40 Years On, and Still Going StrongSinger-Artist Cho Young-nam Pursues ‘Jaemi’ or Fun By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Celebrity or not, it is important to have a specific goal in life. For some it may be becoming famous or rich, but for singer Cho Young-nam, who has succeeded in both fields, the goal is to have fun. ``I'm a jaemi-ist. A supernatural jaemi-ist. If there is something fun, I'm sure I've done it some time in the past,'' the 63-year-old singer, writer, artist, DJ and television host told The Korea Times during an interview at his home in Cheongdam-dong. ``Jaemi'' means ``fun'' in Korean. Cho, who received an honorary graduate diploma from Seoul National University's department of vocal music and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College, Florida, is one of Korea's favorite singers. Also a professional artist who has held several exhibitions here and abroad, he is well known as a celebrity who lives young at heart ― he loves movies, shopping and gets around on Heelys, or ``roller shoes'' that have a wheel embedded in each heel. ``I hate mountain climbing, baduk and fishing. I'm quite thJul 16, 2008
Jason Mraz Returns to Seoul in AugustBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is coming back to Seoul next month for two concerts promoting his brand new album ``We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.'' It's been only four months since Mraz staged a concert here in March, but his fans have been clamoring for his return. He will give concerts Aug. 1-2 at the MelOn-AX, northeastern Seoul. In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Mraz said his latest album is his favorite out of all his works. ``It's an upbeat, optimistic, danceable album with familiar melodies you can instantly sing-a-long to,'' he said. ``We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.'' his first album in nearly three years, shows how Mraz has matured as an artist. The album's title comes from words in a drawing by Scottish artist David Shrigley. Shrigley also drew the portrait of Mraz for the album cover. Mraz said real life and people always inspired his albums. ``The album is about gratitude, awareness, peace and love. The songs are inspired by real people, life lessons, and moments of realization,'' he sJul 15, 2008
Kim, Zhang Travel New Road With Yo Yo MaBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The double bass and pipa (Chinese lute) bring spontaneous combustion, and the unmistakable quivering of ``chang'' (Korean opera) resounds with the rhythm of Brazilian shakers and dumbeck. It's indefinable, yet deeply rooted with a sense of belonging and culture. It's the Silk Road Ensemble helmed by cellist Yo Yo Ma. The term ``fusion'' or ``crossover'' is inadequate to describe this international music group, which claws at something deeper and thoroughly intuitive, deconstructing our concept of music and culture. ``Man could hear how the lively dialogue between ancient folklore and contemporary music came together,'' wrote music critic David Koch. The Korea Times recently met two members of the group who participated in the Silk Road Ensemble's second album ``New Impossibilities'' (Sony BMG): South Korean ``gugak'' (traditional music) artist Kim Dong-won and Chinese double bassist Zhang Daxun. Kim got involved with the project through Korean composer Kang Joon-il. Kang gave Ma a piece for cello, piano and ``janggo'' (Korean double-headed dJul 15, 2008
Album ReviewsJohn Mayer ``Where The Light Is'' (SonyBMG) John Mayer hasn't released a full-length album since 2006's ``Continuum,'' so fans will have to settle for his live album ``Where The Light Is.'' The concert, recorded last December at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, features Mayer doing an acoustic set, a set with a full band and the John Mayer trio. Mayer is at his best when he's singing his heart out and playing his guitar. His acoustic performances of ``Daughters'' and a cover of Tom Petty's ``Free Fallin''' are a must-listen. With the band, he performed well-known songs ``Waiting on the World to Change,'' ``Why Georgia'' and ``I'm Gonna Find Another You.'' A DVD version of the concert will be released later this month. - Cathy Rose A. Garcia Jul 15, 2008
Pianist Freddy Kempfs Oceanic MusicThis is the 17th in a series of interviews with the next generation of classical musicians. ― ED. By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Pianist Freddy Kempf's meteoritic career owes itself, ironically, to not winning the top prize at the 1998 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. The Russian public heavily protested when Russian virtuoso Denis Matsuev won the title rather than the young Briton, ``the hero of the competition.'' ``I had a lovely time at the Moscow competition,'' recalled the 31-year-old when The Korea Times sat down with him in Seoul, Monday. ``I think it's great that it launched a career for both the first prizewinner and myself. It made such a lovely relationship for me with Russia,'' he said, smiling softly. But it's after such competitions that the real competition begins. ``People only invite you back if they think you're worthy,'' he said. Ten years down the road, the pianist appears in music capitals all over the world, giving sell-out concerts in London and St. Petersburg and touring extensively in Tokyo. He returns to Korea for the third time and wJul 8, 2008
Album ReviewsJakob Dylan ``Seeing Things'' (SonyBMG) It cannot be easy being the son of a musical legend like Bob Dylan, but Jakob Dylan managed to make a name for himself as the brooding lead singer for rock group The Wallflowers, which won two Grammy Awards. Dylan recently released his first solo acoustic album ``Seeing Things.'' He leaves behind the pop-rock sound of The Wallflowers, and focuses on folk songs. His talent as a singer, songwriter and musician are evident in the album. Dylan embraces his father's legacy, with songs like ``On Up the Mountain,'' ``Something Good This Way Comes'' and ``War is Kind.'' - Cathy Rose A. Garcia Jul 8, 2008
Lees Cross-Border, Cross-Culture MusicBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter This is the 16th in a series of interviews with the next generation of classical musicians ― ED In February, the New York Philharmonic made a historical tour of the Korean peninsula, bringing Antonin Dvorak's ``New World'' Symphony to Pyongyang and Seoul. While the Chicago Children's Choir wasn't able to secure an invitation to the secretive communist state, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas resounded with a beautiful Korean melody praying for peace, Friday. Members of the 51-year-old American choir became the first non-Korean civilians to enter the Yeolsei Observation Platform in one of the most heavily armed places on Earth. The young singers, mostly in their teens, tied ribbons along the fence and sang ``We dream of Reunification'' (aka. the Reunification or Peace Song). Friday the group sang the Korean folk song ``Arirang'' and other tunes with the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Choir at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. ``I had a very ambiguous feeling. The DMZ is all about division but it was Jul 1, 2008
Album ReviewsJudas Priest ``Nostradamus'' (SonyBMG) Heavy metal band Judas Priest is making a big comeback this year, releasing their first concept album ``Nostradamus.'' This is probably Judas Priest's most ambitious musical endeavor, creating over 100 minutes of music based on the life of famous 16th century prophet Nostradamus. Through their music, Judas Priest said they attempted to create a timeline of significant events in Nostradamus' life. They focused not just on Nostradamus' prophecies but also his personal experiences. Listeners can find influences of classical music and opera throughout the album but it is still undeniably heavy metal music. - Cathy Rose A. GarciaJul 1, 2008
Alicia Keys Talks About AIDS, MusicBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Grammy award-winning R&B superstar Alicia Keys is busy with a world concert tour and a budding acting career, but she still finds time to help children with AIDS in Africa. In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Keys talked about her documentary ``Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland,'' her music and upcoming movie. Keys, co-founder of the Keep a Child Alive foundation, recently released a documentary of her trip to South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. Directed by South African filmmaker Earle Sebastian, it shows inspiring stories of children and families affected by AIDS and Keep a Child Alive's projects such as providing anti-retroviral medicine for children with AIDS. ``It is a truly remarkably uplifting, inspiring and fantastic documentary, just really about the resilience and the beauty of life there. It's not something that makes you feel helpless and hopeless after you've seen it. Instead, it makes you feel totally motivated and excited,'' she said. The documentary can be viewed or downloaded for free on www.alicJul 1, 2008
Asia Philharmonic, EU Orchestra Coming to KoreaBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Concertgoers will be able to taste the best of East and West this summer, with the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra concert at the end of July and the European Union Youth Orchestra in August. East Asian Stars & Asia Philharmonic Classical music icons of South Korea, China and Japan will convene for the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra's concerts in Incheon July 29 and the following day in Seoul. The highlight of the program is Beethoven's Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major (Op. 56). Featured soloists are South Korea's feted conductor and pianist Chung Myung-whun; Japan's violinist Daishin Kashimoto, who plays in chamber groups alongside artists such as Yuri Bashmet; and Chinese cellist Wang Jian, a recording artist for Deutsche Grammophon. The orchestra itself brings together the most talented musicians from Asia and the Asian Diaspora, such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster Robert Chen and the Philadelphia Orchestra's principal violinist Anna Marie Ahn Peterson. The birth of the festival orchestra can be traced baJun 29, 2008