Viet Nam News
HCMCITY— A music production in jazz by music producer and composer Vo Thien Thanh of HCM City has been released, after six years of composing and recording.
The album Saigon Feel features nine songs in praise of life, love and women, and shows the artist’s appreciation to his home city, Sai Gon.
The CD features singer Ho Trung Dung, a graduate in German language at HCM City University of Social Sciences & Humanities.
“I hope my new albums can encourage young people to listen and love jazz,” said Thanh, 50, who has more than 20 years in the industry.
Thanh, a graduate of the HCM City Music Conservatory, began his professional career in 1999 after working for Kim Loi Studio, one of the city’s private music agencies.
His music is pop, R&B and alternative rock using Vietnamese folk elements.
He has composed several hundred songs, including top hits such as Xich Lo (Cyclo), Chuong Gio (Wind Chimes), Ban Toi (My Friend) and Hac Giay (Paper Crane).
His songs have been performed by pop stars like Thu Minh, Cam Ly and Ha Anh Tuan, and young pop idols Phuong Vi and Thao Trang.
In 2006, Thanh worked with Thu Minh, winner of the HCM City Television’s Singing Contest 1993, in a production of dance and electric music.
Their album, Thien Dang (Heaven), features two hit songs Bong May Qua Them (Passing Girl) and Chuong Gio, both that won on the Best Song of the Year at Cong Hien (Devotion) Awards presented by The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper.
Thanh also received the prize Composer of the Year.
The annual Cong Hien Awards began in 2004 to promote Vietnamese music and honour artists who have made significant contributions to the industry.
His latest album was Song Hap Dan (Attractive Wave), a production performed by Hoang Quyen, the runner up of Viet Nam Idol 2012.
The work’s music is mainly pop mixed with other genres such as jazz, electronic and traditional electronic music.
More than 800 copies of the album, worth VND499,000 (US$22) were sold in just the first day of distribution in April.
“Thanh is demanding in recording. He spent several hours a day in studio to help my voice perfect in Saigon Feel,” said singer Dung, who sings Vietnamese, English, Spain and German. — VNS