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Event
Jasmine Jazz with Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble feat. banjo player/singer Arnt Arntzen
Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music Society and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden present
--- Jasmine Jazz ---
The love of jazz brings Canada's first Chinese music group and one of this country's emerging young musicians together for a unique show: Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble (VCME) join Arnt Arntzen to present Jasmine Jazz at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden on Sunday, June 22.
The concert brings together Vancouver's two music scenes. The unusual interplay between traditional Chinese and jazz instruments (led by jazz banjo) makes Jasmine Jazz a special musical experience. Jazz will be interpreted through traditional Chinese instruments; and traditional and contemporary Chinese music will be given a new life through jazz. The programme includes the premiere of new compositions including pieces by two Chinese-Canadian composers, the highly acclaimed Xiaopeng Jiang and young emerging Vancouver composer Alan Lau.
Arnt Arntzen, a young local talent and one of Canada's rising jazz musicians, is excited about the show: "As a banjo player that primarily plays Jazz music from the 20's and 30's, I can't imagine a more drastic change than to work with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble. Plucked or strummed strings sounding through a drum or resonating chamber sound beautiful to me, whether it is on an American-made Vega plectrum banjo or on the Chinese erhu, sanxian or guzheng. To be able to work with these amazing instruments is an exciting opportunity. I am grateful to be able to collaborate with the wonderful people who play them."
Jirong Huang - erhu Arnt Arntzen - banjo/vocals
Zhongxi Wu - suona/sheng Jodi Proznick - bass
Sarah Tan - guzheng Bruce Henczel - percussion
Artist bios:
Ji Rong Huang - erhu (Chinese violin)
Ji Rong, artistic director of Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China with a B.A. in performance. He won an award for traditional music instrumental performance in a national competition in China and continued to performed throughout China. Since arriving in Vancouver in 1988, Ji Rong has given hundreds of performances across Canada and the U.S., including appearances on Rogers TV and CBC radio programs, and has performed for the Canadian Governor General Concert as an Erhu soloist. He is highly skilled in playing different Chinese bowstrings instruments. He has merged Western classical and contemporary music culture into Chinese music and received praise and acclaim from many Northern American audiences. His Music for RCMP has been performed extensively throughout Canada. Ji Rong is the artistic director of Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble and is a guest lecturer at the UBC School of Music.
Arnt Arntzen - banjo/vocals
Arnt is a musician and teacher. He plays guitar and plectrum banjo, and also sings. He has been involved with music from a young age, mostly learning from his grandfather, brother, mother and father, in roughly that order. He has been enrolled at the VCC School of Music since 2010. He is currently in the process of obtaining his degree in Jazz and Contemporary Guitar, and is a recipient of the AJ Bay scholarship award. He co-leads a jazz band called The Brothers Arntzen with this older sibling Evan. He is also a regular sideman in other family bands and projects, and has begun to lead and produce his own material. Arnt has also gained experience in musical education at the North Vancouver Recreation Commission, teaching beginner guitar, rhythm and sing-alongs to pre-schoolers. He works for the Sarah Mclachlan School of Music as part of the inner-city outreach program at Thunderbird Elementary and teaches at Long and Mcquade.
Zhong Xi Wu - suona & sheng (Chinese oboe & reed organ)
Born in northeastern China,Wu started learning reed and wind instruments at the age of eight from his father and elder brother who are both renowned musicians. He graduated from the Heilongjiang College of Performing Arts and was subsequently appointed as the lead suona player and composer for the Heilongjiang Repertory Theatre. He has won many first prizes in music competitions and his name was cited in the "Who's Who of the World" as the most renowned professionals in China. Wu has performed as a soloist in China, Japan, Hong Kong, U.S.A. and Canada. He has been actively involved in traditional Chinese Opera as well as contemporary theatre and has composed music for experimental theatre productions in New York.
Jodi Proznick - bass
Juno nominated bassist Jodi Proznick was Bassist of the Year at the 2008 and 2009 National Jazz Awards. Her group, the Jodi Proznick Quartet, won the Acoustic Group of the Year and their albumFoundations(Cellarlive) won for Album of the Year. She was also nominated for aJuno Award in 2008 with her debut release. Since moving back to Vancouver in 2000, Jodi has become a top call bassist. She has played and/or recorded with international stars such as Michael Buble, Byron Stripling, Michael Feinstein, David "Fathead" Newman, Ed Thigpen, Jeff Hamilton, Seamus Blake, Peter Bernstein, Sheila Jordan, Lewis Nash and many others. Jodi opened forthe Oscar Peterson Trio and has been a featured soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and with Elektra Women's Choir. In 2010 she was the bassist featured in the closing ceremonies and soundtrack of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games.
Sarah Yusha Tan - zheng (Chinese zither)
Sarah was born in China. She began studying the guzheng at the age of 10 and enrolled later in Xinghai Conservatory of Music learning from different zheng teachers such as Professor Wang Wei. She completed her Bachelor Degree in 2008 specializing in guzheng. As a student, Sarah obtained numerous prizes in different major competitions, and played as a guest performer in many renowned Chinese symphonies. In 2004, she was employed by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Art Center, and awarded the best guzheng instructor for five consecutive years. After immigrating to Vancouver in 2008, Sarah was invited by BC Chinese Orchestra as a GuZheng guest soloist.
Bruce Henczel - percussion
Bruce Henczel began his musical studies at age three. A multi-instrumentalist, he graduated from Capilano College at the top of his class musically, and academically. He received his Master of Music in percussion performance from the University of British Columbia, where he won many awards, notably, the Concerto Competition. He is an active chamber musician and composer. He currently has two solo cds, and is working on a world music Mass. His print music is published internationally by Honeyrock Publishing, Inc., in Pennsylvania. His diverse musical interests allow him to facilitate drum circles and workshops utilizing rhythms from around the world.
Artist links:
Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble: http://www.vancouverchinesemusic.ca
Arnt Arntzen (Brothers Arntzen): https://www.facebook.com/brothers.arntzen
Jodi Proznick: http://www.jodiproznick.com
The presenters gratefully acknowledge the support of Artvest, Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Vancouver and Government of British Columbia through Direct Access to Charitable Gaming.
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LocationDr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (View)
578 Carrall Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K2
Canada
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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