衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

►[House Program] 2024 Jazz at Weiwuying - Jazz Awakening! – Taiwan Spirit

Jazz Awakening! ― Taiwan Spirit is headlined by acclaimed jazz saxophonist Sam SU, alongside seasoned jazz musicians like LIU Yu-jia, Chris WABICH, TSENG Tseng-yi, CHEN Wen-fong and TANG Yik-chun. The group presents familiar Taiwanese tunes from the 30s to the 70s, reimagined in jazz styles such as Funk and Swing. Additionally, several pieces incorporate traditions of classical music and are arranged in a European Jazz style, reflecting the cultural diversity of different ethnic groups. This project aims to showcase the seamless blend of jazz with Taiwanese tunes, revealing the unexpected and unique allure of jazz through these classics. With a dynamic and varied ensemble, the performance invites the audience to experience these timeless songs anew through the lens of modern jazz.

  Program  

Swinging Suite: (Arranger｜Hsieh Chih-yang)
Dancing Era
Twilight in Tamsui
Aglow with Spring Breeze

Latin Suite: (Arranger｜TANG Yik-chun)
Hot Meat Dumpling
Night Rain in the Harbor City

The Person I Long For (Arranger｜Sam SU)

If We Open the Window of Our Heart (Arranger｜Sam SU)

Oyster Seller's Wife (Arranger｜Sam SU)

  Creative and Production Team  

Saxophone｜Sam SU

Bass｜LIU Yu-jia

Drums｜Chris WABICH

Piano｜TSENG Tseng-yi

Trumpet｜CHEN Wen-fong

Trombone｜TANG Yik-chun

This production premiered in 2024 NTCH Summer Jazz

Produced by National Theater & Concert Hall

  Artists Introduction  

Director & Saxophone｜Sam SU

Sam SU, is a Taiwanese saxophonist who graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Belgium. SU has collaborated with prominent Italian jazz double bassist Giuseppe BASSI on his tour in Italy. He has worked as a live performance musician with artists like Crowd LU, JJ LIN, and A-Lin. Additionally, he has been a woodwind orchestrator and performer on albums for artists such as Yoga LIN, William WEI, Alex TO, and Jia-Jia. With his advanced performance skills, SU now adeptly spans various musical genres, including jazz and pop music. He currently represents the Japanese brand Forestone and the American brand Theo Wanne in Taiwan.

In 2017, his album with BASSI, Kind Of True, was nominated for "Best Instrumental Album" at the 28th Golden Melody Awards and "Best Jazz Album" at the 7th Golden Indie Music Awards.

In 2020, SU released his debut album Ciao Bella, which won "Best Instrumental Album" and received a nomination for "Best Instrumental Composer" at the 31st Golden Melody Awards. Additionally, it garnered "Best Musician" and "Best Jazz Album" at the 11th Golden Indie Music Awards.

Bass｜LIU Yu-jia

In 2015, LIU Yu-jia started teaching at the Summer Jazz Workshop hosted by the National Concert Hall, focusing on promoting jazz music education and creating original compositions. He earned recognition as the top double bass player at the National Concert Hall.

In 2016, he clinched first place in the newcomer competition at the Taipei Jazz Festival. Later that year, LIU took part in the multimedia musical Women in Love and Agony performed at the National Concert Hall.

In 2018, LIU Yu-jia began collaborating with German pianist Julian MOREEN on original music touring projects, taking on the role of chief planner for Taiwan and Asia, and also playing as the bassist in the Julian Moreen Quartet. In 2019 the band was invited to the Taichung Jazz Festival, LIU then further coordinating exchange programs and performances throughout Asia. Additionally, that same year, LIU participated as a musician in Studio M's annual musical Hollywood Taiwan.

LIU has showcased his talents in various countries, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Germany. He is adept at working with diverse groups, engaging in a range of activities that include premiering original music, recording film scores, producing albums, and participating in dance, musicals, modern theater, and other cross-genre arts events.

Drums｜Chris WABICH

Chris WABICH, based in Los Angeles, has earned high praise for his playing, which famous jazz pianist Bill EVANS's widow, Nenette EVANS, described as "subtle and insightful." Recognized as a seasoned performer, Chris was a member of numerous state chapters of the Percussive Arts Society across the U.S., including Montana, Iowa, Arizona, and North Carolina. He has contributed to over 200 albums, producing and releasing 30 under his own name, and has been nominated nine times for Grammy Awards, three of which were for his own albums. His exceptional virtuosity and distinctive sound have garnered him considerable fame. Throughout his career, Chris has recorded and collaborated with many prominent musicians, including Sting, Stanley JORDAN, Brian JOHNSON of AC/DC, Sheila E., Mark MURPHY, and members of the Zappa family. His work also extends to Hollywood, where he has recorded soundtracks for TV shows like Malcolm in the Middle, American Idol, Better Homes and Gardens,  and x. Additionally, Chris has been involved in arranging and producing Billboard hit songs for artists like "Margo REY/John OATES", "Ty TAYLOR", and "the Beatles Show".

Piano｜TSENG Tseng-yi

TSENG Tseng-yi graduated from the Jazz Music Department at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels in Belgium, where he specialized in jazz piano performance under the tutelage of Diederik WISSELS and Nathalie LORIERS. After returning to Taiwan, TSENG began engaging in recording, performance, and teaching while becoming the keyboard player for the band Orbit Folks. He has toured with well-known artists such as Yoga LIN, Tanya CHUA, and ØZI, blending jazz elements into pop and hip-hop music. In 2020, he officially collaborated with hip-hop artist Leo Wang. TSENG currently teaches in the Department of Applied Music at Tainan National University of the Arts and the Department of Music at Fu Jen Catholic University.
In 2013, his debut album Symbiosis Trio received nominations for "Best Musician," "Best Jazz Album," and "Best Jazz Song" at the 4th Golden Indie Music Awards. TSENG's follow-up solo album Chromatics, released in 2014, secured the "Best Instrumental Album" and "Best Instrumental Composer" awards at the 25th Golden Melody Awards, and he was also nominated for Producer of the Year.

Trombone｜TANG Yik-chun

In 2013, TANG Yik-chun graduated with a diploma in jazz composition from Berklee College of Music in the United States, and in 2016, he earned a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Department of Music at National Dong Hwa University.

He holds several prominent positions in the jazz music scene, including trombonist for the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, conductor of the Jazz Cat Orchestra and the Hsinchu Jazz Orchestra, and teacher at the Taipei European School and the Sizhukong Ensemble Class. Additionally, TANG serves as the music consultant and arranger for the KoSwing Big Band from Tainan. TANG has also performed as the concert trombonist for well-known artists such as Sodagreen, A-Lin, Dadado HUANG, and Tiger HUANG. Currently, he is an adjunct lecturer in the Art Department of Popular Music at Tainan University of Technology and in the post-bachelor program in Digital Music and Sound Design at China University of Technology.

In 2024, TANG served as the music director, band leader, orchestrator, and musician for the O Theater's "Kodomo Challenge" musical BIZARROPIA. In 2022, he was tasked with arranging several classic jazz pieces, both domestic and international, for the NTCH Summer Jazz Project, which were performed prominently at Liberty Square. That same year, the General Association of Chinese Culture (GACC) commissioned him to arrange Taiwanese folk songs for the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, which were performed at the National Day Lighting Ceremony.

Trumpet｜CHEN Wen-fong

CHEN Wen-fong is a prominent trumpeter in Taiwan, known for his versatility across Taiwanese and Chinese pop, as well as jazz music. He has played with several notable bands, including the Kupa Orchestra, Dizzy Jazz Band, Lin Chia-ching Big Band, Taipei Youth Jazz Orchestra, and Taipei Jazz Orchestra.
Recent performances by CHEN include a lineup of notable events: In 2018, he performed at the Strawberry Music Festival with singer TSAI Chin and continued in 2019 with the One-Fang Mini Tour and LO Ta-you's New Year's Eve Concert in Hefei, China. The following years saw him at the Hebe TIEN Taipei Arena Concert in 2020, the San Geu Tai and Shawna YANG concerts in Liudui in 2021, and in 2022, he played with the Taipei Jazz Orchestra at Zhongshan Hall for the LIN Chia-ching Music Collection Concert and with the Freedom Trail Octet at the NTCH Summer Jazz Concert lead by bassist Vincent HSU. Most recently, in 2023, he graced the stage at the Tom CHANG Memorial Concert, the Julia PENG Kaohsiung Arena Concert, and another Hebe TIEN Taipei Arena Concert.

  Sponsor  

  Special thank  

Alcohol consumption prohibited for persons under 18.