Mosaic Music Festival (Singapore)

[Lois Gilbert]

Mosaic Music Festival - the annual world music festival presented by the arts mothership Esplanade Singapore is back again with a more juicy lineup this year, striking a strange feeling of happiness and fear of impending brokeness in hearts of Singapore music lovers. Because the lousy official website hasn’t been updated, we’re proud to bring you a comprehensive list of the entire festival. Much to the despair of my bosses. And the glee of Adlin. Here we go!


Here’s the lineup and the details:
9 March (Fri) Live at Duke’s Place - The Music of Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
Featuring the Duke Ellington Orchestra with Paul Mercer Ellington, Freda Payne and Byron Stripling
As it sounds, a tribute to the three jazz greats by great jazz performers.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 7.30pm (120min, with intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118, $148** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)




10 March (Sat) Terry Callier
The world-renowned folk-jazz guitarist, childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, Massive Attack and Beth Orton collaborator (on Live with Me and Best Bits EP respectively) and soul legend. Check him out
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 10pm (till late)
Ticket prices: $38* (*includes one drink)




11 March (Sun) Feels Good by Take 6
“The baddest vocal cats on the planet.” - Quincy Jones
If Mr. Jones says that, then baby, you really oughta believe it. Take 6 have won a total of 10 Grammies, amongst other assorted awards including one Soul Train award, and have performances with Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Stevie Wonder, Wynton Marsalis and other music legends. For Mosaic, they’re gonna be bringing back the a capella jazz arrangements that just feel so good.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 7.30pm (90min, with intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)


Explorations: Workshop by Take 6 Recital Studio. 10 Mar (Sat). 5pm
$15 ($10 for Take 6 ticket holders, students, NSF and senior citizens)




11 March (Sun) Jazz123 - Rani Sings for Kids
by Rani Singam, Tony Makarome and Andrew Lin (Singapore)
Jazz introductory concert specially for kids!
Venue: Recital Studio
Time: 3pm (60min, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $20 (adult) $15 (child) Limited package of 4 tickets available at $60


Explorations: Jazz123 Workshop for kids by Rani Singam. Rehearsal Studio. 4 Mar (Sun). 3pm
$10 ($5 for Jazz123 ticket holders, students, NSF and senior citizens)





12 March (Mon) Yo La Tengo
Ol Skool Indie Kids (circa 1990s), the time has come to pay tribute to heroes Yo La Tengo. ‘Nuff said. Don’t know ‘em? You should be ashamed! Look ‘em up.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 7.30pm (90min, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)




12 March (Mon) Stellar Regions: Tribute to John Coltrane
By The Tim O’Dwyer Trio
Marking the 40th Death Anniversary of the visionary saxophonist, composer and philosopher John Coltrane, the Tim O’Dwyer Trio will present a tribute in collaboration with some of the most innovative electronic and acoustic musicians in Singapore.
Venue: Recital Studio
Time: 7.30pm (70min, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $38 (Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $25)





13 March (Tues) Carleen Anderson
Super Soul Pedigree (her godfathers are James Brown and Bobby Byrd!) Carleen Anderson is a veteran of the music scene, putting out ‘choons fused with jazz, blues, gospel, funk and soul, with just a little bit of rock opera. Her second album, Blessed Burden was even co-produced and co-written by Paul Weller. Yes, she’s pretty cool.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 10pm (till late)
Ticket prices: $38* (*includes one drink)





13 March (Tues) Ursula Rucker: Soul Poetry
This Supa Sista needs absolutely no introduction. Spoken word never sounded this good, raw and honest before. Ursula Rucker has worked with everyone’s heroes - King Britt, Jazzanova, Lil’ Louie Vega, 4Hero as well as The Roots. Get some education.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 7.30pm (90 mins, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $38 (Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $25)





13 March (Tues) Jaga Jazzist
Scandinavian nu-jazz innovators loved by prog-rockers the world over, including The Mars Volta, Ninjatune ArtistsJaga Jazzist is most definitely a full band. With trumpets, trombones, electric guitars, bass, keyboards, tubas, bass clarinets, vibraphones, electronics, drum machines, etc! So hardcore they’re way hardcore.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 9.30pm (90 mins, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)




14 March (Wed) Double Bill: Bridges by Tetsu Saitoh, Omar Puente and Robert Mitchell (Japan, Cuba and UK)
Tetsu Saitoh is an acclaimed double bass player known for his exploratory compositions and ingenuity, he performs the very first set in this exciting double bill. Following, catch a duet between Cuban jazz/classical violinist Omar Puente and British-Caribbean jazz/classical composer/lyricist/pianist Robert Mitchell. Check out reviews of the collaborations here and here. All three will perform in the finale.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 7.30pm (90 mins, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $38 (Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $25)





15 March (Thu) Crystal Silence - Chick Corea & Gary Burton Duets
Celebrate the second coming of the legendary collaboration between two Grammy-Award winners, Chick Corea and Gary Burton, that took place in 1972 with the seminal album Crystal Silence. 36 years on, the two jazz/experimental greats will come together in what will surely be an explosive show at the Esplanade.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 7.30pm (90min, with intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118, $148** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)




16 March (Fri) Youn Sun Nah 5 (Korea and France)

Youn Sun Nah is said to be one of the best young jazz vocalists in the international arena. Catch her with Paris-based jazz musicians - Robin Laurent on drums, Yoni Zelnik on double bass, David Neerman on vibraphone and Benjamin Moussay on piano. Together, they form one of the most exciting young jazz combos in the jazz scene today.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 7.30pm (90 mins, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $38 (Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $25)





16 March (Fri) Putumayo Party! With Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Catch pioneers of acid-jazz, funk and hip-hop in New York and kick off your weekend with a complete funk makeover. The Brooklyn Funk Essentials have evolved to become a staggering 12-piece live outfit consisting of singers, rappers, dub poets and DJs since their humble beginnings in the 90s, and have since toured with the likes of The Roots, Jamiroquai and Ben Harper.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 10pm (till late)
Ticket prices: $38 (Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $25)





17 March (Sat) Futon
No strangers to Singapore, Futon are back again to blast audiences with their unique brand of electro-rock.
Venue: Theatre Studio (The Mosaic Club)
Time: 10pm (till late)
Ticket prices: $38 (includes one drink)




17 March (Sat) Tristan Prettyman
No, Tristan Prettyman is not the newest actor in The Return of Brokeback Mountain. For one, it’s a girl. For two, she’s awfully sweet. And for three, she’s really pretty, man (sorry after posting so much, you have to let me joke a bit). Check her out here.
Venue: Recital Studio
Time: 7.30pm, 9.30pm (60min, no intermission)
Ticket prices: $38 (includes one drink)




18 March (Sun) The Shrine of Afrobeat - Femi Kuti & The Positive Force
“One of the true giants of African music” - Q Magazine
Whatever one thinks, the Afrobeat music of Femi Kuti, rooted in Yoruba music, jazz-funk rhythms and deeply honest political sentiments, reaches out to both the instinctual and the cerebral in those who encounter it.
Venue: Concert Hall
Time: 7.30pm (90min, with intermission)
Ticket prices: $58*, $88*, $118** (* Ltd concessions for students, NSFs and senior citizens at $40 and $60 respectively; ** includes one drink)