The Jazz Club 34-36 D'Aguilar Street, Central. Phone 2854-8477 MIDEM Asia 96 music conference steams into town next week and the Lan Kwai Fong venue will be bristling with industry heavyweights as it hosts the pick of the showcase performances.
The two must-sees are American vocalist Salena Jones (Tuesday) and Cape Verde's 'barefoot diva' Cesaria Evora (Wednesday).
It's hard to imagine two more contrasting talents. Jones' inventive treatment of jazz standards has made her the rightful heiress to the thrones of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Billie Holiday. She is rated one of the world's top five singers in any genre, and will perform material from her new CD, It Amazes Me.
Evora is a living treasure in the former Portuguese colony and the reigning queen of Morna - the Atlantic archipelago's gift to world music. 'Cize' works in Creole and Portuguese with phrasing that transcends language.
As if that isn't enough, The Jazz Club also presents the final two nights of Japan's Junko Onishi (tonight and Saturday).
The 28-year-old piano prodigy has been cooking up a storm all week with a menu that pays homage to everything from the big band era, through bebop and elements of free jazz. She is backed by Blue Note label-mates the Eugene Pao Band.