Hanoi inspires new Jazz sounds through its culture and heritage
VOV.VN - An international seminar themed Hanoi and Jazz was held in the capital city on September 18 as part of the Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 (Hanoi Jazztival 2026), exploring the interplay between Jazz and the capital’s cultural landscape.
The speakers explored what makes Hanoi a source of inspiration for Jazz and how the city’s cultural heritage can contribute to new musical expressions.
Having spent 73 years in Hanoi and more than five decades playing the saxophone, Meritorious Artist Quyen Van Minh said the capital’s thousand-year history and dynamic development provide rich material for artistic creation.
For him, the evolution of Jazz in Hanoi is closely associated with memories of the city, including the Red River. He said he planned to draw on the river as inspiration for a new composition.
Traditional Vietnamese music has also gradually contributed distinctive colours to Jazz in Vietnam. Melodies and musical elements from Ca trù, Ả đào, and Hát xẩm have been incorporated into Jazz compositions, giving artists new material and structures to explore.
From another perspective, international artist David Carlos Valdez, who has lived in Vietnam for four years, shared his fascination with Hanoi’s tranquil spaces, museums and historic architecture.
He said the city’s openness has created an environment in which Jazz can take root, develop and bring music lovers together.
The highlight of the seminar was an impromptu on-stage collaboration between Meritorious Artist Quyen Van Minh, artist David Carlos Valdez Davis, and musician Duong Cam, featuring the folk melody Trống cơm. The fusion of the free-spirited rhythms of jazz with the essence of Vietnamese folk music embodied a spirit of seamless cultural dialogue.
As a UNESCO Creative City, Hanoi has further opportunities to develop music-related activities, allowing Jazz to explore new forms of expression rooted in the capital’s memories, daily life and cultural heritage.
The seminar organised by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports aims to affirm the position of jazz within the cultural landscape.
"Jazz & Phố" exhibition in Hanoi traces century-long musical journey
VOV.VN - An exhibition titled "Jazz & Phố" (Jazz & Streets) opened on September 17 at the Thang Long Music and Dance Theatre, serving as the opening highlight for Hanoi International Jazz Festival 2026 (Jazztival).
