US jazz legend Herbie Hancock; Grammy Award winner Antonio Sánchez;
international sensation Joey Alexander; local Cantopop band RubberBand crossover with the Patrick Lui Jazz Orchestra, presented with a range of ticketed and free programmes over four days across WestK
The flagship annual musical event, WestK Presents: Freespace Jazz Fest (the Festival) will take place from 24 to 27 October 2024. To celebrate its sixth edition, the Festival proudly presents an all-star line-up of over a hundred of jazz musicians from around the world who together will stage a range of captivating ticketed and free performances. Promised to be the most prominent jazz festival in Hong Kong, the Festival invites music lovers to immerse in a mesmerising journey, transcending cultures and genres, to celebrate the vibrant and fusion quality of jazz. Tickets are now available on the SISTIC ticketing platform.
Star-studded international lineup including the legendary Herbie Hancock; international sensation Joey Alexander and Grammy-awarded Antonio Sánchez to delight the Festival
For four consecutive nights between 24 and 27 October, acclaimed international musicians and units will take turns to take the stage at Wonderland and The Box of Freespace:
With an illustrious career spanning five decades and 14 Grammy Awards as well as an Oscar under his belt, the 84-year-old legendary American musician Herbie Hancock, is set to return to Hong Kong over a decade after his last visit. He will headline the closing night of the Festival on 27 October at the Wonderland stage, offering local audiences a rare opportunity to experience the artistry of a master up close. Joining Hancock on stage at Wonderland are eight-time Grammy winner trumpeter Terence Blanchard, guitarist Lionel Loueke, bassist James Genus and drummer Jaylen Petinaud;
Grammy-Awarded American drummer and composer Antonio Sánchez from Mexico is renowned for composing original score for Academy Award for Best Picture film Birdman (2014), which took home the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media. Coinciding with the film’s 10th anniversary, audiences can experience Sánchez’s powerful and magnetic skills at The Box, Freespace on 27 October. He will be performing live alongside the movie for full two-hour duration, improvising and riffing on the score as well as the on-screen action, making each event uniquely spontaneous;
One of the most skilled and imaginative young musician in contemporary jazz – the 21-year-old Indonesian jazz pianist Joey Alexander, who has been nominated three times for the Grammy Award, returns as a more mature artist after his first performance in Hong Kong at age 14. He will be performing two shows with bassist Kris Funn and drummer Johnathan Barber to showcase his expansive talents and impeccable groove at The Box, Freespace on 26 October;
The Ariel Bart Trio, led by talented young chromatic harmonica player and composer Ariel Bart, cellist Talia Erdal and pianist Arseny Rykov, with numerous prestigious collaborations under their belt. The Trio will present a lyrical and exotic blend of contemporary European jazz mixed with musical elements from the Middle East at The Box, Freespace on 25 October;
Rémi Panossian Trio from France will perform on the same night as the Ariel Bart Trio, featuring Rémi Panossian on piano, Maxime Delporte on double bass and Frédéric Petitprez on drums. The Trio has performed in more than 500 concerts globally and festivals including the Tokyo Jazz Festival, Taichung Jazz Festival and Montreal Jazz Festival. They were named the “Revelation of the Year 2011″ by the French radio TSF JAZZ. They will bring an energetic jazz performance at the stage of The Box, Freespace on 25 October.
Ted Lo, Patrick Lui, RubberBand, Fountain de Chopin and more top-notch local musicians unleash the charm in the city’s jazz scene for three full straight nights
Kicking off the Festival on a high note and continuing to spotlight local jazz musicians, local jazz godfather pianist Ted Lo, who has been pursuing musical innovation for over 40 years, has brought together two of the best jazz musicians of the new generation – double bassist Nelson Fung and drummer Dean Li, at The Box, Freespace on 24 October. Under the close interaction of the trio, they will perform Ted Lo’s original compositions and rearranged classics, sparking cross-generational fireworks through the tight interplay of the three-piece ensemble.
The two local fan favourites – the acclaimed Patrick Lui Jazz Orchestra and popular Cantopop band RubberBand will present an electrifying fusion of home-grown Hong Kong sounds at the Wonderland stage on 25 and 26 October. One of the most anticipated regular headliners at Freespace Jazz Fest, the Patrick Lui Jazz Orchestra has teamed up with major local acts like Janice Vidal, Angelita Li and MC Yan. Hong Kong icon RubberBand has had audiences from Hong Kong and beyond shouting for more with their powerful onstage presence and potent blend of indie rock, Cantopop and heartfelt ballads. This is the first time for them to collaboratively curate and perform, which will be orchestrated with Lui’s trademark big-band sound. The performance will feature RubberBand’s selected favourites and film soundtracks from popular Hong Kong films.
Free outdoor performances, jazz workshops, and F&B market – the all-round Festival is tailored for all walks of life
Throughout the Festival, a wide range of free programmes like outdoor performances, jazz workshops and a gourmet food and beverages market will be offered to all at various corners of WestK, including Great Lawn, Harbourside Lawn, Freespace, M+ and Lau Bak Livehouse, allowing audience to enjoy the Festival to the fullest. The amazing line-up of regionally renowned musicians and music groups includes:
Kinga Głyk, Polish bassist who began her career at the age of 12 and has been recognised as JAZZ TOP and BLUES TOP in an annual survey;
Soccer96, a duo from the UK featuring Daniel Leavers on synths, Maxwell Hallett on drums and Eddy Lupaka on guitar;
Richiman and Groove Nice, an American-style blues band from Korea;
RS5pb, a 5-piece band from Japan led by the popular trumpet player Shinpei Ruike, who is also a member of the jam band group ‘urb’ from Sony Jazz;
Pakshee, a six-member outfit from India renowned for a unique blend of Jazz, Funk, Pop and Rock.
Kung Chi-shing, Head of Contemporary Performance, Performing Arts, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, said, “Entering its sixth edition, the WestK Freespace Jazz Fest as one of the Asia’s premier annual jazz events, will continue serving as a remarkable platform for jazz talents from around the world to come together and inspire one another. It is through meaningful connections that we cultivate a rich and dynamic jazz community, captivating members of public with the power of Hong Kong’s unique East-meets-West music and cultural blend.”
Information on Ticketing and Other Programmes
For the latest programme and ticketing details, please refer to the District website: https://www.westk.hk/en/jazzfest.
