Christian Bucher

Christian Bucher is a drummer and a percussionist from Switzerland

He studied at Academy of Contemporary Music, Zürich, Post-diploma course in free improvisation at Music University, Lucerne Advanced training with Pierre Favre - drums, improvisation Workshops: Paul Lovens and Billy Cobham

Musical Activities: Numerous Concerts solo, in various duos and with bands in Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Finland, Estonia,, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Thailand, India, China, Brasil,Argentina, Chile, South Africa and the USA.

Current: a drummer and a percussionist, duo with Andreas Glauser, duo with Beat Fehlmann, trio Bucher/Glauser/Unternährer, member of the band “Portobello” and projects in connection with other fields of art

Christian will be in Singapore from 8th July to 20 July. Afterwhich he will be going to Jakarta and then New Zealand.

He will be doing a solo performance at Blu Jaz on Thursday 10th July 2008 and Friday 11th July 2008.

Ayaschool

click to view Aya's profile

Ayaschool is

Aya Sekine (on keyboard)
and 3 Crazy Guests.

Aya is emotional and passionate about her music. When she plays her keyboard, her fingers fly through the ivory and her music shoots through your heart. She has been playing all around the world, travelling across every kind of music – Rock, Rockabilly, Brazilian, Latin, Punk Rock, Hardcore Punk, Freestyle Improvisation and more! She digested and mixed everything inside her and what comes out is Aya's music! And she plays like she might die tomorrow. Be amazed by her music! Be at Blu Jaz every Saturday from 9pm to 1am.

Every week she will invite 3 other musicians whom she called her Crazy Guests. Her Crazy Guests are subject to change every week at her own will. She has invited amongst other musicians , Marina Xavier (Singapore's very own Jazz Diva), Dawn Ho, Ann Weerapas, Alemay Fernandez, Maya, Micheala, Eddie Layman, Tama Goh and many many other great musicians. free entry!

Dates>>>>>>>>>>>Crazy Guests

1 Sept 2007>>>>>>Bong(bass), Denise Mininfield (vocal), Darren Moore (drum)

8 Sept 2007>>>>>>Bong(bass), Greg Lyons (sax), Darren Moore (drum)

15 Sept 2007>>>>>Maya(vocal)

22 Sept 2007>>>>>Alemay Fernandez (vocal), Jojo(bass), Bobby(percussion)

Greg Lyons Monster Quartet

Monster Quartet is:-

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Greg Lyons>>>>>>Chok Kerong>>>>>Darren Moore>>>>>Dawn Ho

(Sax)>>>>>>>>>>>(Keyboard)>>>>>>>(Drums)>>>>>>>>>>(Vocal)

A dynamic quartet featuring the very young, beautiful and talented singer, Dawn Ho. She's Singapore's version of Natalie Cole. Dawn is trained in classical music. She has performed in musicals like The Sound of Music and Madamme Butterfly. Her efforts have led NewsRadio 93.8 to hail her as Singapore's "very own rising jazz star." Always dressed to kill and armed with gorgeous looks and powerful voice, she has wowed audience across Singapore. Be at Blu Jaz every Friday from 9pm to 1am. You will soon find your feet tapping and your body moving to her infectious rhythm of jazz, soul, funk, samba and whatever catches her fancy. Free entry!

Dim Kesber & The Augmenters

Blu Jaz is proud to host Mr Dim Kesber and The Augmenters from Holland on 6 Oct 2007. The concert starts at 9.30pm and ends at 1am

Dim Kesber and the Augmenters are:

Dim Kesber - saxophone and clarinet
Ellister van der Molen - trumpet and flugelhorn
Vincent Koning - guitar
Peter Beets - piano
Noah Nicoll - bass
Barry Olthof - drums

The Hague’s very own Dim Kesber has a long standing in jazz. Sixty years ago this gentleman & engineer joined the Dutch Swing College Band, and later he formed with other alumni from this ‘Who is Who in Dutch jazz’ the Reunion Jazz Band. With the Augmenters, Mr. Kesbers will be presenting some fine swing tunes at Blu Jaz.

Pecombo

"Sha-Ba-Da SAMBA TOKYO !" Pecombo Singapore Tour 2007

On Friday, November 23rd and Saturday, November 24th, two nights in a row, Tokyo's newest vocal group "Pecombo" will be performing their first Singapore live concert at Blu Jaz followed by performance on Monday, November 26th at Esplanade Concourse.

Pecombo is made of 5 vocalists, and performs with attractive chorus mixed with Brazilian and Latin Jazz sounds. With their charming dance performance and their passionate and joyful voices, you will feel like dancing too.

Since becoming a vocal group in 2002, not only have they released two original albums [tempo feliz], [Serendipity], but they also released several thematic CDs.They have captured the hearts of people who are leading pop culture and even the toughest of music critics. They have become one of the hottest groups sought after in Tokyo.

As their world distribution for their music is confirmed, they are expanding their playing field into the world.Looking beyond Latin music, they are interested in Asian music. Starting with performance with famous Balinese guitarist, BALAWAN, they are planning to collaborate with more Asian talented musician in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. To announce to the world, they are calling it "Asian Tropicalismo" Asia's first tropical pop music project.

Hacchan', leader of Pecombo says, "Singapore is a hub of Asian tropical culture. From here, we would like to bring the newest culture, which is mixing the three sounds: Latin music, trendiest Tokyo sound, and South-East Asian groove."We can expect the hottest performance at these live concerts. With their happy and trendy music, "Pecombo" will surely stir the heart of listeners in Singapore.

["Sha-Ba-Da SAMBA !" Pecombo Singapore Tour 2007]
Friday, November 23rd, 2007
19:30 Open / 20:30 Live Start

Saturday, November 24th, 2007
19:30 Open / 20:30 Live Start
Blu Jazz Cafe (11 Bali Lane Histric Kampong Glam / +65-6292-3800)
Ticket Fee: SG$30(advance)

Ticket sale will start from Friday, Oct.19th @
1.Blu Jaz Cafe
2.BONGOUT : (60 Robertson Quay #01-01 The Quayside / +65-6732-5234)

Monday, November 26th, 2007
19:30 Live Start Esplanade Concourse (1 Esplanade Drive / +65-6828-8222) Free Event

Organized by La Orquesta DJT, Cooperated by Ayaschool Projects

Louis Soliano

Louis Soliano and friends : Live Jazz at Blu Jaz, Sat 11 Aug 2007, 9pm to 1am, free entry!

When visiting artists go to Singapore and accompanying musicians are called for, Jazz Drummer and vocalist Louis Soliano is top on the list.

He has played with Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, Julie London, Stan Getz, and Shirley Bassey, just to name a few.

Louis Soliano, is without doubt Asia's Best Jazz Drummer. He's performed with the best in the world, and has developed his own unique sound.

http://cedmedia.ntu.edu.sg/lunchtimeconcert/1999/

Greg Lyons Omniform

Blu Jaz Presents ..
Greg Lyons Omniform - Every Monday

Featuring:
Greg Lyons (soprano and tenor saxophone)
Fabian Lim (alto saxophone)
Tim O'Dwyer (baritone saxophone)
Christy Smith (bass)
Chok Kerong (piano)
Darren Moore (drums)
Terry Ang - (flute)
Leo Jeoh (trombone)
>>>>>>>>>>Freddi Sonderegger(trombone)
>>>>>>>>>>Daniel Wong(Trumpet)

Every Monday at Blu Jaz from 9pm to 11.30pm. An absolute first in Singapore. A ten piece live band comprising some of the best musicians in the region, getting together once a week for the love of music. Giving away free awesome music for 2 and half hours. Be warned. You'll be drawn into its amazing sound and be addicted. Once heard and never forgotten. You will see many other great musicians in the audience, watching away and thoroughly entertained by the original compositions and arrangements by Greg Lyons. Its of a completely open and eclectic nature. An awe-inspiring feat which keeps the audience on the edge of their seats! Awesome music by musicians for musicians! The music has it's roots from just about everything in the world - from funk to bluegrass to samba to rock - all with the interpretation of some of the best improvisers in the region.. free entry!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Greg Lyons>>>>..Tim O'Dwyer>...Darren Moore>....>Christy Smith
Tenor&Soprano> .Baritone >>>>...Drums >>>>>>>....Bass
Saxophone>>>...>Saxophone

Big Chief

1st Friday of every month

Big Chief is Tim O’Dwyer (sax), Darren Moore (drums), Josh Wan (bass) Chok Kerong (Keyboard) and Andrew Lim (guitar). Terry and Kentaro (djs).

Big Chief does super heavy funk from the likes of James Brown, the JB’s and the Meters. Bring your dancing shoes cos its going to rock!!

If you gonna be anywhere on the 1st Friday of every month, be at Blu Jaz!

Time: 9pm to 1am. Cover charge: $8.

THE COMMON LANGUAGE : CROSSING BORDERS WITH JAZZ

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Soh Wen Ming and Chok Kerong, two of Singapore’s brightest young musicians will be performing jazz alongside United States of America’s brightest young musicians, Alex Wintz and Katie Thiroux

Chok Kerong began playing the piano at the age of 4, and hasn't looked back since. As an improviser, his style isdescribed as "muscular and risk-taking".

Soh Wenming is currently attending the Berklee College of Music and is a recipient of both the Berklee World Scholarship Tour Scholarship and the Singapore National Arts Council Overseas Grant. While still in Singapore, he spent a three year stint with noted Singaporean drum instructor Anthony Fong and later engaged the late, great Edmond Branson Jr as a teacher and mentor.

Alex Wintz is a guitar player originally from New Jersey. He has already at a very young age performed with some of today's best musicians as well as at world class venues in New YorkCity and New Jersey. Born in California, and raised in New York and northern New Jersey, Alex began learning guitar at the age of 4. He has had the opportunity to be mentored by some great teachers including Vic Juris.

Katie Thiroux, a bassist and vocalist from Los Angeles, California, is the recipient of the Phil Ramone Presidential Scholarship. She began her musical studies on the violin at the age of 3, switching to string bass while in elementary school. She is a 2006 graduate of Los Angeles Hamilton High School Music Academy, where she performed with two acclaimed vocal jazz ensembles. She performed at the 2004 and 2005 International Association for Jazz Education conferences, and was a featured vocalist at the past three Monterey Jazz festivals. For four years in a row, Thiroux was selected to be a member of the elite Gibson/Baldwin Grammy National Honor Jazz Ensemble.

FABIO MORGERA

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Grammy Awards Nominee 2006 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album (People People MusicMusic, Savoy Jazz ) .

A trumpeter and composer, Fabio Morgera will be performing live with friends (Greg Lyons (saxophone) , Tony Makarome(double bass) and Darren Moore(drum) at Blu Jaz on 21st July 2007 from 9.30pm to 1am.

Born in Italy in1963, he lost his left hand in an accident at age 3, At 12 he invented a device which enabled him to play guitar and electricbass in left-handed fashion.At 15 he switched to trumpet and 2 years later he started playing professionallywith the italian jazz composer GiorgioGaslini and with the European Community Youth JazzOrchestra.

Fabio moved to NYC in 1990 where he continued recording and performing as a jazzbandleader. He was one of the founders of the acid jazz band GROOVE COLLECTIVE.

In 1995 he recorded and toured with RnB star MAXWELL. He is also a member of the multimedial show URBANTAP led bythe great tapper TAMANGO.He played with the MINGUSBIG BAND, the VILLAGE VANGUARD ORCHESTRA, the NUBLUORCHESTRA conducted by BUTCH MORRIS, ROY HARGROVE'SBIG BAND, ALVIN QUEEN, JD ALLEN, and the JASON LINDNERBIG BAND.

He has recorded with many DJ's includingLouie Vega, Eric Kupper, Mark Farina, Romain, Spinna,Dennis Ferrer, Jon Cutler. Other albums under hisdirection are: THE PURSUIT (Ken music 1992), SLICK(Red Records 2000), NEW HOPES (What's new 2001),COLORS feat. Steve Turre (Red Records 2002), RED STARSfeat. Victor Lewis(Red records 2004), THE VOICE WITHIN(Widesound 2005, Kufala 2006).Fabio Morgera has also produced JD Allen, Kenyatta Beasley, Pablo Bobrowickyand Urbantap's cds.

Ticket for his performance at Blu Jaz is $12. You can purchase ticket at the counter or call 6292 3800/900 360 45 or email blujaz@singnet.com.sg for enquiries.

For more information on Fabio Morgera, log on to http://www.fabiomorgera.com/, http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/1641/, http://www.urbantap.net/crew_fabio.html, http://www.kufala.com/artists/artistBio.php?sel=67

AYA SEKINE

Aya’s way of playing the piano is ultimately unique and original. Having mastered traditional and hard swinging Jazz as her backbone, she has been traveling around every kind of music – Rock, Rockabilly, Brazilian music, Latin, Punk Rock(hardcore punk as well), and freestyle improvisations and more! Everything has been digested and mixed inside her, and what comes out is, Aya, her own self.

An emotional and passionate personality goes through her fingers on the ivory, and shoots your heart.All the performances feature her unconditional love for Jazz – and be assured to be excited by her original compositions and unlimited influences from all the music she has been playing all around the world.

Aya is a full blooded Japanese girl. She spent good 9 years in New York City, performing and experiencing music that is so raw and alive. Jazz was not the only music in New York City. When she realized, she made a quick shift to every single sound that her ears were attracted to. Her excellent collaborations in the past with world class musicians bolded her confidence and expression without fear. She plays like she knows she might die tomorrow.

Now based in Singapore (where she grew up), she has been opening up many local and foreign audiences’ senses by vicious yet sensitive way of her performances.Not only her music unique and original, she has got style in presenting her visually.Watch out you fashion geeks, she will give you some kicks in your buttocks!

Aya will “open” you up, and together with her band, feel the world of music. You will soon find yourself unwinding…and live and think life like a free bird!!!　Her 2 months break wasn’t wasted. Ayaschool is back. She is ready. The phoenix has flew back to get you higher than Mount Favor!


Born in Osaka Japan, Aya's childhood was divided between Singapore and Japan until 1990. Her study of piano and intensive ear training began at only five years old and this has been the major influence in her life ever since.

At the age of eleven Aya joined a brass band, an association that would last eight years. Her musical experiences in the band embraced the family of percussion instruments ranging from drums to vibraphones where Aya developed strong and vibrant rhythmic impression.

In 1990 Aya earned her High School Diploma as well as several Outstanding Music Awards when she graduated from the Singapore American High School. To further her musical studies, Aya relocated to Boston, Massachusetts and studied at Berklee College of Music (1990-1994). During this time she was introduced to and fell in love with Jazz by listening to and playing with many great musicians from all over the world. After obtaining her diploma she relocated to the music capital of the world, New York City.

Aya has an extremely accomplished work experience record, having performed with many world class musicians. A few examples being bassist Leo Traversa (Ivan Lins), Brazilian bassistSergio Brandao who performs regularly at Zincbar(Tania Maria, Herbie Mann), drummer Bruce Cox(Sonny Rollins), Japanese Trumpeter Terumasa Hino, Tenor saxophonist Dale Barlow (Art Blakey and Jazz Messengers, Ceder Walton), trumpeter Damon Brown, an amazing trumpeter and composer from UK and.....more.

Besides her performances, Aya has strived to provide a more creative environment for musicians. She has organized many music events including Japan-Smacksdown-NewYork 2000, a 10-day festival which featured 7 Japanese highly acclaimed experimental groups and local NYC musicians in September 2000. She is currently working on more invitations for Japanese, NY based, and Scandinavian musician to perform in Singapore.

Aya spent 9 years in New York City and returned to Singapore where she was asked to become the resident pianist at Jazz@Southbridge, Singapore the best place to enjoy high-end Jazz performaces, truly the main jazz club in Singapore. Attracted by her dynamic and sensitive piano performances, the club is always packed and she has countless devoted fans.

In November 2003, Aya recorded her first full length album recently released in May 2006 with strikingly innovative CD launch concert at Esplanade. The album "Inside, Out!" has been attracting attention of all medias, including TCS program "FRONT" on Art Central, which featured Aya, and her music in late August 2006.

Besides Singapore she also performs in Japan with Jun Matsue Group, a hard rock concept mixed with jazz and experimental sound, which has also released 2 albums in 2003 and 2005. Both in 2005 and 2006, Aya was invited to perform at the Mosaic Music Festival at the Esplanade.

For the first year, she performed completely organic improvisations with the well known saxophonist Boon Chye. The unit is called MODAL and was also invited to perform at YAMAHA Grandpiano Fair at Suntec Convention Centre in last September.

This year, she performed in her own Jazz piano trio Captain Bebop, which turned out to be a bigger success than anyone could imagine!!! Aya has collaborated with many, the most recent being with experimental sound creator Phillip Tan, dancer Daniel K, a young and enigmatic poet YUN and famed kinetic sculptor Masato Tanaka from Japan at Sculpture Square in Singapore in April 2005.

She has also been accompanying the contemporary dance classes at LaSalle-SIA Art College. With this depth of experience and wide range of influences Aya is an extremely talented, experimental and ambitious musician, able to play in a range of styles whilst adding her own unique touch.

Aya Sekine plays at Blu Jaz every Friday in Sept 07 and every Saturday in Oct, Nov and Dec o7. She invites 3 friends to play with her (she calls her friends - crazy guests) Her crazy guests are subjected to change every week at her own will.

GREG LYONS

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Greg Lyons was born in Tynemouth, England, on the 11th of August 1958. His musical explorations began early, influenced by his parents' love of jazz and classical music, and by the time he left school he was already working as a bassist in bands of various styles.

The late 70s saw him working as a versatile and in-demand bassist in Hamburg before switching to saxophone. After a year of self-imposed exile he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston USA, returning to London in 1983 where he started working with bands such as Grand Union, Loose Tubes, and quartets/quintets under his own direction.

In the mid 80s he briefly took up residence in the Canary Islands where he developed a strong affinity for Brazilian and Latin music that has pervaded his subsequent work.

Back in London he worked with El Sonido de Londres, Sambatucada, Roberto Pla, touring with Cuban exiles Alfredo Rodriguez, Patato Valdes and Bebo Valdez.He continued to lead his own bands in London until the mid 90s when he moved to Malaysia and was one of the founders of the fusion band Face First who recorded their debut album in 1996, produced by Eric Marienthal and distributed internationally by Universal.

He began his teaching activities in 1995 at the International College of Music in Kuala Lumpur, where he began to nurture a new generation of composer/improvisers. He now teaches mainly privately but continues to perform and teach in masterclasses around the world. His strengths are in his ear-training approach to building an improviser's vocabulary, and a melodic approach to jazz harmony and writing.

Greg Lyons plays at Blu Jaz with Darren Moore (on drums), Chok Kerong (on hammond organ) and Dawn Ho (vocal) every Sat in Sept 07 and every Friday in Oct, Nov and Dec 07).

http://www.geocities.com/gregblyons/profilepage.html
http://www.greglyons.net/home.html


Tim O'Dwyer


Tim O'Dwyer is a composer, saxophonist and improviser involved in a diverse range of musical genres concurrently including installation/multi-media, contemporary classical, free improvisation, punk-rock, and free jazz.

He was born in Melborne, Australia in 1971.
After graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1993 he studied saxophone with Evan PARKER and composition with Richard BARRETT in London and Amsterdam. He has been a recipient of numerous Australia Council and Arts Victoria funding for overseas study, recording, touring and commissions. Over the last ten years Tim has composed small and large scale works of notation and for improvisers with his band Bucketrider and ELISION Ensemble that have been performed and critically acclaimed throughout Australia, Europe, Japan and in New York. A major part of his creative work has involved cross-art form collaboration with visual artists. He has been commissioned by the Queensland Art Gallery to write music in response to the their acquisition Void #13 by Anglo/Indian sculptor Anish KAPOOR, subsequently recorded at Radio Bremen in 2000. The The Festival of Perth for the installation Lament of Desire with ELISION Ensemble and Thai artist Araya RASDJARMREARNSOOK. And The Kyoto Arts Centre to create an installation with Japanese artist Katsushige NAKAHASHI called Zero Project to be presented in Kyoto in August 2003.

Recently Tim has worked on developing an approach to composition that juxtaposes blocks of dense layers of sounds with blocks of silence. His solo project multiple-repeat recorded and commissioned by Radio Bremen in May 2002 illustrates this approach utilising saxophones as the sound source overdubbed many times. This multi-layering aesthetic has been further developed for real-time composition with the use of Max/MSP processing and occupies his current solo work, particularly in eight-channel surround sound. At present, Tim is holding a commission to write a new chamber work for voice and five instruments to be premiered by ELISION Ensemble in early 2004.

http://www.elision.org.au/players/odwyer.html

http://www.timodwyer.com/