Local audiences will meet celebrated jazz pianist Eric Legnini in two free concerts on May 9 and 11 in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi respectively.

The artist will perform with three other members in his quartet during the “European days in Vietnam” program and also to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Cultural Cooperation Agreement between the governments of Vietnam and of the French Community of Belgium.

Free tickets in limited number will be available from May 2 at the Department of Regional Chamber of Wallonie, at 6 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1 in HCMC, and the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam, at Daeha Building (5th floor, # 505), 360 Kim Ma Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

In addition to the two concerts, Legnini will also hold a master-class with students from the HCMC Academy of Music on May 10.

Two years ago, when Legnini first performed in Vietnam, he said he was quite curious about how people in the country which jazz has yet to gain a firm foothold would respond to his music. His performance, however, was a huge hit with local jazz enthusiasts.

Legnini grew up exposed to classical music. His mother, an opera artist, once played some jazz pieces, which instantly cast a spell on the then 12-year-old Legnini with its high improvisation and liberality.

Legnini loves fusing jazz with different other genres of music, including funk, pop, afrobeat and hip hop, which enhances his music’s appeal to even laymen.

For Legnini, composing his own music is one of the keys to his success.

“We can hardly hear our voice or sounds in others’ music. Composing my own music helps shorten my road to audiences’ hearts,” he shared.

Also performing in these two concerts are English vocalist Hugh Coltman and Legnini’s two long-standing French friends, Thomas Brahmerie (contrabass) and Franck Agulhon (drums), who joined him during his performances in Vietnam in 2011.

Brahmerie and Agulhon, who had been in Vietnam for several times, are really fond of Vietnam. Agulhon is particularly interested in cong chieng (Vietnamese gongs).

Legnini and three other members in his quartet are currently performing in Asia, with Vietnam being their next destination, after China and before Japan.