The Jazz Winds of Haruki Murakami: Music and Mortality

Description

Haruki Murakami’s love of jazz is well known. The bestselling Japanese author once ran a Tokyo jazz bar, and later littered his books with numerous references to iconic tunes and performances. These references beguiled Hong Kong musician Justin Siu so much, he wrote a stage work inspired by Murakami’s jazz universe — presenting live performances of the tunes the writer mentioned, linked with a fresh theatrical narrative, inspired by the pages they appeared on.

Drawing imagery and dialogue from novels including Hear the Wind Sing and A Wild Sheep Chase, the new work Hear Not: The Jazz Winds of Haruki Murakami is the second part of a planned trilogy, and follows the success of Let’s Hear: The Jazz Winds of Haruki Murakami, premiered in 2023 and revived in 2024. As well as playwright and music director, local jazz stalwart Siu serves as live musician and star actor – leading the band onstage and delivering the script in a mix of Cantonese and Japanese. English and Chinese surtitles are provided.

Siu is best known as the host the Blue Study Live concert series. Concertgoers to the Murakami show will also have the opportunity to buy a vinyl-shaped token to redeem later for a physical copy of the double bassist’s imminent debut album, Trade War.

The four performances take place at 20:00 on 19–20 June, and 15:30 on 20–21 June.

Music featured in the performances:

• “Jungle” — Justin Siu (original music)
• Piano Trio in B-flat Major Op. 97 “Archduke”, mvmt. 1, Allegro moderato – Ludwig von Beethoven, from Kafka on the Shore (2005)
• “Airegin” — Miles Davis, from Barn Burning (1992)
• “I’ll Remember April” — Gene de Paul, from Thailand (2002)
• “‘Round Midnight” — Thelonious Monk, from Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2014)
• “Bolero” — Maurice Ravel, from Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (1991)
• “Sophisticated Lady” — Duke Ellington, from After Dark (2005)
• Piano Trio in E-flat major, D.929, mvmt 2, Andante con moto — Franz Schubert, from Dance Dance Dance (1994)
• “Air Mail Special” — Benny Goodman, from A Wild Sheep Chase (1989)
• “My Favorite Things” — Richard Rodgers, from Kafka on the Shore (2005)
• “The Ember Glimmers” — Justin Siu (original music)