On the occasion of the 2021 edition of the “Festa della Musica”, the Italian Cultural Institute is organizing a concert dedicated to the Italian song of the 20th century, reinterpreted in jazz version by the Doug Martin Organ Trio, with the Chinese singer Susan Wong.
Program
Estate
Mambo Italiano
Quando Quando Quando (feat. Susan)
Volare (feat. Susan)
Anema e Core (Mandolino)
Guaglione
Malafemmena
Doce Doce
Tu Vuo Fa L’Americano (feat. Susan)
Godfather Theme (feat. Susan)
Strade dell’est
Città Vuota
Doug Martin Organ Trio feat. Susan Wong
The organ trio is one of jazz’s most unique small groups. Since the 1950s the organ trio has been known to be a dynamic powerhouse with its explosive energy, tremendous groove and wide harmonicpallet.
The Doug Martin Organ Trio carries forth the tradition by exploring timelessstandards alongside original material. With more than a decade ofcollaborations together in Beijing behind them, these three musicians share aunique stage alchemy that shines through in this timeless format.
Susan Wong ｜Singer
Music is her soul food. She has become a jazz lover ever since the age of 12 when she saw a video of Esperanza Spalding performing in 2008. She is deeply influenced by jazz legends like Chet Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day, Jacob Collier, Herbie Hancock etc. Also, she is keen on Soul, Funk and different kinds of music.
She learns keyboard and guitar herself and has been practicing singing for years. Her voice is exquisite and unique. She is active in Beijing Jazz stage and has gained over 100,000 followers in a Chinese Karaoke APP Changba.
Since 2018, as a jazz singer, she has participated in Beijing Mars Music Festival at Tango Livehouse, Galleria · Instreet summer outdoor party, Beijing Ritz-Carlton Hotel, ATTA restaurant opening ceremony and other events. Her life experience and values highly agree with what jazz is, that is to pursue freedom up to the hilt yet within certain proper rules, to enjoy the pleasure of having creativity that only humans own.
Doug Martin ｜Guitar
American guitarist, Doug Martin, started studying music at age 12. The first few years of musical study were spent playing rock and blues guitar. Early exposure and interest in the blues naturally led him to discover jazz influences, which would prove to change his life.
In the United States and Europe Doug Martin has been fortunate to perform with Grammy winning composer and band leader, John Jorgenson, as well as gypsy guitarist Lulo Reinhardt. Additional collaborations have included performances with jazz guitarist Howard Alden, Mimi Fox, John Pisano and many more.
Since 2012 Doug Martin has been performing and teaching music in Beijing, China. He holds a teaching certification from China Music Conservatory, which allows him to teach private lessons and workshops all over China. Douglas maintains a private teaching schedule in Beijing as well as workshops all over China in collaboration with Eastman Guitars.
Additional workshops in China include lectures on jazz at music conservatories such as Beijing Midi Music School and Beijing Modern Music Conservatory. Additionally Mr. Martin maintains his Weixin official account sharing jazz guitar related articles and is in the process of producing a new video series on jazz guitar studies.
On occasion Douglas Martin acts as a judge for music students at jazz competitions in China. For example, Doug was recently one of the judges for the jazz finals at the JZ School Jazz Competition in Shanghai in October, 2019.
Pierre Pradat ｜ Keyboards
Pierre Pradat is one of the most requested musicians established in China. He has played thousands of shows all over the country at the greatest venues since more than a decade after relocating from France, including many for some of the top Chinese pop stars and movie directors.
He is a highly versatile and creative artist, cultivating a mainstream jazz piano style balancing elegant lyrism and virtuosic energy with a great sense of swing. He is also specialized in playing Rhodes electric piano and analog synthesizers, very open-minded on other genre like Funk and electronica. His main influences to name a few are Kenny Barron, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett.
He is also a very respected jazz educator, having teached to hundreds of Chinese students so far.
Nico Mège｜Drums
Nico Mège is a French drummer, educator and music producer who has been involved in numerous musical projects since the 90’s. After being very active on the French music scene since an early age, his art and passion made him travel the world and explore.
In 2009, he finally settles down in Beijing, China after discovering the city while touring with his French soul-jazz trio Blue Mantra then as a sideman of Hazel Payne, 1978 Grammy Award winner. Since then, he has become one of the most demanded drummers in China and has shown his rare musical taste and versatility in all kinds of projects, from the Beijing jazz, folk, rock and experimental scene to China’s most popular music acts, movies and TV shows.
Having played over 3500 concerts worldwide, he is also a highly sought-after recording artist and produces tracks for the gaming and movie industry. In addition, Nico Mège has been teaching jazz drums to aspiring professional musicians at the Beijing Contemporary Music Academy since 2017 and regularly hosts masterclasses around the country.