The Gregory Wong Quintet will be the first performers at the Macau Cultural Centre’s (CCM) Black Box Theatre Box II on October 10, local trombonist Gregory Wong Weng Hou told The Macau Post Daily in an exclusive interview last week at ORA Coffee Tap Seac.
Wong started learning to play the trombone and jazz music in Macau at the age of 15, after which he obtained a bachelor of arts degree in Trombone at the Chinese Culture University in Taipei and a master‘s degree majoring in jazz music at the Fu Jen Catholic University in New Taipei City. Wong has played in numerous shows and music festivals with various bands and orchestras in Macau and Taiwan, such as the Taiwan Philharmonic, the Taipei Jazz Orchestra, and the Macau Jazz Orchestra.
Black Box Theatre
According to a statement on the Macau Cultural Centre website, Box II is equipped with a versatile rigging system that has adjustable hanging points. It features a rear stage with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooking the outdoor plaza. The rear stage can be transformed into a production area using black-out curtains. The seating arrangement is flexible and can accommodate up to 160 people. Box Il can be configured in theatre, traverse, thrust or arena layouts to meet different production needs.
Wong noted that thanks to the efforts and organisation of the Macau Jazz Promotion Association (MJPA), his quintet has been given the opportunity to be the first performers at the venue. He pointed out the lack of facilities for local musicians to perform, and emphasised that having more venues is beneficial for the artistic development in Macau.
In comparison to the two CCM auditoria, Wong expressed his appreciation for the versatility of its two black box theatres. He noted, “The floor-to-ceiling glass wall, if not curtained, allows the audience to gaze outside, even towards the Sands casino, creating the impression of an open-area performance.” Wong said he also admires the informal setting of the black box theatres when he visited both earlier that month, as well as the closer proximity to the audience. He added, “It’s a place where it’s okay for people to move around while you’re performing. The overall atmosphere feels very suitable for a jazz gig.”
Jazz Quintet
The Macau Post Daily conducted an interview with Wong on January 11, during which his quintet included him and four other local musicians. However, this time around, Wong will be performing with four Taiwanese musicians: saxophonist Kevin Liu Tang-Wen, pianist Gwo Jun-Yu, double bassist Liu Yu-Jia, and drummer Lin Jia-En. Wong has known all of them, including his teacher Kevin Liu, since his university years in Taiwan. This performance will mark the first time that the four Taiwanese musicians will be performing together in Macau.
Wong underlined that jazz combos typically prefer playing with different individuals instead of remaining with one group for an extended period. He said, “In classical orchestras, especially for first chair musicians, they usually stay in one orchestra for decades to maintain stability and cohesiveness. However, for jazz musicians, we constantly seek innovation and chemistry. Sometimes, we even limit our collective practice sessions and see how each of us communicates ad lib with the others on the stage.”
Wong noted that the quintet will be featuring jazz music from the 1950s and 1960s, specifically bebop and hard bop jazz. While all the songs are standards in jazz literature, Wong will be rearranging them for his quintet’s performance.
The performance will be held at the Black Box II on October 10 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are priced at 120 patacas. To purchase, visit: www.macauticket.com
Black Box Theatre (Box II) – Photos: Mars Lee Siu Hong
Double bassist Liu Yu-Jia
Pianist Gwo Jun-Yu
– Photos of performers provided by Wong
Local trombonist Gregory Wong Weng Hou
Drummer Lin Jia-En
Saxophonist Kevin Liu Tang-Wen
