VietNamNet Bridge - Famous saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan is introducing his jazz band that consists of 22 artists in the program “New Year's Concert 2013”.

The Saigon Big Band.

Saigon Big Band is a music project initiated by saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan. For the first time, Ho Chi Minh City has a jazz orchestra meeting the big-band standards, which can perform classical music works of the world and Vietnam with the highest quality.

The band consists of veteran jazz artists of Saigon in the past 30 years and young artists who won domestic and international awards in recent years. Tran Manh Tuan also invited Phil James (UK) and Mike Cheong (South Korea) to join the band.

The first show of the Saigon Big Band will blend the Eastern and Western styles with world jazz works. The show director is Pham Hoang Nam. The guests including singer Tuyet Loan, 16-chord zither player Hai Phuong and Vietnamese two-chord guitarist Anh Tan. The band will also have a monthly concert at the HCM City Theatre, starting in February.

Saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan.

"I am very pleased to introduce the Saigon Big Band. We're from different places, different nations but we share the common passion for jazz and the desire to contribute to the Vietnamese audience the best shows," said Tran Manh Tuan.

The concert has two parts: the first is “Jazz flirts with tradition”, including works composed by Tran Manh Tuan and the second is the Saigon Big Band’s performance with world-renowned jazz works and senior singer Tuyet Loan.

The "New Year's Concert 2013" will take at 20h on January 17 at the Opera House at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Tickets range from VND200,000 to VND1 million (US$10-50) and are available at the venue and the Sax ‘n’ Art Club on 28 Le Loi Street in District 1.

Compiled by P. Linh