Mosaic Music Festival -Singapore March 11-21

[Lois Gilbert]

SINGAPORE : Music fans are in for an eclectic buffet of some of the biggest names in the industry.

Jazz icons James Moody and Shirley Horn will perform at the Esplanade's inaugural Mosaic Music Festival together with more than 200 artistes from over 10 countries.

The ten-day festival which opens on 11th of March will feature jazz as a core programme, with world music and a host of other genres thrown in for depth and diversity.

Senegalese superstar, Youssou N'Dour will be performing alongside one of Africa's most famous bands, The Super Etoile, while American Grammy winner Poncho Sanchez will perform with his 11-piece Latin jazz band.

"Mosaic music festival is going to be a very special festival. Not just because we have some tremendous names assembling here but because it's a gathering of good friends. Good friends with a great love for music, a shared passion for what we want to do together here in Singapore," enthused Benson Puah, CEO of The Esplanade Co. Ltd.

The Mosaic Music Festival which is set to be an annual affair, took three years to materialise because the Esplanade wants it to stand out from other music festivals here.

To achieve that, the Esplanade collaborated with top music label Putumayo World Music and one of the world's premier music festivals, Montreux Jazz Festival.

The highlight of that tie-up will be a concert. However, details will not be revealed just yet.

Past Montreux festivals such as a photo exhibition and jamming sessions will also be included in the Mosaic Festival.

"Aside from what's happening in the concert hall, in the theatre and studios, we have parties on the rooftop. There are also visual arts exhibitions, so it'll be very extensive. It's not just performances, it's a lifestyle and I hope we will embrace this festival, not just as performances to attend, but also something to party till late nights," said Mr Puah.

And Moody's 80th birthday concert is one good reason to party.

The American saxophonist-vocalist will be joined by Singapore's very own jazz meister Jeremy Monteiro and his trio, as well as local singers Jacinta Abisheganaden, Claressa Monteiro, Rani Singham and Anne Weerapass. - CNA