Taylor Swift charms Korea in styleBy Ines Min Devoted fans here welcomed Taylor Swift in her first concert in Korea, Friday. The four-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter provided a polished, if underwhelming, show replete with model looks. Though the Gymnastics Stadium at Olympic Park was only half-full, the fervor of the fans, which flocked from as far as Busan, made it sound like a packed house. The crowd was comprised of eight-year-olds to married businessmen and couples on dates, but the show was dominated by youths, many wearing matching handmade, Swift T-shirts. The Seoul performance was Swift’s second on a world tour that kicked off in Singapore last week, to promote her third album, and continues on to more than 90 countries. The 21-year-old performer kicked off the show with “Spark’s Fly,” for a 14-song set. “Annyeonghaseyo,” Swift greeted her fans. “Hi Seoul... This is actually the very first time that I have ever been to Korea. Thank you for having us.” Radiant in a 1920s-inspired gold-fringed dress and black knee-high boots — the first of three outfits making their way throughFeb 13, 2011
Angelique Kidjo brings African music to SeoulBy Kwon Mee-yoo African diva Angelique Kidjo transports the rhythm and sounds of Africa to Seoul in a special performance at the LG Art Center, on March 13. There are numerous kinds of music across the globe but Kidjo’s is contagious. Her music makes everyone dance and she promises the audience will experience this at her upcoming concert. Though not well-known in Korea, Kidjo is recognized for her unique style that combines African rhythm with R&B, jazz and pop with a twist of Latin American flavor mixed in. After her debut in the 1980s, Kidjo released several albums, rich with African traditional sounds influenced by other genres. Her album “Djin Djin” won the 2008 Grammy Awards Best Contemporary World Music Album. The title denotes the sound of a bell in Africa, welcoming each new day. Her newest album “Oyo” has also been nominated for a Grammy, which will be announced Sunday. The 2010 album mixes traditional African music with soul from the 60s and 70s, suffused with the nostalgia of her childhood in Benin, a small country in Western Africa. U2’s Bono, John LegenFeb 11, 2011
Student-run jazz festival to brighten CoexBy Ines Min As the weather returns to its wintry state this weekend, southern Seoul is heating up with a music festival just in time for Valentine’s Day. The 2011 Korea Undergraduate Jazz Festival will open Feb. 11 to 13 at Coex in Samseong-dong, for three days of diverse performances. Legendary jazz players will grace the stage, from Hata Shuji and Kenji Omae, to saxophonist Lee Jung-sik — who starred in the recent documentary “Bravo! Jazz Life” documenting first generation Korean jazz musicians. Indie bands, musical societies and others will participate in the festival. The indoor event has a new stage on each floor of Coex. While the basement level will be for street performances, a concert salon will provide a stage for jazz masters, and aspiring artists can test their skills at a student music competition. Forums for discussion and exchange will also be open for those looking to network with fellow musicians. “There’s great significance in opening this festival at the location where the members of the G20 gathered,” said artistic director Lee Myeong-jaeFeb 9, 2011
IU to perform at Bailey Raes concert in KoreaBy Ines Min Korean pop singer IU will appear at British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae’s concert here on March 10, according to organizers 9 Entertainment. The 17-year-old artist will perform a cover of Bailey Rae’s song “Like a Star,” the company said in a press release. The show will mark the U.K. artist’s first solo concert in the country, following her debut here at the 2010 Jisan Valley Rock Festival. IU said Bailey Rae has been her role model since she first saw the singer perform at the summer outdoor festival. “I’m happy and honored to be able to have the opportunity to stand next to her on stage at this concert, which is different from seeing her from the crowd as a fan,” IU said. “It’s incredible that her voice is so soulful even though she’s young,” Bailey Rae, 31, reportedly said after listening to IU’s music. “I definitely have to meet her myself.” Bailey Rae debuted in 2006 with her eponymous album, which drew acclaim locally and abroad. She has since been nominated for a Grammy Award. IU first came into the spotlight in 2008 with her mini-Feb 7, 2011
Indulge in live classical music by the beachBusan International Music Festival opens Sunday through Feb. 21 By Lee Hyo-won Save for being packed on New Year’s morning with those braving the cold to watch the sunrise, Busan’s beaches during the wintertime are rather barren — devoid of summertime sunbathers or cinema enthusiasts flocking to attend the autumn film festival. In recent years classical musicians have been slowly upturning the southern port city’s slow season as the serene beaches provide an atmospheric setting for live music. After a sabbatical last year, the Busan International Music Festival (BMF) has been reborn as a private organization and opens its sixth edition this weekend. “During the winter Busan goes into a sort of hibernation but the BMF has revamped its arts scene and many concerts are taking place,” the festival’s music director, renowned pianist Paik Hae-sun, said in a statement. “The number of classical music fans in Busan has truly increased. Last year when our festival took a sabbatical term, we received an explosive amount of inquiries from fans. We believe BMF was a greaFeb 7, 2011
Album ReviewsHugo Diaz ‘Tangos’ (Warner Music Korea) Harmonicas and… tango? The combination might be new to some here, but it’s a classic mix that dates back to previous decades. Argentine Hugo Diaz (1927-1977) was one of those few who brought the sensual combination together. Though best known as a folklore musician, the jazz harmonica player’s work in tangos stands out to those looking for a dose of the intimate, the personal and the grittily charming. ``Tangos,’’ a collection of covers by legendary tango singer-songwriter Carlos Gardel (aka ``the King of Tango’’), was originally released in 2001 by Aqua Records, but makes its way to Korean shores a decade later ― following long disputes over licensing. As late as the album is, the effect is nonetheless enrapturing. Diaz first picked up the harmonica at the age of five, blinded after being hit by a ball and unable to work with many other instruments. Though surgery two years later returned his sight, the harmonica stayed; the child prodigy was already playing local radio gigs. Though classified as tango, an array of genJan 25, 2011
Liars to perform in Seoul, BusanBy Ines Min Liars, a Brooklyn-based experimental punk outfit, is making headway in Asia with their debut shows in Seoul and Busan on Feb. 11 and 12 respectively. The three-man band has been noted for their genre hopping with each release, though careful to maintain a bursting original energy with a smooth technical skill. Angus Andrew (vocals, guitar), Aaron Hemphill (percussion, guitar, synth) and Julian Gross (drums) first met in Los Angeles before packing up for New York. Their debut album in 2001, ``They Threw Us All In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top,’’ drew inspiration from the British post-punk movement of the 1970s, slowly bringing the group to light through effusive reviews. A switch to the industrial saw the 2004 ``They Were Wrong, So We Drowned,’’ followed by the psychedelic ``Drums Not Dead’’ (2006). A couple of line-up changes (reinstating the original founding trio) and several cross-continent moves later, Liars have since returned to their collaborative roots in L.A. to record their fifth full-length release. The 2010 ``Sisterworld’’ was hailed Jan 25, 2011
Album reviewsSimone Dinnerstein ‘Bach: A Strange Beauty’ (SONY CLASSICAL) Bach is an institute, and Simone Dinnerstein has come, seen and is in the apt process of conquering — or to some conservative listeners, showing off a flair for igniting controversy. The American pianist raised funds herself to record her 2007 album of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations,” which caught the eye of the Telarc label and wound up becoming No. 1 on the Billboard Classical Music Chart. Praised by Time magazine for her “arresting freshness and subtlety,” she topped the chart the following year with “The Berlin Concert,” featuring more works by Bach as well as Beethoven and Philip Lasser. In her debut with Sony Classical, the New York-based artist offers fans a slice of her Bach world, and fans in Korea can finally check out what all the hype is about. The recording is marked by both an ebb and flow, unnerving verve and unassuming grace, brilliant twists and hushed nuances, that evoke the very words of Sir Francis Bacon that inspired the album title — “There is no excellent beauty, that hath nJan 18, 2011
Mary J. Blige breaks down the wallsBy Ines Min All hailed the queen of R&B. Mary J. Blige rocked the house in her debut performance here Sunday, at Kyung Hee University’s Grand Peace Palace, northern Seoul. As part of the Asian leg of her five-continent “Music Saved My Life” tour, Blige presented a passionate torrent of rhythmic hits, luring in the shy Korean audience with her enthusiasm and undisputed skills over a 90-minute set. “MVP” kicked off the concert, following an introduction that saw a sparkling black body-suited Blige enter the stage to a neon-lit standing microphone. Her knee-high, high-heeled boots added even more stature to her presence, as she roamed the stage gracefully. “It’s so good to be here, the welcome is so warm,” Blige greeted the rustling audience, along with a fair “annyeong-haseyo” (hello). Though she just turned 40 last week, the legendary performer seemed enthusiastic three months into her worldwide tour — her voice timeless. A clean combination of cut-and-paste segues saw verses from “I’m the Only Woman” and “I Luv U,” buttressed by Blige’s three background sinJan 17, 2011
Prospects of El Sistema in Korea?By Lee Hyo-won El Sistema has taken thousands of Venezuelan kids from drug- and violence-infested situations by giving them violins instead of guns. Since its inception in the South American country in 1975, the classical music education system has taken root overseas and fostered top-class artists such as the star conductor Gustavo Dudamel. In Korea, various initiatives have been taken for children’s music education, among them being the Lindenbaum Music Festival, which, since 2009, has invited revered musicians such as Maestro Charles Dutoit to work with local youths. The festival is now looking to implement a program inspired by El Sistema, and will hold a seminar on Tuesday and Wednesday in Seoul. The seminar aims to highlight various issues in introducing the program in Korea, including the limitations, and will outline how the original system was established in Venezuela, examine case studies and provide a platform for discussion. Sponsored by the Venezuelan Embassy to Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Education, Science and TechnoJan 16, 2011