LANG’S LEGACY
 Back in 1981, French Minister of Culture Jack Lang came up with an idea for a Fête de la Musique (World Music Day). The inaugural event was held a year later on the day of the Northern Hemisphere’s Summer Solstice (June 21). In the years since, World Music Day has come to be celebrated and enjoyed in more than 110 countries around the globe.
This year in Hong Kong, the Fête de la Musique fiesta presented by the French Consulate will kick off a day early on June 20 at the Jordan Centre of Alliance Française which, thanks to the magic of graphics and imagination, will be transformed for a night into a French city street. Stop by there between 4pm and 9:30pm to get your free fill of French airs, jazz and classical melodies.
On June 21 itself, Sydney-based pianist-composer Matt McMahon and Manhattan School of Music-trained percussionist Simon Barker will join up with long-time Hong Kong resident Peter Scherr for an evening of fine jazz. This talented trio will treat their audience to original compositions along with jazz versions of songs by Joni Mitchell, the Beatles and Nick Drake. Showtime is at 9:30pm at Le Rideau. Admission is free.
Two days later, there’ll be not one or even
two but, in fact, three more World Music Day gifts to check out. The earliest of the trio of events scheduled for June 23 is a concert by children’s choirs and a Chinese orchestra at the Auditorium of the Lycée Français International Victor Segalen. It is scheduled to go from 1pm to 3:30pm and admission is – you guessed it! – free.
After dark, why not take a musical trip to Africa with Griot Mandingo? Over at the Makumba Bar, the trio of Papa Diabate, Alama Kante and French-born Julien Barre will blend the West African traditional music, Manding, with funky jazz rhythms while introducing listeners to the sounds of the kora and balafon. This music starts at 9:30pm and, yes, admission is
indeed free.
That same evening, local musicians Mike Yip (on guitar), Lui Ngao Yen (on bass), Lawrence (on drums) and Gin (on keyboards) will play jazz standards with a modern twist over at the Fringe Club. This presentation of funk and fusion jazz by the Mike Yip Quartet starts at 10:30pm. Unlike the other World Music Day events, admission is free only for students on presentation of a valid student’s card. Also, students are requested to register in advance by emailing scachk@consufrance-hongkong.org.
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Nick ‘Wig’ Hawley arrived in Hong Kong in April 1995. Twelve years on, he’s packing his 10 guitars (one for each year he’s been on the local music scene), and heading out to Australia. Before he takes his leave though, he’s prepared a farewell bash for his fans, friends and interested others. Wig has gathered together five of his past and present bands especially for this occasion. Ultrastatic (one of whose members will be flying in from Shanghai) and the Shockin’ Rockin’ Donkeys will get back together again just for The Big Gig to Get Rid of Wig. Interested parties should also note that Wig’s impending departure leaves The Happy Endings needing a replacement drummer, The Inconceivables a new guitarist and Black Seraphine a new bass player. So if you’re ready and able, consider heading over to The Wanch on June 23 not only for some music and a party with no cover charge but also to apply to become a part of those bands! The party starts at 8pm and goes till late.
Now Hear This! That was the title of vibraphone player Anthony Kerr’s second album released 10 years ago. And that’s the invitation this inventive musician would surely like to extend to Hong Kong’s jazz lovers ahead of his June 22 and 23 appearances at Grappa’s Cellar. Can you miss a performance by the man voted Best Instrumentalist at the British Jazz Awards in 1994 and who has had many BJA nominations since then? Performances will commence at 9pm on both nights. Tickets are $325. Call the ticket hotline at 2521 2322. 
African singer-songwriter Thierry Nkeli Faha 
Healing
Music?
