Review and interview by William Chan
The Lam Chak Seng Jazz Band, which will be performing at this weekend’s hush! event at Hac Sa Beach in Coloane, organised a jazz jam session bootcamp at the former Barra Abattoir site this past weekend. The event attracted around 40 musicians from Macau, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou, ranging from kids to people in their fifties, all participating for free. I was also one of the participants.
Led by local saxophonist Lam Chak Seng, the band features local guitarist Chan Hon Chong, Italian pianist Lorenzo Ditta, Belgian drummer Kobe Gregoir, and Spanish bassist Xavi Castillo. Lam and Chan are prominent figures in the Macau jazz scene, while Lam met the three European musicians during his studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands.
The two-day bootcamp, running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, included lectures, jazz combo instruction, instrument sessions, music appreciation, and performances by and for all participants, serving as a networking platform for musicians to connect.
The bootcamp received positive feedback. A drummer friend of mine who had played percussion for years but was new to jazz, found the experience fun and inspiring, discovering the joy of jazz improvisation and musical communication. Another seasoned guitarist expressed gratitude for the opportunity to exchange ideas with the instructors, highlighting the valuable learning experience.
Although the camp was relatively short, it was fruitful for participants at every level. Lam thanked the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) for organising the event and his bandmates for their support. The Lam Chak Seng Jazz Band will be performing in Guangzhou, Zhongshan, and Zhuhai before returning to Macau for the hush! event this Saturday. The performance schedule for hush! can be checked on their website: www.icm.gov.mo/hush/2024/en/
The Lam Chak Seng Jazz Band members and participants in jazz jam session bootcamp pose after their performance on Sunday at the former Barra Abattoir site. – Photo provided by Lam (fourth from left, second row)
