The Works：Freespace Jazz Fest: Tsui Chin-hung, Kung Chi-shing & Alonso Gonzalez & CityU's Nomadic Ar

Last Wednesday, in an announcement that surprised many, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced that with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the esteemed Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will perform two concerts in Hong Kong on the 24th and 25th of this month. It’s the orchestra’s first appearance here in 11 years, and the first visit to Hong Kong by a major international orchestra since Covid appeared. That week is certainly going to be a treat for music fans. The day following the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, the five-day Freespace Jazz Fest starts. Part of that festival is the two-day programme, “Jazzscapes” at the new outdoor venue, Wonderland in West Kowloon Cultural District. Last week, pianist Daniel Chu was here to tell us what he has planned for Jazzscapes. In today’s episode, we have more musicians with us to give us a taster of their performances.

Joining us in the studio are Kung Chi-shing, Head of Contemporary Performance of Performing Arts of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and guitarist and composer Tsui Chin-hung. Not only is Tsui performing his original compositions at the festival, he has just launched his debut album. Percussionist Alonso González is known for Latin music and Latin jazz. He also plays in a range of styles including traditional Colombian music, salsa, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Caribbean music. He has put together a ten-piece band to perform on the final day of Jazzscapes.

Currently showing at the City University of Hong Kong’s Indra and Harry Banga Gallery, “Hunters, Warriors, Spirits – Nomadic Art of North China” focuses, as its name suggests, on the lives and culture of ancient nomads. It covers the little-known story of their origins in the early 1st millennium B.C.E. to their golden age, from the 10th to 13th centuries. Apart from ancient objects, the exhibition also includes contemporary sculptures, photography, new media work and animations.