Esplanade Presents

Music

Two Close for Comfort

Alemay Fernandez and Chok Kerong (Singapore)

20 Jul 2024, Sat, 7.15pm & 8.30pm

45mins

(Intermission: None)

Esplanade Concourse

This event is over.

Photo Credit: Jimmy Wong and Jensen Ching
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Synopsis

Join long-time collaborators and veterans of Singapore’s music scene, Alemay Fernandez and Chok Kerong, as they return to their roots with a piano and vocal duet. These old friends, bound by a shared love for music, have been playing together for over 20 years. Enjoy an intimate evening filled with classics they grew up with, as well as songs that inspired and shaped them as artists. From jazz standards to soul and R&B classics, expect a heady and bluesy array of tunes complemented by Alemay's sultry, powerful vocals and Kerong's masterful prowess on the ivories. Expect to be equally thrilled as much as you are entertained.

Advisory:

No tickets will be issued. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Language: English
Things to Note:
Accessibility Advisory: We provide a range of access services and relaxed performances for patrons with access needs. For wheelchair-accessible seats, please call Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377 for assistance. Concessions for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and up to one accompanying companion are available. | View our accessibility guide
Artist Information

Alemay Fernandez

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Hailed by MusicTalks Sydney as "One of the best Jazz Singers in the world", Singaporean vocal powerhouse ALEMAY FERNANDEZ is renowned for her electrifying onstage presence. In her illustrious 24-year career, she holds the distinction of being the only Asian singer to have performed with some of the world's finest jazz orchestras—Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars. She has also had the honour of sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in music including David Foster and jazz greats Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Gregory Porter and Emmet Cohen, to name a few. A favourite choice of entertainment for visiting celebrities and dignitaries including Ethan Hawke, Paloma Picasso, Serena Williams and former U.S. President Barack Obama, Alemay is also an ambassador of Singapore jazz, touring internationally and headlining at notable jazz festivals and venues worldwide, including the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York.

 

As an educator, she has mentored vocal students of all ages around the world, conducting vocal and performance workshops. She is Vocal Coach for the National University of Singapore Jazz Band and Vocal Lecturer at Lasalle College Of The Arts Singapore.

 

Alemay is currently artist-in-residence at Singapore's Premier Jazz venue, Simply Jazz by Tinbox.

Chok Kerong

Instagram | YouTube | Spotify

CHOK KERONG has established himself as one of Singapore’s most versatile talents and is a respected veteran in Singapore’s music scene. Graduating from the Manhattan School of Music he holds the distinction of being the first jazz musician to receive the National Arts Council (Singapore) Arts Scholarship (Overseas), Kerong traverses the numerous genres within popular music, showcasing equal prowess in each. Throughout his career, he has excelled as a keyboardist, composer, songwriter and producer of extraordinary clarity and depth in his work.

 

Kerong’s compositions and arrangements have been performed by Jeremy Monteiro, Rani Singam, the T’ang Quartet, the Singapore Wind Symphony, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and his own chamber ensembles. Additionally, renowned jazz luminaries like Randy Brecker, Antonio Hart and Jay Anderson have played arrangements he has crafted in his role as the Associate Music Director of the Jazz Association of Singapore Orchestras. He is also Music Director/Arranger for Singaporean music icons Charlie Lim and Joanna Dong.

 

Beyond his contributions as a performer and composer, Kerong is an influential educator. Currently serving as the Principal Tutor of the National University of Singapore Jazz Band, he is also an instructor at Lasalle College of the Arts and School of the Arts (SOTA). Chok Kerong is a Mosaic Associate Artist, receiving tailored, intensive support from Esplanade. 

Date & Time

20 Jul 2024, Sat

7.15pm

Esplanade Concourse

8.30pm

Esplanade Concourse
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