Father of Korean Jazz Turns 70 in Style

One of this year's most anticipated jazz concerts will be in Seoul next month, featuring Choi Se-jin and some of the biggest names in Korean jazz.

'All Star 2000 with Choi Se-jin' will be at the LG Art Center on September 5 to celebrate Choi's 53 years in the music business as well as his 70th birthday. Choi's idea of an intimate concert to celebrate the occasion soon became a major event, with over 80 musicians putting aside their busy schedules to perform at his concert.

"It's certainly better than receiving cursory happy birthday bows from my children and grandchildren," said a somewhat overexcited Choi Se-jin.

Choi Se-jin's talent for jazz was first noticed by Korean singer Kim Jung-gu in 1974 and after performing in Park Chun-seok's band, Choi went on to co-found the Korea Jazz Association along with colleagues like Kil Ok-yoon and Chung Suong-jo. Choi once hosted a benefit jazz concert with the late architect, Kim Soo-keun.

The upcoming concert will feature Korea's first generation of Jazz, including Ryu Bok-sung and Lee Jung-shik.

by Lee Eun-ju