Interview by William Chan
Local director of Ocean Walker choir Addison Wong Kei Hong and Macau Jazz Orchestra conductor Alex Cheng Chun Chong have told The Macau Post Daily that the two music groups will collaborate and perform soul and jazz music on December 20, aimed at celebrating Christmas with the local community.
The exclusive interview was held last week at the rehearsal room of the Macau Jazz Promotion Association (MJPA) in Areia Preta district.
Wong is a former musical director and music lecturer at the University of Bushnell in Oregon, United States. Since returning to Macau in 2020, he has been teaching music and art performance at the University of Macau (UM) and the City University of Macau (CityU). Besides leading Ocean Walker, he also founded the Macau Soul Music Association earlier this year.
Cheng graduated from Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan in 2018, majoring in saxophone. In addition to leading the big bands in the Macau Jazz Promotion Association, he is also teaching and conducting jazz music at Ilha Verde Secondary School and Colégio Diocesano de São José 5. He is currently the music director of fusion jazz band HornPsychos where he plays the saxophone.
Big band & soul choir
Before Cheng returned to Macau, he had always wanted to create a big band in Macau. “While we have numerous wind bands in the local community and in many secondary schools, jazz big bands are rarely seen in Macau even though they also comprise wind instruments and a rhythm section.
“We are fortunate that during the busiest month for musicians, we have a complete wind section in the Macau Jazz Orchestra – three trumpets, four trombones and four saxophones, as well as singer Carol Chin,” Cheng said, adding that with all the instrumental parts filled, the band can better produce the effects of the music, comprising jazz classics and new styles.
Wong noted that this will be the second time the choir and big band have collaborated. “This time I have composed a song, called ‘Wind Chant’ (‘詠’), exclusively for the big band players. I have in my mind the sound of brass players which mimics that of a choir, forming a brass chorale. Meanwhile, the Ocean Walker, now with 17 members, will present a variety of Christmas carols in the form of a gospel choir to bring joy to the audience.”
Some of the pieces to be performed were written when Wong was in the US. “In addition, I have also composed ‘Be the King’, a piece introducing African rhythms played with buckets, which is dedicated to an animated character, called ‘Bucket King’, created by my older brother. The piece will also be used as the background music for the ‘Bucket King’ animation being shown at ‘Light Up Macao 2022’,” Wong added.
Gospel choir
According to Wong, a gospel choir differs from a traditional choir in various aspects. “Gospel music originated in the black community during the slavery era, where they gathered and sang religious tunes in the Protestant churches to encourage each other in the difficult times. Ocean Walker is not a gospel choir in the strict sense, because we don’t always have the religious element – we associate ourselves more with a ‘soul’ style which shares the gospel style.
“The arrangement of gospel choirs is similar to a jazz big band: both came from American black culture. Compared to a traditional choir which is usually in the form of a cappella [no accompaniment] or accompanied by the piano, a gospel choir often has a bass, a drum set and a keyboard player to play along with the gospel choir which comprises soprano, alto and tenor singers,” Wong said.
According to Wong, gospel choirs often give positive and inspiring vibes with high energy because singers often use their chest voice on high registers. “Gospel choristers also sing expressively and dramatically by altering the pronunciations of the vowels. Usually, gospel compositions have solo parts, and the singers frequently add embellishments – ad libs – as well.
Music prospects
Cheng noted that there have been obvious improvements to his band in the recent years. “Most of our band members are non-professional musicians who have a regular job. Despite the lack of jazz musicians and culture in society, I am glad that many of us still stick around and make jazz music together,” Cheng said, adding that the main reason for the “loyalty” is simple – jazz is fun.
Meanwhile, Wong is planning to incorporate local Chinese themes into gospel/soul music in the future to promote local music in a gospel style. “We need not mimic the American black culture to sing gospels. Instead, we need to search for our own method to create the same intensity and expressions but also original to our culture,” Wong said.
The live performances will be held at the Small Auditorium of the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) on December 20, a public holiday marking Macau’s return to the motherland. The first session will start at 4 p.m. and the second session at 7:45 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit: macauticket.com The ticket price is 200 patacas.
Addison Wong Kei Hong and Alex Cheng Chun Chong perform with the Macau Jazz Orchestra and Ocean Walker last Christmas at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. – Photos provided by the Macau Jazz Promotion Association.
Ocean Walker sings in April 2022 at the Navy Yard in Barra. – Photo provided by Ocean Walker
This undated photo shows Wong and Cheng playing in fusion jazz band Groovy Ghost. – Photo provided by Wong
