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Guitarist Bill Frisell, a star for more than 20 years on the international jazz scene, makes his Hong Kong debut next month with his band, The Intercontinentals.

The concert is the fourth in this year's "Jazz Up" series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It takes place at 8pm on October 24 (Friday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall.

As guitarist, composer and bandleader, Bill Frisell has established a visionary presence in American music. At the Berklee College of Music in Boston, he studied with John Damian, Herb Pomeroy and Michael Gibbs and also connected with like-minded players such as Pat Metheny, Mike Stern and Joe Lovano. He has played on 150 recordings, including 20 albums under his own name, and 17 of those recordings were cited by Downbeat magazine as among "the best recorded output of the decade".

The Downbeat Critics' poll honoured Bill Frisell as "Guitarist of the Year" in 1998, 1999 and 2001. He was named "Guitarist of the Year" in 1998 and 1999 at the Annual Jazz Awards in New York City, organised by the Jazz Journalists Association.

In late 2001, Frisell assembled The Intercontinentals, featuring Vinicius Cantuaria of Brazil on guitar, vocals and percussion, Greek-Macedonian Christos Govetas on oud, bouzouki and vocals, and Sidiki Camara from Mali on percussion and vocals. Their debut at Seattle's Earshot Festival created quite a stir. The group has since expanded to welcome Greg Leisz (on pedal steel and various slide guitars) and Jenny Scheinman (on violin).

Their latest album, "The Intercontinentals", was released in March 2003. It features all-new Frisell compositions plus songs written by Boubacar Traore, Cantuaria, Gilberto Gil and Govetas.

Tickets priced at $480, $350 and $200 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.

Patrons who make a single purchase of full-price tickets for Bill Frisell and The Intercontinentals plus the last two concerts in the "Jazz Up" series -- Charles Lloyd (November 30) and Tamaya Honda, Steve Hunter, Ulf Wakenius and Ted Lo (December 17) - will receive a 10% discount.

A 10% discount is also extended to Friends of LCSD performing venues.

For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009. For Internet booking, visit www.urbtix.gov.hk. For credit card telephone booking, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.

End/Thursday, September 11, 2003

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