Sounds like fun: Hong Kong International Jazz Festival hits town

The Hong Kong International Jazz Festival (HKIJF) is now in its sixth year, and this time around is relatively modest in scale, perhaps because some of its thunder has been stolen by the Jazz World Live Series, which is presenting artists throughout the year.

There is no attraction as big as last year's Jimmy Cobb, Larry Coryell and the Joey DeFrancesco All Star Trio, but there are still an impressive 11 groups from 16 countries - and there should be some fine music to hear.

As has become tradition, the festival, which runs from September 29 to October 2, opens with a free concert. Appearing this year at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza from 3pm on September 29 will be jazz quartet maRK and the Bob Mocarsky Trio, both representing the local jazz scene.

The visiting artists are a cosmopolitan mixture of nationalities and styles. Eliane Amherd is a Swiss-born singer-guitarist, based in New York, who will be performing Brazilian music. Vocalist Ines Trickovic fronts a band of Croatian musicians playing a style of contemporary jazz particular to the country.

Korean pianist and composer Jangeun "JB" Bae will be playing jazz interpretations of a mixture of standards and Korean folk and pop tunes, while closing the show will be the Buzz Bros Band from the Netherlands. They play music derived from 1960s jazz, '70s soul and a wide range of pop and world music influences. It should be a good party.

Backstage Live is the venue for the festival's one club date on September 30 at 9.30pm, and singer Ntjam Rosie, from Cameroon but based in Rotterdam, will front a band of Dutch musicians playing her particular blend of folk, jazz and world music.

However, the big nights are October 1 and 2 at City Hall. A Brazilian duo of guitarist Diego Figueiredo and pianist Alexandre Martins should produce some fireworks. Figueiredo was one of the hits of last year's HKIJF, and counts George Benson and Pat Metheny among his admirers.

The series reaches its finale with a Scandinavian-themed evening, featuring the Søren Bebe Trio from Denmark, followed by the great Swedish bassist Lars Danielsson and his Liberetto Trio.

Pianist Søren Bebe fronts a trio which also consists of drummer Anders Mogensen and double bassist Kasper Tagel. Bebe has been compared to Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett and, like many Nordic musicians, draws on northern European and Scandinavian folk themes.

Bassist Lars Danielsson is one of the most important figure in European jazz - he champions the cello and is heavily involved with the ACT label as a record producer for other artists, as well as recording his own albums. He has played with a number of major international artists, including John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern and Billy Hart.

HKIJF offers four days of jazz with a fair amount of world music thrown in, and ought to be a satisfying experience for players and audiences alike.

48hours@scmp.com

Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Cultural Centre Piazza, September 29, 3pm, free; Backstage Live, September 30, 9.30pm, HK$250; City Hall, October 1-2, 7.30pm, HK$180-HK$380, Urbtix. Inquiries: 9668 5927