Every April 30, International Jazz Day creeps up like a saxophonist arriving just behind the beat – slightly late, entirely intentional. UNESCO, in a rare moment of groove, declared back in 2011 that jazz wasn’t merely a genre but a kind of musical diplomacy. A passport in treble clef, uniting strangers with a trumpet and a bit of unresolved yearning.
This year, Bangkok joins the global jam session with all the flair and mild chaos one might expect. The Commons is once again hosting its annual jazz festival together with Sweets Records, summoning the city’s jazz faithful for a festival that’s as sonically bold as it is sartorially unpredictable.
This isn’t just a soft launch for jazz rookies still figuring out how to carry a trumpet case without looking terrified. Yes, there are wide-eyed newcomers, fuelled by youthful enthusiasm and probably an alarming amount of caffeine. But they’re sharing the stage with musicians who’ve seen things. People who’ve played smoky clubs, botched solos then turned them into standing ovations, and once made a saxophone sound like the end of a relationship you never really got over.
Evenings are a free-flowing buffet of sound, bolstered by the clatter of cocktail shakers and the aroma of whatever’s being grilled within 15 metres. You’re encouraged to graze, linger and perform your best impression of someone who totally grasped that inverted chord progression. Entry is free, so come as you are. Bring your ears, your hunger, your faintest understanding of syncopation. And the line-ups are as deliciously unpredictable as the music.
The Commons Thonglor – Saturday April 26
MOMO – 7pm
A quartet from Rangsit University known for their contemporary approach. Raise a glass as they play standards, pop bop and original compositions.
Hot Club of Siam – 8pm
Ever wondered what Paris would sound like if it had Bangkok's humidity? Voilà. The city’s foremost gypsy jazz outfit brings swing, sass and perhaps a rogue accordion.
Awin Special – 9pm
Pawin Limkangvanmongkol leads a band that reads like the syllabus of a jazz history course. Post bop, straight-ahead and 1960s NYC nostalgia in sonic form.
PAS Lo-Fi – 10pm
If jazz wore oversized headphones and lived in a record store, it would sound like this. Think groove-heavy standards and vibes curated for maximum existential sway.
Arm x First x Far – 11pm
Three names, many grooves. Their set ends with free improv and a surprise vocalist. Think of it as musical speed dating with impeccable timing.
The Commons Sala Daeng – Wednesday April 30
Salaya Pochana – 7pm
Fronted by two recent jazz competition winners, this duo kicks off with the sort of confidence only found in people under 25. Modern jazz and post bop, served hot.
Marc Chartsayam Quartet – 8pm
Modern jazz with just enough existential dread to make it art. Their debut album is called Since Eternity, which sounds both romantic and slightly unhinged.
Julian Cary – 9pm
A singer, composer and lecturer who makes you feel underachieved but deeply entertained. He teaches vocal jazz at Silpakorn University and performs like he invented it.
The Photo Sticker Machine – 10pm
The name sounds like something found in a Tokyo arcade, but this is Vichaya Vatanasapt’s musical brainchild. Expect sax, nu-jazz and vocals dipped in cool detachment.
RSU Jazz Orchestra – 11pm
Big band, big sound, big energy. Led by Professor Dr. Denny Euprasert, whose credentials include being an actual dean. They’ll close the night with brass and bravado.