Good news for jazz and blues fans
Jazz and blues aficionados have often found it difficult to get their fix in Hong Kong, but the recent proliferation of venues such as Blue Door, Innonation and Bohemian Lounge prove there's still a healthy market for the genres in this city.
Philia Lounge on Arbuthnot Street in Central is the latest venue to introduce live jazz, and next Thursday will present the first of its live jazz sessions with guitarist Eugene Pao. He won't need any introduction for his local followers, but for the uninitiated Pao put Hong Kong jazz on the map, and has collaborated with famous names including Jimmy Witherspoon, Eddie Gomez, Kazumi Watanabe and Michael Brecker.
At the Philia session, Pao will be joined by other luminaries of the local jazz scene, including bassist Sylvain Gagnon and keyboardist Ted Lo from 9.30pm. Although Pao has recorded numerous film soundtracks and appeared on several albums by local pop stars, he's at his best when improvising live.
Blues fans have perhaps even fewer options in this city and may be unaware that they have a world-class harmonica player in their midst. Henry Chung has boosted his gigging schedule recently, and is showing off the skills he earned while sharing the stage with blues luminaries such as B.B. King.
Chung will also be enlisting the talents of Gagnon on bass, as well as Dan LaVelle (guitar, vocals) and Joel Haggard (drums) when he appears at Blue Door on Cochrane Street, Central, on April 14 from 10.30pm.