The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present the "Jazz Music Appreciation for Beginners" Lecture Demonstration Series on five consecutive Wednesdays starting from October 30, featuring members of the local emerging jazz music group "Fountain de Chopin" as the speakers and demonstrators to cover the fundamentals, origins, evolution and distinctive characteristics of jazz music in an easy-to-understand manner. With live demonstrations woven throughout the lectures, audiences can not only have a better understanding of this globally cherished music genre but also learn to appreciate the fascinating charisma that jazz music embodies.
Details of each lecture are as follows:
Lecture 1: Exploring Jazz – Structure and Instrument Analysis
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Date: October 30 (Wednesday)
Complemented by live demonstrations, the speakers will introduce audiences to the basics as well as the more advanced structures and nuances of jazz music, including the communication between musicians and the methods and terminology of improvisation, so that they can understand the key points and details to focus on when listening to jazz.
Lecture 2: The Origins of Jazz Music (1910 to 1940)
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Date: November 6 (Wednesday)
The speakers will introduce the origins of jazz music and popular trends from the early 20th century such as "Big Band" and "Swing", with highlights on several iconic jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. With live performances, audiences can be immersed in the audible history of jazz.
Lecture 3: The Evolution of Jazz Music (1940 to 1970)
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Date: November 13 (Wednesday)
The speakers will introduce and showcase performances of various jazz music genres, such as "Bebop", "Cool Jazz", "Hard Bop", "Free Jazz", "Latin Jazz" and "Fusion Jazz". They will also elaborate on how jazz has evolved to place greater emphasis on breaking rules, thereby allowing musicians more freedom in improvisation. Several influential musicians in the jazz scene, including Chet Baker, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock, will also be highlighted.
Lecture 4: Modern Jazz Music (1970 to present)
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Date: November 20 (Wednesday)
Through demonstration performances, the speakers will give an overview of the development of jazz music from the mid-20th century to the present, including "Fusion Jazz" and later "Modern Jazz", and will introduce some icons of "Jazz-Rock Fusion" such as Miles Davis and Chick Corea.
Lecture 5: Embark on a Journey from the Ears to Discover Your Own Jazz Music
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Date: November 27 (Wednesday)
In the final lecture, through improvisational performances, the speakers will explain different types of jazz music and their features, progressing from basic to advanced levels. By learning about masterpieces of jazz and the distinctive styles of musicians, audience members will know how to appreciate and distinguish between different jazz genres.
"Fountain de Chopin" was established in 2021 by local jazz musicians. Its core members include Bowen Li (pianist), Michael Chan (guitarist), Nelson Fung (bassist), Dean Li (drummer), Timothy Wan and Brian Cheung (saxophonists). Dedicated to promoting local jazz music, the group focuses on organising small-scale performances, listening sessions, and improvisational concerts. The group has also been invited to participate in various local music events, and has actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations with musicians.
　　
All lectures will be conducted in Cantonese and will start at 7.30pm in the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Each lecture will run for about one hour and 30 minutes. Tickets priced at $100 (for each lecture, with free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1792.html.
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