The one-night concert entitled Dân Gian Trên Jazz/ Dân Gian Trên Dây (Folk on Jazz/Folk on Strings) will feature veteran and talented musicians such as tuong (traditional opera) performers Nguyen Ngoc Khanh and Nguyen Van Quy, cai luong (reformed theatre) artist Dao Van Trung and đàn môi (jew's harp) player Nguyen Duc Minh. 

The concert's art director is jazz artist Quyen Thien Dac. 

"This is a chance for me to experiment with a new combination which will be a fusion of folk, jazz and symphony," said Dac. 

"The concert puts me in a new position as a sound arranger. I'm an outsider to observe, listen to and co-ordinate the musicians.

"It also helps me to have better music thought and encourages me to work with folk music."

Dac is a leading jazz artist in Vietnam. He got a scholarship to study jazz at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the US and earned his MA from Malmo College of Music in Sweden. 

The musicians will play new compositions based on tuong, cai luong and folk melodies featuring the colourful sounds of Vietnamese music. 

Tuong musician Khanh will play kèn bóp (double-reeded horn) with jazz and string musicians. 

"This is the first time I have performed in such a concert and I'm trying my best for the concert," said Khanh. 

Khanh is a veteran musician who has played kèn bóp for nearly 50 years and has performed in Vietnam and abroad.

At the concert, the audience will have the chance to enjoy a performance by jew's harp performer Duc Minh. He will also play the traditional flute of the Thai and Muong ethnic groups. 

"I want to introduce the instruments to the audience at the concert," said Minh. "Their sound is amazing which has typical characteristics of the land and the people of the area."

Minh is Vietnam's only professional jew's harpist. He won the title of Best Jew's Harpist at an international festival in the Netherlands in 2006. He has also toured Sweden, France and Spain.

The concert will begin at 8pm at 77 Hao Nam Street. Ticket are sold from VND400,000 to 1,000,000 (US$17 - 40). Ticket hotline: 038 946 4820, free delivery in Hanoi.  VNS

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