Blue notes

Welcome to the busiest seven days for a jazz fan Hong Kong has experienced in years. Every day this week there is at least one gig well worth going to, and on most at least a couple to choose between or double up on.

At the centre of this is the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, which begins today in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, starting at 2pm and free for all.

Bands appearing between 2pm and 6pm are the Joao Mascarenhas Brazilian Jazz Trio, the Lawrence Ku Trio, the Toku Quartet and the Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra, and after an afternoon of that you could take the Star Ferry across the harbour and head for City Hall where at 8pm one of the main events of the New Vision Arts Festival is taking place. Paris-born Vietnamese jazz guitarist Nguyen Le appears with Vietnamese vocalist Huong Thanh in a programme entitled Fragile Beauty, which combines jazz with elements of Asian folk music.

On Monday at 9.30pm Backstage Live at 52 to 54 Wellington Street plays host to guitarist Ku's trio, with special guest Eugene Pao. At the same time the Joao Mascarenhas Trio will be playing Brazilian-influenced music and jamming until late at Peel Fresco Music Lounge at 49 Peel Street. Peel Fresco is presenting gigs every night this week, but is not associated with the Jazz Festival.

Tuesday at 9.30pm brings an opportunity to hear the Toku Quartet play an all acoustic gig in intimate surroundings at the Lanson Place Hotel in Causeway Bay, while at Peel Fresco guitarist Guy Le Claire appears with his trio.

Wednesday offers what should be a festival highlight. The Bob Mocarsky Trio hosts a jam session at the Fringe Club, starting at 9.30pm. At the same time the Rickard Malmsten Quartet led by the Swedish virtuoso bassist appears at Peel Fresco.