*Booking: booking at jenshyu.com
April 3, 2010
Jen Shyu, vocals, compositions, piano, moon guitar, and er hu
Introduction: Su Xiang Gee (Hengchun melody:Thinking Back 思想起)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英
1. Wu Ya Hwee (Rainy Night Flower 雨夜花)
Lyrics by Zhou Tian-Wang 周添旺，Melody by Deng Yu-Xian 鄧雨賢
2. Shim Sung Sung (Heart Grows Sour 心酸酸)
Lyrics by Chen Da-Ru 陳達儒, Melody by Yao Zan-Fu 姚讚褔
3. Gwat Ya Chiu (Moon Night Sorrow 月夜愁)
Lyrics by Zhou Tian-Wang 周添旺, Melody by Deng Yu-Xian 鄧雨賢
4. Qemaiaqaiam (Women sing)*
Tribal song from Puyuma tribe 卑南族, taught by Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe
5. Su Xiang Gee (Hengchun melody:Thinking Back 思想起) / Soomi Line
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Yang Wu Bin Mei / “Soomi Line” music by Jen Shyu
6. Gu Bo Pwa (Hengchun melody: Mother Cow’s Companion 牛尾拌)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Zhang Ri Gui 張日貴
7. Su Gwee Chun (Hengchun melody: Four Seasons Spring 四季春)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英
Arranged by Jen Shyu
8. Go Kang e Xiu Diao (Hengchun melody: 5-hole Tune 五孔小調)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英
9. Bang Li Za Gwee (Hope You Return 望你早歸)
Lyrics by Na Ka-No 那卡諾, Melody by Yang San-Lang 楊三郎
10. Beibo Diao (Hengchun melody: Pingpu Tune 平埔調)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英, new English lyrics by Jen Shyu
* Qemaiaqaiam (Women sing) Translation:
1. The leader tells us
2. The leader we chose
3. Each family spreads the word and works together
(verses not sung during performance):
4. That one with the cut hair
5. He consults with us all there
6. So we agree to act together
7. The men bring the women wickers from the mountain to take to the gathering place
8. Everyone holds the wickers tight
9. From afar, the streams of flowers in the women’s hair seem to dance in the wind
10. We bring the wickers through the south king’s main door
11. When the women bring their wickers to the tribe’s gathering place, the ceremony ends
Kumuli Ku Lis
1. We want to end this qemaiaqaiam song
2. We sing with beauty
3. We give thanks to the men who prepared the wickers for us
Program @ Houston Taiwanese Community Center's Mid-Autumn Festival,
October 3, 2009
Jen Shyu, vocals, compositions, piano, moon guitar, and er hu
Introduction: Su Xiang Gee (Hengchun melody:Thinking Back 思想起)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英
1. Wu Ya Hwee (Rainy Night Flower 雨夜花)
Lyrics by Zhou Tian-Wang 周添旺，Melody by Deng Yu-Xian 鄧雨賢
2. Shim Sung Sung (Heart Grows Sour 心酸酸)
Lyrics by Chen Da-Ru 陳達儒, Melody by Yao Zan-Fu 姚讚褔
3. Gwat Ya Chiu (Moon Night Sorrow 月夜愁)
Lyrics by Zhou Tian-Wang 周添旺, Melody by Deng Yu-Xian 鄧雨賢
4. Qemaiaqaiam (Women sing)*
Tribal song from Puyuma tribe 卑南族, taught by Formosa Aboriginal Song and Dance Troupe
5. Su Xiang Gee (Hengchun melody:Thinking Back 思想起) / Soomi Line
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Yang Wu Bin Mei / “Soomi Line” music by Jen Shyu
6. Gu Bo Pwa (Hengchun melody: Mother Cow’s Companion 牛尾拌)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Zhang Ri Gui 張日貴
7. Su Gwee Chun (Hengchun melody: Four Seasons Spring 四季春)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英
Arranged by Jen Shyu
8. Go Kang e Xiu Diao (Hengchun melody: 5-hole Tune 五孔小調)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Zhu Ding Shun 朱丁順
9. Bang Li Za Gwee (Hope You Return 望你早歸)
Lyrics by Na Ka-No 那卡諾, Melody by Yang San-Lang 楊三郎
10. Wayward Son / Eu e Tu**
Music by Jen Shyu, "To the Air, The Wanderer 遊子吟" by Meng Jiao孟郊, translated by Innes Herdan (300 Tang Poems) / “Eu e Tu” poetry by Brazilian poet Patrícia Magalhães
11. Beibo Diao (Hengchun melody: Pingpu Tune 平埔調)
Taiwanese folk song from Hengchun as sung by Chen Ying 陳英, new English lyrics by Jen Shyu
* Qemaiaqaiam (Women sing) Translation:
1. The leader tells us
2. The leader we chose
3. Each family spreads the word and works together
(verses not sung during performance):
4. That one with the cut hair
5. He consults with us all there
6. So we agree to act together
7. The men bring the women wickers from the mountain to take to the gathering place
8. Everyone holds the wickers tight
9. From afar, the streams of flowers in the women’s hair seem to dance in the wind
10. We bring the wickers through the south king’s main door
11. When the women bring their wickers to the tribe’s gathering place, the ceremony ends
Kumuli Ku Lis
1. We want to end this qemaiaqaiam song
2. We sing with beauty
3. We give thanks to the men who prepared the wickers for us
**ME AND YOU (translation of “EU E TU”) by Patrícia Magalhães www.prosoema.com
Press
Latest Jade Tongue CD review: in Time Out by David Adler
BayJazz proudly presents...
Debut Album Release: For Now
Jen Shyu’s imaginative song and dance draws upon jazz, Chinese, and Afro-Cuban influences. Jen presents both forgotten songs and brand new arrangements of standards with freshness and versatility. Moving from ballad, to Taiwanese folk song, to bolero, Jen and her ensemble explore sounds beyond set genres of music. Jen Shyu – vocals Reception party and CD signing will take place immediately after the event. **FOR NOW CD will be available at a special price of $12 |
| DATE: | Friday, May 24, 2002, 8:00 PM | |
| VENUE: | St. Gregory’s Church, 500 DeHaro Street at Mariposa, Potrero Hill, San Francisco 94107 Directions: http://www.saintgregorys.org | |
| TICKET PRICE: | $10 in advance – call 415-461-3180 Tickets $12 at the door |
BayJazz is dedicated in offering to Bay Area jazz aficionados an opportunity to honor, listen, and experience our talented local jazz musicians in a beautiful, unique, pristine venue with outstanding acoustics. We promise you “nothing like this anywhere else in the Bay Area.”
Commentary"JEN SHYU. 'For Now,' 4AM Music ANA2002. A new singer meriting close attention, Jen Shyu's jazz craft and sensibilities are contagious without pause on 'For Now.' With blithesome warmth she establishes a personal code of prompt connection and spirit. On this CD of 11 cuts, she draws on color, novel treatments, instrumental soloists, and energy of the total group. Their rapport shows up the effects of playing together as a collective for some two years in various configurations. Saxophonist Francis Wong, the lone horn player, is highly reputed for his captivating improvisations; he is responsible for motivating Shyu to sing in an open manner on 'Lover Man,' deserting the straight-ahead stance she previously adhered to on the tune. An unbounded mix of songs offers a spread of sources and challenges, illustrating Shyu's versatility and adventuresomeness. Some highlights include the percussive flavors on 'Caravan,' an atmospheric 'Nature Boy' without signs of tethering to form but revealing Shyu's radar sensitivity to its lyric line and space, and the strong rhythmic feel of 'Summertime' sticking out among countless other versions. Germane to her Asian cultural ties, her gentle voice is haunting on 'Spring Flower Waiting For Dew.' 'Again' was catapulted as a 1954 Vic Damone hit record from the flick 'Roadhouse'; Shyu does the tune more than justice. Complemented by a band of San Francisco Bay Area stalwarts--percussionist Jimmy Biala, bassist John-Carlos Perea, pianists Dee Spencer and Art Hirahara, plus Francis Wong, Jen Shyu meshes her soulfulness with integrity and élan. 'For Now' is a bright forecast for later!"
~Dr.
Herb Wong, "Jazz Perspectives,"
International Association
for Jazz
Education Journal, November/December 2002
“...engaging arrangements and empathy between the musicians at a high level. This is a very cool CD!”
~Wayne Wallace, composer and arranger
"I love Jen Shyu's vocal rendition of the Chinese song “Spring Flower Waiting for Dew” because she sounds like a bell from faraway that is alone on an island surrounded by the sea."
~Jon Jang, pianist and composer
“For those who have been astounded by her prodigious pianistic talents, Jennifer Shyu reveals herself to be a double musical threat with her debut recording as a vocalist. From torch song stylist to sultry chanteuse to Chinese folk songstress, Ms. Shyu commands a range of interpretive abilities on the eleven songs comprising FOR NOW. At once drawing from her classical training and then freely improvising on ‘Summertime,’ Jen Shyu demonstrates a rare versatility and soulfulness. Her treatment of standards such as ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ and ‘Nature Boy’ showcase her creative and collaborative rapport with her musicians including Francis Wong, Art Hirahara, John-Carlos Perea and Jimmy Biala.”
~Anthony Brown, percussionist and educator
“One of the joys of being a resident artist in the SF Bay Area community is seeing the resurgence of young new artists coming here to do their work. It’s been such a pleasure getting to know Jennifer Shyu and working with her on this project. Jen combines an open mind and an open heart with tremendous clarity and drive. I’m very thankful to Jen for drawing out a new voice for me in her choice of my soprano for most of the tracks. I really enjoy her phrasing and ability to let the moment happen; we always have a great musical conversation. Jennifer Shyu has gotten a lot done in a short amount of time and had a large impact in the community here in San Francisco. FOR NOW comes from a very rich experience with family, friends, school, the arts community and her musical collaborators. We are all very lucky to be a part of such a heartfelt offering.”
~Francis Wong, composer and activist