潘子爵 Ruby Pan / 薩克斯風 Saxophone
曾增譯 Tseng Tseng-Yi / 鋼琴 Piano
藤井俊充 Toshi Fujii / 貝斯 Bass
潘查克 Chuck Payne / 鼓 Drums
蕭育融 Hsiao Yu-Jung / 吉他 Guitar
郭俊麟 Chunlin Kuo / 合成器 Synth

Feat.
小林香織 Kaori Kobayashi / 薩克斯風 Saxophone

In this year's Taichung Jazz Festival, Ruby Pan ft. Kaori Kobayashi will bring original compositions to our fans. Many of these pieces are from saxophonist Ruby Pan’s second jazz fusion album “Knot A Problem.” Ruby Pan will perform the album's recorded versions live for the first time, alongside newly arranged tracks from her debut album. Additionally, we have invited renowned Japanese saxophonist Kaori Kobayashi to join us in Taiwan for this special collaboration. We are eagerly anticipating sharing the best music feast with the audience.

The concept of this performance is inspired by Ruby Pan's second creative album "Knot A Problem." It encourages self-reflection and liberation from the societal notion of having "no problems." The album delves into various social landscapes through the lens of a mature woman, exploring themes such as the bittersweetness of urban relationships, life's challenges, societal norms, and the transient nature of city friendships. The music's soundscapes are crafted to reflect the nuanced experiences of daily life. The single "Mimosa 蒲公英," co-produced with Japanese saxophonist Kaori Kobayashi, features an all-female team of musicians, highlighting perspectives and empowerment from a female standpoint.

Kaori Kobayashi

Kaori Kobayashi, whose mother was a piano teacher, began formal piano lessons at the age of three. In her sophomore year of high school, she discovered the alto saxophone and was captivated by its sound and style, prompting her to embark on the path of learning classical saxophone. In the following year and a half, she studied classical saxophone under the guidance of the renowned Japanese female saxophone master, Hara Hitomi. By her junior year, she transitioned from classical to jazz saxophone. Upon entering Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, Kaori studied under Bob Zung and regularly performed at Tokyo jazz clubs.

In February 2005, she made her professional debut with the album "Solar." In June of the same year, she performed at the CROSSOVER JAPAN’05 event held at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, sharing the stage with master musicians such as Murakami ‘BONDA’ Shuichi (drums), Sasaji Masanori (keyboard), Nomura Yoshio (guitar), and Kenji Hino (bass). Despite being relatively new, her confident performance garnered widespread attention.

Renowned for her exceptional playing technique and striking appearance, Kaori Kobayashi has been invited to perform at numerous music events and television programs. She has earned the title of "Asia's Most Beautiful Saxophonist" and her musical prowess has been acclaimed throughout Asia.