Taiwan's Richest Jazz Ensemble to Feature 22 Musicians

Taiwan's most decorated jazz ensemble is set to take the stage with an expanded lineup of 22 musicians for the 2026 National Theater and Concert Hall Summer Jazz Festival finale on August 29.

The National Theater and Concert Hall Summer Jazz Festival Ensemble, celebrating its 15th anniversary, will present a performance titled "Bird and Brownie." This special concert will fuse classical string elements with Latin rhythms, serving as a tribute to the iconic jazz figures saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Clifford Brown.

Led by producer and trumpeter Wei Guang-hao, and music director and trumpeter Michael Mossman, the ensemble boasts a star-studded roster. It includes Taiwan's "King of Drums" Huang Rui-feng, saxophonists Antonio Hart and Yang Xiao-en, trombonist Nick Javier, pianist Hsu Yu-ying, bassist Yohei Yamada, and drummer Cliff Almond. This year also welcomes new members trumpeter Cheng Li-wei and bassist Liu Yu-chia.

This gathering of jazz talent from the US, Japan, and Taiwan includes musicians who have received Golden Melody Awards, Golden Indie Music Awards, and Grammy Awards, solidifying its reputation as Taiwan's most decorated jazz group. Notably, pianist Hsu Yu-ying, a four-time Golden Melody Award winner, and jazz composer Yang You-chen, who recently won a Golden Melody Award, will debut new compositions for this performance.

The "Bird and Brownie" concert revisits Charlie Parker's pioneering integration of classical strings into jazz. Parker, nicknamed "Bird," was a bebop pioneer with a deep admiration for classical music. Although the unique sound of strings rarely featured in standard jazz ensembles, his 1949 album "Charlie Parker with Strings" fulfilled his dream, allowing improvisation to unfold within the lyrical and delicate textures of strings, creating a landmark work in jazz history. The success of "Bird with Strings" sparked a trend in the 1950s for jazz musicians to "take to the strings," with legends like Clifford Brown and Chet Baker releasing their own "with strings" albums. The festival ensemble will feature eight string players, offering audiences a contemporary interpretation of this "with strings" concept.

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The 2026 National Theater and Concert Hall Summer Jazz Festival finale will feature the 15th-anniversary National Theater and Concert Hall Summer Jazz Festival Ensemble, expanding its lineup to incorporate classical strings and Latin rhythms. Titled "Bird and Brownie," the performance will pay tribute to legendary saxophonist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Clifford Brown.