht for both nights including one drink each night. Tickets are available from Thai Ticket Major (tel 02-262-3456, http://www.thaiticketmajor.com) or at Niu’s on Silom (tel 02-266-5333-4, reservation@niusonsilom.com).

Niu’s on Silom is a stand-alone jazz club and wine bar elegantly furnished with leather armchairs and candle-lit tables in an intimate ambiance. The bands are up close, like they’re playing in your own living room.

It’s also the place where you’ll find Concerto Italian restaurant, featuring the superb cuisine of chef Marco Cammarata, a virtuoso in his own right. For more information, call 02-266-5333/4 or visit http://www.niuson silom.com.

Source http://www.bangkokpost.com/entertainment/music/26586/al-fresco-jazz-on-silom

A true celebration of jazz in a beautiful beach atmosphere where you can also enjoy sumptuous cuisine and refreshments available at different stands along the beach.

Here’s the Hua Hin Jazz Festival 2008 Schedule:

There are 2 beach stages at the Hilton and Sofitel with a “Jazz Alley” linking. And a “Charity Zone” were a 500 baht ticket will help donations towards the Thai Red Cross and reward the buyer with free beer!

More info available here  http://www.huahinjazzfest.com/