This fall: cool air, cool bands

This fall, get ready for some big live music events ― soul, classical, pop and jazz:

Alicia Keys
www.9ent.com, 1544-1555
The current princess of soul will be dropping into Korea for a concert on Oct. 13. That may be a Wednesday, but organizers are expecting a full house. Tickets sales have been brisk for the concert, to be held at Central City Millennium Hall in southern Seoul.
Ms. Keys, who won five Grammys for her 2001 debut, “Songs in A Minor,” is touring Asia. Last December, she released “Diary of Alicia Keys,” nominated for three 2004 MTV Music Video awards. As part of her Asia tour, Ms. Keys will be performing at China’s Great Wall on Sept. 25. Tickets for the Seoul show cost 60,000 won ($52) to 100,000 won.

Bond
www.adexe.com, 1588-9088
They’re called Bond, just Bond. And they have the sass to match the name. The four women who comprise this London string quartet ― Haylie Ecker, first violin; Eos Chater, second violin; Tania Davis, viola, and Gay-Yee Westerhoff, cello ― may be classically trained musicians, but they have a rock-and-roll attitude when performing. It’s won them devoted fans worldwide. Their 2002 debut album, “Born,” was No. 1 in 21 countries, and stayed on Billboard magazine’s U.S. Classical Crossover chart for 101 weeks. They’ve been winning over an audience that normally would not be into classical music.
Their second performance here comes after the release of their third album, “Classified.” They’ll be performing at Olympic Hall in Jamsil-dong on Oct. 22.
Tickets are 55,000 won to 99,000 won.

Elton John
www.eltonjohnseoul.co.kr, (02) 2113-3480
To whittle Elton John’s career down to a few short sentences is an injustice. He’s had a long and storied musical career, fighting his personal battles quite publicly. Between 1970 and 1982, he had 30 top-40 hits, 16 of which were in the top 10. In the 1990s, he again began touring, bringing the world his music. He revived his classic, “Candle in the Wind,” upon the death of Princess Diana. For his contributions, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998.
His concert is Sept. 17 at Seoul Olympic Main Stadium. Tickets are 50,000 won to 300,000 won.

George Benson
www.georgebenson.com/tour.html, 1588-7890
George Benson may be one of the best-known jazz guitarists alive, but his voice has proven to be just as popular, if not more so. He’s played with musical greats like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones, proving that his talent crosses musical genres. In 1976, his album “Breezin’” won a Grammy for best album. He’s been called the guitar-playing equivalent of Nat “King” Cole.
He’ll be at Seoul’s Olympic Hall on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. Tickets are 44,000 won to 110,000 won.

by Joe Yong-hee