Jazz giants to kick off new music series

THE local concert calendar just became a lot more sophisticated and classy with three jazz royals making their way here from this month onwards. Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval; keyboardist Herbie Hancock; and guitarist Pat Metheny are set to bring their smooth sounds to the Esplanade as part of its Mosaic brand revival.

It will be the first time both Sandoval and Hancock are playing Singapore; Metheny returns after gracing the 2006 line-up of the Mosaic Music Festival.

The shows by the three jazz giants - who share more than 40 Grammy Awards between them - will also kick off the new Mosaic Music Series after the Esplanade retired its decade-old annual Mosaic Music Festival earlier this year. "With the Series, we wanted to focus on presenting musicians with exceptional virtuosity and artistry, cultivate a deeper connection between audiences and musicians, and also look to inspire the Singapore music community," says Clarence Yap, head, Music, The Esplanade Co Ltd.