[The Korea Times] Music of Different Colors, Moods

<STYLE>P{margin-top:2px;margin-bottom:2px;}</STYLE> Music of Different Colors, Moods Local Jazz and New Age Musicians Combine for Free Concert   By Han Eun-jung A dab of jazz, a touch of new age, and a dash of tango _ blend the three together and you get a fresh new sound and performance that will keep you going for the rest of the year. On Jan. 17, audiences will have the rare chance to see three groups that have established their name in three very different music scenes on one stage at POSCO New Year's concert, titled ``Nah Youn-sun, Yiruma, Orientango Concert.'' Pohang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. (POSCO), a leading steel producer in the international market, regularly contributes to the rearing of culture by sponsoring sports teams, art exhibitions and musical events. The event will be the first of 12 monthly concerts at the POSCO Center located in southern Seoul. The best thing about the series is that all the concerts are free. All one needs to do is call (02) 3457-0705 to make a reservation prior to the event. Nah Youn-sun, known for her way of reinterpreting and modernizing traditional jazz in her own style, is active both here and in France where she studied and taught at CIM music school. That is where she met the four that would later complement her in the Youn Sun Nah 5tet. ``Sometimes I'm Happy,'' ``Besame Mucho'' and ``Nostalgia'' will be some of the songs performed by Nah. Many may be familiar with the name Yiruma, and some may know him better by his music. Also referred to as semi-classic, new age music is a middle point between jazz and classical music. Apart from the three solo albums Yiruma has released since his debut in 2001, the sweet and angel-faced artist has seen his fan base grow large. If there is a George Winston in the United States and an Andre Gagnon in Canada, Yiruma leads the genre here and is paving the road for other new age artists. Yiruma will be performing ``Chaconne,'' ``Sometimes Someone,'' ``Kiss the Rain'' and more. Of the three groups performing on Saturday night, Orientango may be a duo that is a little less known to South Korean audiences. One look at the name of the group, it is easy to deduce that tango is what's happening and is by, surprisingly, Asians. When two Koreans announced that they were going to experiment with tango, the sound and heart of Argentina, it raised eyebrows. However, the duo went on to gain hard-earned respect in Argentina, and in 2001, they were the first Asians to appear on stage in Manzana De Las Luces, the national music hall of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Orientango is the classically trained duo of violinist Sung Kyung-sun and pianist Jung Jin-hee. They concentrate on both existing tango pieces and go further by experimenting with famous Korean folksongs. Adding their own special touch to tango through deft expertise, audiences will be able to see just how Orientango has brought together classical music and tango in perfect harmony on Saturday by listening to songs like ``Libertango,'' Korean folksong ``Ummaya Nunaya'' and the classic ``Por una Cabeza.'' With three different genres performed back-to-back, there will be three different worlds for audiences to explore, and emotions will vary from one moment to another. Bluesy at times, soothing in others, and exhilarating at moments, POSCO New Year's Concert is a total gift package.