Lonely Country is the remarkable debut of pianist/composer S’yo Fang, recorded by an octet that bears his name and consists of an international group of young musicians that all studied in The Netherlands.
The album is a mix of music genres ranging from modern classical music to jazz.
Lonely Country is named after the first poetry collection of Meng-tieh Chou. “He is my favorite Taiwanese poet who lived as a recluse yet with a heart pure as a child.”
S'yo Fang, born in 1986 in the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, started taking classical piano lessons at the age of 7. He picked up jazz study at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, followed by jazz composition & piano at the Rotterdam Conservatory, both in The Netherlands. He was invited to present the S'yo Fang Octet at Taichung Jazz Festival, the biggest of its kind, in Taiwan. The ensemble also performed at the legendary Bimhuis in Amsterdam during the Keep An Eye On the Prize contest. Also, S’yo was selected for the 2017 Metropole Orkest Arrangers Workshop with conductor Vince Mendoza.
S’yo Fang - piano/compositions
Priscilla Nokoe – vocals
Yoojin Ko – flute
Emilio Parrila – clarinet
Albert Kerekes – sax
Dimitri Elegheert – guitar
Alessio Bruno - double bass
Richie Struck – drums |
