Japanese Jazz and World Music Concert: Cross Genres

Keep your eyes on the Far East! Says a widely shared view that the future of classical music lies not only in Europe and the United States, but also in Asia. It is not just the young virtuoso musicians that are discovered year in year out that mark the rise of the East, but also the fusion that is creating its own colours and forms by bringing together the two worlds. The First Far Eastern Classical Music Festival, launched by Gábor Farkas, showcases the rich musical culture of Japan. Sunday evening's gala concert will focus on bamboo instruments and the classic sounds of Japanese music.

It is no exaggeration to say that Sumie Kaneko’s musical thinking spans more than a millennium, since her career began under the spell of traditional Japanese music, before turning to jazz and ethno. Her instrument, the koto, has thirteen strings, which she strums with a pick. Related to the zither, it is almost two metres long and was once the instrument of choice for all brides. For the East Asian Festival of Classical Music, Sumie Kaneko will be joined on stage by Norbert Káel, a Hungarian pianist with a penchant for jazz and classical music who not only shares a love of crossover, but is also an alma mater: both were students at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Programme 

Koto and jazz piano concert with an introductory lecture about the koto instrument in Japanese musical culture
Contributors: Sumie Kaneko (koto), Norbert Káel (piano)

The program is implemented with the support of the Japan Foundation.