Performance with elements of Eastern ritual music and dance by singer Jen Shyu, who has a background in New York downtown jazz. In collaboration with renowned improv musicians.

Jen Shyu’s new music is the result of a 3-year journey researching lesser known and disappearing musical cultures in South East Asia. Her performances are like rituals, conjuring a wide range of emotions through vocals, dance and traditional instruments. On her recent album Sounds and Cries of the World she collaborates with forward-thinking jazz musicians from her residence New York.

The American-Asian singer Jen Shyu became known as a member of Steve Coleman’s Five Elements. At the Bimhuis she will perform with viola player Mat Maneri and percussionist Randy Peterson.

‘Jen Shyu combined movement, acting, singing, and playing into long-form songs that could remind you of ancient court music or Joni Mitchell. Everything she did — every turn, every breath — came with mindful emphasis’ (New York Times).

‘A remarkable phenomenon’ (The Guardian).

Ranked #3 on New York Times’ Best Albums of 2015 by Ben Ratliff: “Jen Shyu ‘Sounds and Cries of the World’ (Pi): “The singer Ms. Shyu represents a new kind of improviser-composer-ethnomusicologist hybrid; this is the result of her own fieldwork (in East Timor, Indonesia, Taiwan and South Korea), pushed through an extraordinary voice and a circle of high-level improvisers.” New York Times’ Best Albums of 2015 by Ben Ratliff” HERE.

Also, click here and here for two articles (and a popcast) on Jen Shyu by Ben Ratliff (Sept 2015, NYTimes)

The Bimhuis restaurant is open prior to the concert from 6.30 till 8.30PM (reservations via 020-7882158). After the concert, the Bimhuis Café is open (free entrance).

JADE TONGUE
1 SET – NO INTERMISSION
Jen Shyu zang/piano/yueqin/gayageum/dans, Mat Maneri altviool, Randy Peterson drums