By Han Sang-hee
Staff reporter
The European Jazz Trio is returning to Korea for another mesmerizing evening of classy tunes and exhilarating rhythms.
The trio performed in Korea for the first time in 2003 and continued to visit Korean fans ever since. In 2009, the group offered seven performances, and after only a year decided to return to their loyal fans with a special repertoire.
Comprised of pianist Marc van Roon, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Roy Dackus, the trio will perform on June 11, the night before the big World Cup match between South Korea and Greece. In order to heighten the excitement and offer something in return, the band will play the famous cheer ``Oh Pilseung Korea'' with a jazzy twist.
When asked about the set list of songs the band will play, the organizer said that like most other jazz musicians, they decide at the last minute.
``It depends on how they feel, the venue atmosphere and the overall tone of the day,'' the organizer said.
Founded in 1995 in the Netherlands, the band has taken numerous songs in every style, shape and color and managed to reinterpret them using jazz elements. For the trio, ``jazz'' means to have the freedom to combine and mix styles, melodies, sounds and rhythms to create something completely different, and that is what the three artists have been doing since they became a trio.
Famous for their reinterpretation of works by some of the most celebrated artists, including ABBA, the Beatles, Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin, the group has captivated fans around the world since their debut.
``A specialty of the trio is to try and find some unusual material ― unusual in a jazz setting ― and arrange it for the trio,'' van Roon said on the group's Webpage.
This has made them fit perfectly into the local scene, where jazz is still considered a difficult form of music. By bringing well known works and mixing them up with jazz elements, the group touched the ears and hearts of the local audience. The Korean cheer will be a present for the local crowd and to the country that has shown them such dedicated support.
The EJT have released more than 20 albums so far, including hit disks such as ''Libertango,'' ``Europa'' and ``Sonata.''
The EJT will perform at Seoul Arts Center, June 11. Tickets cost from 22,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com or call (02) 720-3933.