You don't need to be a jazz fan to enjoy it. All you need to do is to sit outside among the trees and listen to the acoustic, live performances of the jazz musicians. Hardcore jazz fans, of course, are also welcome.

The 12th Jarasum International Jazz Festival begins on Oct. 9 and will last for three days until Sunday, Oct. 11.

Jazz is difficult. Jazz is only for the hardcore fans. At the launch of the festival, people worried, but when jazz is played outdoors in the autumn, it can attract more and more people: not only a few fans, but hundreds of thousands of people, and not only jazz fans, but non-jazz aficionados, too. The Jarasum International Jazz Festival has proven this to be true.



A range of jazz musicians will visit Jarasum Island this year. Bassist Richard Bona, trumpeter Paolo Fresu and jazz pianist Omar Sosa will visit Jarasum for the second time, and Fresu and Sosa are grouped as a trio with percussionist Trilok Gurtu this year. The Fresu-Sosa-Gurtu trio has solely come together to play at Jarasum this year.

Spyro Gyra, a U.S. jazz fusion band, will visit Jarasum for the first time. As one of the representative smooth jazz bands, Spyro Gyra will attract non-jazz listeners with its beautiful sounds.



German saxophonist Kalus Doldinger and his band Passport will also join the festival this year for the first time. Following Sweden in 2013 and Norway in 2014, this year Germany was chosen as the "focus nation" for the festival. Along with the saxophonist and his troupe, five other jazz bands from Germany will play at Jarasum this year.

Besides the music and the park-like setting, a variety of events and eateries will run during the festival. Drinks such as "Jazz Makgeolli" and "Jarasum vin Chaud" are two of the must try drinks at the festival.

The program, transportation details and further information about the festival are available at the festival's website (www.jarasumjazz.com).

By Chang Iou-chung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jarasum International Jazz Festival
icchang@korea.kr