Interview by William Chan
Local saxophonist Lam Chak Seng recently spoke with the Post about his journey performing across several cities in Europe earlier this year, reconnecting with old friends and meeting other musicians from Macau.
Lam, a regularly featured artist in the Post, is a jazz musician who also plays the flute and piano. He is widely regarded as one of Macau’s top jazz musicians and is currently based in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). He studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands, as a master’s degree student on a full scholarship.
1st Stop: Rome, Italy
Lam began his European trip in late April, with Rome as his first stop. Although the city is not renowned for jazz, Lam noted the local musicians’ impressive talent. “Jazz musicians in top European cities have a very high standard, and their development is more vibrant than we expected.” He collaborated with pianist Lorenzo Ditta, a friend from his studies, participating in both the recording of Lorenzo’s album and live performances. The schedule was tight – just three days to rehearse, record, and perform. “It’s a pity I couldn’t spend more time improvising and exchanging ideas with other musicians, but I was impressed by the professionalism and skill of the local artistes.”
2nd Stop: Lisbon and Faro, Portugal
After Rome, Lam travelled to Lisbon, where he reunited with Macau trombonist Wong Weng Hou and guitarist Chan Hon Chong. They prepared for performances in Faro, inspired by last year’s “Jazz Up” Christmas concert* in Macau, where Portuguese jazz master Zé Eduardo led European musicians to perform alongside Macau artistes – a gesture now reciprocated.
However, their journey faced an unexpected hurdle: a rare mega-blackout affected both Spain and Portugal. “When we returned to the city, the streets were packed with people. Our phones had no signal, and we nearly couldn’t make it to Faro. That night, we thought we might have to sleep on the street.” Fortunately, power was soon restored, and Lam and his friends reached Faro.
Lam described Faro as a peaceful seaside town with stunning scenery, which is also the hometown of Zé Eduardo. Despite the earlier blackout preventing some fans from attending, the concert was warm and lively. “Zé welcomed everyone warmly, acting as host, and the musicians’ chemistry on stage intensified the atmosphere. The young Portuguese musicians were well-prepared, their skills rivalling seasoned professionals. We were fortunate to perform together again and hope to continue exchanging performances with musicians from Portugal and beyond.”
3rd Stop: The Hague, Netherlands
After leaving Portugal, Lam and Chan arrived at their final destination—The Hague. This city holds significant memories for Lam, as it is where he studied. Besides visiting famous sights with Chan, he reconnected with former classmates and teachers and met several Macau musicians residing in the Netherlands. “Among those I met, some are studying at music conservatories, while others have established careers in music there. The Netherlands attracts people from all over the world due to its rich musical atmosphere and high-quality education and living standards. It’s easy to fall in love with this place.”
During his stay, Lam was invited to perform at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the renowned jazz club “September Café.” Coincidentally, this bar opened during his studies there, making the performance a significant reunion after 10 years.
The music marathon that day lasted from 3 p.m. until 2 a.m., divided into several sessions. In the evening, he teamed up with top-tier musicians for a high-level jazz concert and performed for the night. “In performances of this level, earning the respect and recognition of fellow musicians feels more satisfying than the audience’s applause,” Lam noted. He said that this unrehearsed musical exchange became one of the most unforgettable moments of his European journey — not only a display of technical mastery but a pure resonance between musicians.
Lam also mentioned an upcoming Latin jazz performance to be held tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Sifang Art Space on Avenida do Almirante Lacerda, featuring Greater Bay Area (GBA) artistes including bassist Zhu Nan from Zhuhai, pianist Xiao Yuecheng from Shenzhen, drummer Chase Wu from Guangzhou, local artistes Bossa Eva, Wong Weng Hou, and himself. The gig will also feature a Latin jazz music lecture and jam session. Tickets are priced at 180 patacas. To purchase, visit: https://www.instagram.com/sifang_art_space/
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https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/24585
Lam Chak Seng plays the saxophone during a gig at the Hague.
Lam Chak Seng (centre) plays the flute during the “Jazz Up” concert last year at Dom Pedro V Theatre.
Local sax player Lam Chak Seng (second from left) performs in Faro in April with the Jazz Mission Big Band. - All photos and images provided by Lam.
