Jazz, fish balls and live streaming: Hong Kong musicians play from eatery to keep music going amid coronavirus pandemic
- Justin Siu and his band play in an empty noodle restaurant, an experience he says is unique and inspirational
- He hopes to reach more people via online performances and integrate jazz into Hong Kong’s grass-roots culture
Bringing jazz music to the 300 sq ft Yuen Hing Lung Noodles in Sai Wan was the idea of Justin Siu Wai-jung, a 44-year-old jazz bassist from Hong Kong, and a regular at the eatery for its original fish ball noodle soup.
The band played a collection of its original music works during the 90-minute performance. Siu plucked the strings of his double bass next to the cooking stall, while other band members, including a saxophonist, a trumpeter, a guitarist and a drummer, played in the dining area. There was no audience.
Siu said the small space made it hard to control the sound quality, and they took care not to break things. Sometimes the internet connection was unstable. But he said the experience was unique and inspirational.
“Unlike the fresh scent of high-end hotels, I was greeted by the smell of broth and fish,” said Siu, who was inspired by the experience to create a piece named “Maru Maru Maru”, a Japanese term meaning circle, much like the shape of meatballs served at the restaurant.
