Like nothing you’ve heard before

From left: Jazz musicians Marzi Nyman, Iiro Rantala, Felix Zenger and Dave Koz. Provided by the organizer

The sky is the limit when it comes to the different faces that jazz music can wear. At least, that’s the idea behind a series of upcoming jazz concerts. Dubbed “Jazz and Beyond,” the month-long, four-part concert series literally seeks what is beyond jazz, or the groovy tunes most people typically associate with the genre.

“The performances illustrate an array of musical imagination and trends in the international jazz scene,” said Choi Ji-won, one of the organizers.

By that, Choi means the marriage of jazz with beat box, and of jazz and African music, to name a few.

An unlikely trio that consist of two young and rising Finnish musicians, jazz pianist Iiro Rantala and crossover guitarist Marzi Nyman, plus beatboxer Felix Zenger, otherwise known as the Iiro Rantala New Trio, will open the upcoming jazz festivities. Since 2006, the ensemble has been experimenting with different genres of music and introducing an outrageously original combination of sounds to the world.

French-born jazz pianist Jean-Michel Pilc will lead another trio, a more classical one, with Ari Hoenig on drums and Hans Glawischnig on bass.

For fans of smooth jazz, saxophonist Dave Koz will be coming to Korea for the first time in eight years. In line with the romantic, sophisticated colors of smooth jazz, Koz will play scores from well-known movie soundtracks, both international and Korean.

To top it all off, Cameroon-born jazz vocalist, bassist and keyboard player Richard Bona will hold his first solo concert in Korea. Since his debut album “Scenes from My Life” in 1999, Bona has brought multiculturalism to jazz, adding Afrobeat, funk, bossa nova and pop to the genre.

“Jazz and Beyond” kicks off with the Iiro Rantala New Trio concert at 8 p.m. on Oct. 2. The Jean-Michel Pilc Trio will perform at 4 p.m. on Oct. 5, Dave Koz at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12, and Richard Bona Group at 8 p.m. on Oct. 22.

Performances are at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center (Jeongbalsan Station, line No. 3) in Goyang, Gyeonggi. Tickets cost from 20,000 won ($18) to 80,000 won. For reservations, contact the Goyang Cultural Foundation at (02) 1577-7766 or www.artgy.or.kr.

By Kim Hyung-eun Staff Reporter [hkim@joongang.co.kr]