Tuyet Loan, known as “The Queen of Jazz” in Vietnam, is still far from mainstream commercial success. But she’s happy anyway.
Wearing long black gowns with her thick curly hair, Tuyet Loan reminds people of Dinah Washington, America’s renowned “Queen of the Blues.”
Her love for western music made jazz her fait accompli. Her strong voice bellows jazz standards, many of which are still rare and esoteric in Vietnam, where jazz first hit less than 50 years ago.
Loan does not kid herself about the relative obscurity of her chosen genre here.
“Jazz has only a very select group of listeners,” she says.
In fact, it’s very hard to find any jazz music outside of the country’s two biggest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
“I only have a small following and it’s difficult because the local music scene is swamped by foreign pop music,” Loan says.
But she says she’ll never quit jazz.
“I’d rather perform less than switch to other genres with larger audiences,” she says.
“I have found a small but dedicated following. I have hardcore fans and perform just as well even when there’s only one person in the audience.”
She points out that few artists in Vietnam are dedicated to performing jazz. Even some pop signers add a jazz song or two to their repertoire, but the style is hardly their main passion.
“I feel at peace when I walk roads less traveled, but that doesn’t mean I feel content with my singing skills and have stopped trying to improve myself,” she says.
“I put all my heart and soul into my performances.”
Loan misses the music desperately if she doesn’t sing for a day.
“I initially performed jazz to make a living, but the more I indulge in it, the more passionately I’m in love with it.”
Wearing long black gowns with her thick curly hair, Tuyet Loan reminds people of Dinah Washington, America’s renowned “Queen of the Blues.”
Her love for western music made jazz her fait accompli. Her strong voice bellows jazz standards, many of which are still rare and esoteric in Vietnam, where jazz first hit less than 50 years ago.
Loan does not kid herself about the relative obscurity of her chosen genre here.
“Jazz has only a very select group of listeners,” she says.
In fact, it’s very hard to find any jazz music outside of the country’s two biggest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
“I only have a small following and it’s difficult because the local music scene is swamped by foreign pop music,” Loan says.
But she says she’ll never quit jazz.
“I’d rather perform less than switch to other genres with larger audiences,” she says.
“I have found a small but dedicated following. I have hardcore fans and perform just as well even when there’s only one person in the audience.”
She points out that few artists in Vietnam are dedicated to performing jazz. Even some pop signers add a jazz song or two to their repertoire, but the style is hardly their main passion.
“I feel at peace when I walk roads less traveled, but that doesn’t mean I feel content with my singing skills and have stopped trying to improve myself,” she says.
“I put all my heart and soul into my performances.”
Loan misses the music desperately if she doesn’t sing for a day.
“I initially performed jazz to make a living, but the more I indulge in it, the more passionately I’m in love with it.”
For more information contact All About Jazz.
