By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
American jazz musician Ronn Branton will heat up the summer evening with jazz versions of classic Korean songs at his "Summer Night Jazz" concert Aug. 23 in Seoul.
Branton and his band of young Korean jazz musicians will perform at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
His repertoire consists of several Korean songs from the 1960s and 70s, including ``Mokpo Tears'' by Son Mok-in; ``Hometown Station'' by Im Chong-su; ``Beside the Flowerbed'' by Lee Bong-jo; ``Road'' by Oh Dong-seok; and ``Soyang River Woman'' by Lee Ho.
Branton has worked with numerous Korean musicians since 2001, and is known for combining American jazz with Korean songs.
He majored in jazz at DePaul University in Chicago and later worked as a professor at his alma mater. He then moved to Washington, D.C., where he became a leading figure in the city's jazz scene.
Branton first came to Korea in 1998 with his Korean wife. He has taken an interest in the domestic jazz scene and seeks to make the genre more accessible to Koreans.
His collaborations include works with several Korean artists, including soprano Kim Won-jung and singer Kim Gwang-suk. Branton even composed music for the non-verbal show ``Tokebi Storm."
Tickets are 30,000 to 40,000 won. To get to the Sejong Center, take either exit 1 or 8 at Gwanghwamun subway station on the No. 5 line.
To make inquiries and reservations with an English-speaking staff, send e-mail to whomre@kornet.net or call 019-9349-0650. Tickets are also available at www.ticketlink.co.kr, www.interpark.com, www.clipservice.co.kr or www.maxmovie.com.