I've never been that into Jazz, but I really enjoy live music in general. When a fellow traveler that I’d met at a hostel in Bangkok suggested that we check out a Jazz club called Saxophone, I figured why not? I was interested to see what they had to offer and excited to do something that was a little less tourist oriented. I had no idea that what I would experience would be a beautiful look at how musicians, and people in general, can interact through musical expression
When I entered Saxophone, I was greeted by a wave of sound and atmosphere. The venue was intimate and classy. The musicians were performing close enough that you could view and appreciate their immense technical skill. The next thing I noticed was that there didn’t appear to be very many younger, tourist types, like myself. Not that I don’t enjoy the company of similar travelers, but this was a refreshing change of pace for a place as busy as Bangkok.
I grabbed an admittedly very expensive beer, and drank it at a snail's pace as I took in the music. If you are unfamiliar with jazz music, it involves a lot of improvisation. I watched in awe as a pianist, guitarist, bassist, drummer and of course a saxophone player displayed their expertise. They all played with heart, soul and perfection, and took turns in the spotlight.
They announced that a 17-year old Thai saxophone prodigy would be playing with a 60+ year old Danish guitarist. The moment that I felt true inspiration came next. The two performed together, separated by several generations and without the need to communicate verbally. They played back to back and built off of each other. They both looked so happy and full of energy, the crowd could only stare in appreciation and admiration.
They announced that a 17-year old Thai saxophone prodigy would be playing with a 60+ year old Danish guitarist. The moment that I felt true inspiration came next. The two performed together, separated by several generations and without the need to communicate verbally. They played back to back and built off of each other. They both looked so happy and full of energy, the crowd could only stare in appreciation and admiration
I think that there is something to be said about how music can transcend barriers, be it age, language or anything else. What I witnessed was communication through what could perhaps be considered a universal language. Music can inspire strong emotions in anyone, and that is what it did for me that day at Saxophone.
There are tons of things to do in Bangkok, but if you’re looking for something a little different, I highly recommend checking out Saxophone. Go alone, or with a small group. Order a drink, nurse it as long as you can and just watch, listen and enjoy. You can find more information about Saxophone, including the location and musical act schedule here: http://www.saxophonepub.com About The Author: Zach Parkes is passionate about traveling and experiencing everything that the world has to offer. He enjoys writing about his adventures and about coffee too! You can check out his coffee blog here
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