Music and madness | Bangkok Post: Arts & Culture

Review

At times I felt peaceful, others I felt out of my mind. "An Evening of Jazz", part of Bangkok's 12th International Festival of Dance and Music, was a roller coaster ride for the musical senses and rightfully so - it's a genre that can't be pinpointed to one sound, one style or even one stage presence.

So, in the true spirit of the genre, the concert was comprised of two performances as different as night and day - the elegant, classically-driven ensemble the Swedish Jazz Kings, followed by funk-infused party animals the Shuffle Demons.

Well known for covering big-band style tunes by Clarence Williams, Jelly Roll Morton and Fats Waller, the Swedish Jazz Kings came to Bangkok toting an assortment of colourful, feel-good compositions from the Chicago and New Orleans music scenes. For a group comprised of members pushing 60 or 70-plus, they were on point, in sync and totally vigorous.