Entering its eighth year, an all-new season of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 4’s “Music Beyond Borders” is coming back! This year’s series will start with a revisit of The Netherlands with jazz-fusion by one of the world’s few female trumpet players, Saskia Laroo, joined by pianist and vocalist Warren Byrd. The concert is presented in partnership with the Consulate General of The Netherlands in Hong Kong.

In 2006, the “Yuri Honing Trio”, one of the most internationally successful Dutch jazz groups, amazed the audience here in Hong Kong with its performance for the “Music Beyond Borders” series. This time around, two first-class jazz performers are set to do the same.

A native of Amsterdam, Saskia Laroo has been hailed by the public and press as the “Lady Miles of Europe”. After graduating from the Muziekacademie of Hilversum, while in the formative years of her career, she garnered much experience absorbing world music, namely of Hispanic, Caribbean, Brazilian and African roots. Building on these influences, Saskia produced six CDs varying from classic jazz to club-influenced acid jazz fusion. She has performed with George Coleman, Wynton Marsalis, Toots Thielemans, George Benson, Courtney Pine and Hugh Masekela among many, many others.

In the last, twenty years, American Warren Byrd has lent his musicianship to many groups and performers in jazz, R&B, world, Latin, pop and many more, as well as dance and theatre. A short list of performers includes Archie Shepp, Eddie Henderson, Alvin Carter, Nita Zarif, and many others. The last several years have included many international tours, an album release with Saskia Laroo and considerable press exposure with David Chevan and the Afro-Semitic Experience, a celebrated jazz ensemble united toward spirituality and diversity.

Saskia and Warren first collaborated in the USA in 2001 after which she enlisted him as her keyboardist of choice for her many tours. They will again take the audience through a unique musical world tour in RTHK’s Studio One, Broadcasting House at 4pm on 23 September (Thu, public holiday). Tickets are available for free on a “first-requested, first-served” basis from 1^st September onwards. Ticket request forms can be found in the September issue of FineMusic (FM) Magazine available at major performance venues. Forward your name, address, email, phone number, and the number of tickets you would like to have (not more than 2) by faxing the form to 2339 6427, Radio 4, or visit the official website of “Music Beyond Borders” (rthk.hk/special/musicbeyondborders/) to fill in the registration form for tickets. More details are also available on the website. For enquiries, please call 2339 6425.

 About “Music Beyond Borders”

“Music Beyond Borders” is a live concert event that showcases unexplored music and unknown artists from a particular nation – beyond our borders. It does this through partnerships between RTHK Radio 4 and different Consulate Generals in Hong Kong. It is now entering its 8th successful season The concert is a highlight in a month that also features programmes on Radio 4 that focus on the music, arts and culture of that nation. The project was created to make everyone aware of the wealth of excellent music that is out there and to encourage cultural exchange.