AISA Band Festival
(KIS participants of the AISA Band Festival 2010, YIS)
For those who either take classes or teach in international schools, music is something that is always around you somewhere. People are rehearsing everyday in Choir, Band, or String classes. Some people practice individually for individual musical goals. In B1 of KIS, everyone, even pedestrians who are just passing by, has some kind of musical inspiration. Music is something that cannot disappear in KIS.
There are numerous musical events and performance opportunities that the students can participate in throughout the year in KIS. There are big official events like KAIAC(choir, band, string), Music Department Concerts(October, December/Holidays, March, May), graduation, etc. There are also minor, informal performance opportunities with differnet titles every year, which are not as important as the official ones. However, if I were to pick one most unique musical event, I’d definitely pick the AISA Band Festival.
AISA Band Festival, just like AISA Choir or AISA Strings Festival, are international gathering of international school students from different countries in Asia. It is very similar to AISA sports events, except the fact that the participants play music instead of getting sweaty. What is so special about this festival is that musicians get to travel other countries and acquire experiences. The musicans get to stay in private houses during their stay in the host nation. They can experience the culture and life in the host nation. Even if one’s school is in the host nation, one can still meet different musicians from different countries and get musically inspired.
The objective of the festival is very simple: a great concert. Muscians meet early in the morning and rehearse more than 6 hours a day in order to make the performance successful.(same goes for the Choir and the Strings Festival) There is no doubt that each and every one of them is a talented musician. It will not be possible for the concert to be successful unless the musicians are talented since there are only about 10 hours of rehearsal in total. However, past AISA concerts were all successful.
The festival is divided into two parts: Concert band and Jazz band. The Concert band is the formulaic Wind Concert band. The Jazz band is a Jazz Big Band composed of a horn section and a rhythm section. The composition of the groups might be simple, but the difficulty of the music makes people hard to pass the audition.(yes, there is an audition!) The pieces that are used in the festival require a lot of practice and musical analysis.
Everything is perfect for AISA Band Festival. However, there is only one flaw that the festival has; it is the lack of support by the people. Since most participants are from other schools, it is a job of the students of the host school to support the musicians and come to the concert. Yet the festival is not getting enough support that it deserves. This year, the festival is taking place in KIS. It is one of the most fascinating performances you can see throughout the year! Also, AISA Band Festival 2012 is taking place in OIS in Osaka, Japan. Therefore, it is the last AISA you can come and see for non-participant rising seniors and juniors! So come and support the musicians!
(AISA Band Festival 2010 Yokohama/ Concert Band – Arabian Dances / KIS participants – John Minwoo Jo, Jay Jeong, Brian Kim, Taeyoon Kim, Arnold Minkyu Hwang, Brian Moon, Austin Yoo, Hajung Kim, Nancy Lee, Emily Park, Minjae Lee, Soyeon Jeong, Ann Yi / Director : Mr. Jay Londgren)
(AISA Band Festival 2010 Yokohama/ Jazz Band – Spain, Bugle Call Rag / KIS participants – Austin Lee Choi, Jaemin Shin, James Huh, Steve Kim, Mr. Jay Londgren)
This performance changed my life! The Jazz Band performance is one of the most influential things that happened in my life, even though I did not actually participate in it.
Fall Out Boy
Patrick Stump : Vocals, Guitar
John Trohman : Lead Guitar
Peter Wentz : Bass
Andy Hurley : Drums
Fall Out Boy is one of the most controversial Rock bands in America. Just like other Neo-Punk/Hardcore bands like Green Day and Sum41, the band was criticized by conservative Rock fans. They described FOB as being “sissy”, “lame”, or “Corporate Sellouts”. Some even described the band as “gay”, “emo”, or other terms related to homosexuality. The term “a sissy band with eye liners without any guitar solos” best describes the band’s image to many Rock fans.
Nonetheless I like Fall Out Boy. Even though numerous Rock fans and citics criticize the band, I think the band’s music is good. The style of the band is very consistent throughout its three albums. The music gives me energy every time I listen to it.
The band was formed by Peter Wentz in the year 2001. For 3 years, the band stayed in Independent scene. In 2005, the band broke throught mainstream with its mainstream debut album “From Under the Cork Tree”. The debut album was followed by 2 other albums. Even though many people criticized the music, the band had a great success, becoming one of the most popular Rock bands in America. The band is currently on a break.
The band members spins during concerts. This is an action that symbolizes Fall Out Boy.
Personal Reviews (Due to my lack of knowledge, I am unable to review the Independent albums)
From Under the Cork Tree(2005) ★★★★☆
This is a typical FOB album. It energizes the listerners. The album is full of youth and energy.
Recommended Songs: “Dance, Dance”(my favorite song), “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down”
Infinity on High(2007) ★★★☆☆
This album is another typical FOB album. However, I think the band put more dark and heavy tones in this album.
Recommend Songs: “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”, “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race”, “Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am?”
Folie A Deux(2008) ★★★★☆
This is my favorite FOB album. It is also the band’s latest album. The band declared that there will be a long break after this album. I think the style of FOB is finally perfected in this album. That is the reason why I am waiting for the band to return and release its next album.
Recommened Songs: “I Don’t Care”, “20 Dollar Nose Bleed”, “She’s My Wionna”, “What a Catch, Donnie”(this is basically a summary of the band’s career)
I recommend you to just simply listen to the album “Greatest Hits”.
Coldplay
Chris Martin : Vocals, Piano
Johnny Buckland : Guitar
Guy Berryman: Bass
Will Champion: Drums
I spend a lot of time listening to Jazz. However, I also spend time listening to Rock music as much as listening to Jazz. Coldplay is one of my favorite Rock bands. Coldplay is a band formed by men from London College University. In the beginning, the name of the band was “Starfish”. It was the year 1998 that the members changed the name of the band into “Coldplay”. Coldplay released its debut album “Parachutes” in 2000. In the year 2002, the band released its second album “A Rush of Blood to the Head”. The album was very successful both commercially and musically. The band became one of the most popular bands in the United Kingdom. “A Rush of Blood to the Head” was followed by “X&Y”(2005) and “Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends”(2008). Millions of copies were sold for both albums wordwide. The band is now one of the most popular British bands in the world.
My Personal Reviews
Parachutes(2000) ★★★☆☆
Coldplay’s debut album was not as successful as other albums. Still, the quality is as good as the band’s other albums. This album is good for getting to know the style of Coldplay.
Recommened Songs: Trouble, Yellow, Shiver
A Rush of Blood to the Head(2002) ★★★★★
A Masterpiece. Coldplay’s second album was praised by many critics. Coldplay’s unique style and sound give the listeners a 50 minutes journey full of wonders and mysteries.
Recommended Songs: God Put a Smile on Your Face, Clocks, A Rush of Blood to the Head
X&Y(2005) ★★★★★
This is my favoite Coldplay album. Even though critics had mixed opinions about this ablum, the band sold more than 10 million copies. I personally think that this album is as great as, or even greater than “A Rush of Blood to the Head”. The sound became more “solid”, but Coldplay’s distinctive style is still very evident in the album.
Recommended Songs: White Shadows, X&Y, Talk, Speed of Sound
Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends(2008) ★★★★☆
After 3 albums, some fans started to say that Coldplay is becoming boring. Coldplay and the band’s producer accomodated these opinions immediate in the band’s next album. Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends, released in 2008, is quite different from other albums of the band. Still the album was very successful, bringing 3 Grammy Awards to the band.
Recommended Songs: Viva La Vida, Yes, Lovers in Japan
Keith Jarrett – The Piano Virtuoso
In my opinion, the 5 Powerangers of Jazz Piano would be Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Red Garland, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett.
Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea are known for their skills in electric piano. Red Garland is known for his skills. Bill Evans is a white legend in the world of Jazz, which is mainly composed of black. Keith Jarrett is a legend of improvisation and musical inspiration.
Keith Jarrett was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1945. In the year 1963, Jarrett graduated from high school and atteneded Berklee College of Music. During his time in Berklee, he played Cocktail Piano in local clubs.
Jarrett’s Jazz career started by Art Blakey. Art Blakey hired Jarrett as the piano player for his new project. After releasing several albums with Blakey, Jarrett started working with Miles Davis.(all of my 5 favorite pianists worked with Miles Davis at least once) In Davis’s project, Jarrett played Fender Rhodes electric piano and the keyboard. This was the only time that he played electric instruments throughout his whole career. Jarrett’s own career finally started in 1970s. Jarrett’s projects include Keith Jarrett Quartet, Keith Jarrett & Friends, and Keith Jarrett Solo Piano Project.
Keith Jarrett’s style is very different from other Jazz pianists. Someone who is not familiar with Jazz might describe his music as classical. Another distinctive characteristic of Jarrett’s music is that he always improvises in his solo concerts. Jarrett never writes pieces before his lives. He just follows the musical insiration when he plays and improvises. This method is very risky to use. But for a musician like Keith Jarrett, who is full of inspiration, it is better than performing rehearsed tunes.
Legendary!
John Mclaughlin – Fusion Jazz Guitar Virtuoso
John Mclaughlin is one of the most famous fusion jazz guitarists. It is impressive that he learned how to play guitar by himself. He was first recognized by the public after playing guitar in Miles Davis fusion jazz album “Bitches Brew”. Later he formed famous fusion bands such as “the Mahavishunu Orchestra”. Mahavishunu orchestra became very famous. After Mahavishunu Orchestra, Mclaughlin became influenced by Indian music, and he is still playing Indian music.
Chick Corea – A Keyboard Virtuoso
Armando Anthony Corea, a.k.a Chick Corea is one of the greatest fusion jazz pianists in the world. He is a highly respected figure in not only the world of jazz, but the whole world of music. Unlike other jazz albums, millions of his copies were sold, proving that jazz albums can become popular among the people.
Chick Corea was born in Massachusetts as the son of a spanish family. His father was a jazz trumpet player, and his house was full of jazz music all the time. He got inspired by the musical atmosphere around him, and he started piano at the age of four. It will be safe to assume that he showed his talent to the people around him already when he was very young.
After working with many musicians along his musical career, Chick Corea finally started composing fusion jazz tunes. He put the elements of Latin music in fusion jazz and created his own style, just like Herbie Hancock did by putting the elements of funk into fusion jazz. In 1971, he formed the band “Return to Forever”, and released the album “Return to Forever”. Even though the recording took only one day and the band didn’t put effort into it, this album soon became the biggest jazz hit of 1972. Chick Corea is still respected by people, and his musical career is still going on.
Chick Corea’s most famous piece is “Spain” that first appeared on the 1972 Return to Forever album “Light as a Feather”. The instrumentation of the original album version is flute, keyboard, drums, and bass. However, numerous musicians including Chick Corea himself created different versions of this tune.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock is one of the most famous jazz musicians in the world. No one can deny that he’s an American Jazz legend, and always will be remembered as a legend. Born in 1940, Herbie Hancock’s musical life began with Classical music education. His talent was recognized right away. In high school, Hancock finally got interested into Jazz by listening to several jazz recordings.
In 1963, Herbie Hancock’s Jazz career began by joining the new project of a legendary trumpet player Miles Davis, the “Second Great Quintet”. With many other talented young musicians around him, Hancock developed his own style and way of playing piano. After playing in Miles Davis’s band, Hancock started his own career, his own music.
As a solo jazz pianist, Herbie Hancock produced numerous impressive works with the help of many other Jazz musicians. During the late 1960s and 1970s, rock music became the hottest new trend in the music industry. The loud, noise-like sound of electric instruments certainly influenced musicians of different genres and the public. A revolution was about to break out in Jazz. In order to create new sounds and pull the attention of the public, azz musicians modified and put the elements of rock in their music. Herbie Hancock was one of the leading artists of this movement. He hired electric instrument players for his projects. Upright bass was replaced by electric bass. Electric guitar’s became much more important in the band than before. Herbie Hancock began playing electric keyboard, producing psychedelic and artificial sounds.
“Head Hunters”, released in 1973, is one of the most famous fusion Jazz/Funk masterpieces. Herbie Hancock and his band’s experimental melody and funky rhythm shocked both the public and the critics, earning the reputation of a mind blowing work. The album’s first track Chameleon became known as Herbie Hancock’s theme song. It also became a Jazz standard and is still played by numerous Jazz bands around the world. Despite the song’s long length, its simple, funky bass line and dreamy melody simply sucks one’s attention. “Head Hunters” went beyond the limit that Jazz had, and achieved a great success.
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