Chow Yun Fat Lucky Cat Podcast

A podcast in honour of Chow Yun Fat! A Lucky Cat salute to Fa Gor.

Playlist:

• Lucky Cat Theme - Feat The Magic Cat - Connie Chan, Jackie Chan dialogue from Snake in Eagle's Shadow and mainly Bear Cat by Rufus Thomas
  
• Kowloon Hong Kong - The Reynettes
  
• Fatty Fatty - Clancy Eccles
  
• Dying Gambler - Kate McTell
  
• Playing Mahjong - Le-Ge
  
• Slot Machine - The Three Tops
  
• Chu Chui Lian - from 24 Favourite Gu Zheng Chinese Melodies
  
• Confucius - The Skatalites
  
• Yu Zhou Chang Wan - from 24 Favourite Gu Zheng Chinese Melodies
  
• Will The orange Blossom Smile - Rebecca Pan
  

WIN a copy of the Chow Yun Fat movie directed by Hu Mei Confucius:
To enter please email me (luckycatzoe at gmail.com) your Chow Yun Fat poem. The best entry will win the Confucius DVD and I will publish all entries on this blog.

New Ann Hui film All About Love

I stumbled across this trailer for the new Ann Hui film All About Love which was shown at this year's Hong Kong Film Festival. Hope we get to see it here in the UK (though I won't hold my breath).

Isaac Julien’s new film installation Ten Thousand Waves

British artist Isaac Julien's Ten Thousand Waves is a 9-screen installation shot on location in China which aims to weave together stories linking China’s ancient past and present. The work looks at immigration, diaspora and the journeys that people make across continents. The installation premièred at the Sydney Biennale in May and was then shown at the Shanghai Expo. Now it is here in London at the Hayward Gallery (with still photographs also on show at the Victoria Miro Gallery).

Filmed on location in Guangxi province the film has many interesting collaborators; most exciting of all the mighty Maggie Cheung Man Yuk! The soundtrack is by Londoner Jah Wobble and The Chinese Dub Orchestra (an artist who has become interested in fusing digital Dub Reggae with Chinese sounds and traditional instruments, as heard in his CD Chinese Dub).

I haven't been to check it out yet but am dying to go, I will report back asap. I am a fan of Julien's work and of course I don't need to declare my love for Maggie Cheung again! Watch this space for a review of the installation....

Where It All Began Part 2

Following on from my earlier post here is another book that I remember from my childhood. When I was in Paris earlier this year and at the amazing department store Compagnie Francaise de l'Orient et de la Chine I saw a copy of this book on the shelf and my heart fluttered nostalgically. I hadn't looked at the book in years and was pleasantly suprised to find some revolutionary Chinese art cards tucked inside when I opened it (see bonus section below). The book has page after page of amazing acrobatic feats all depicted in glorious Technicolor. Here are just a few for you:


Looking at this picture I remembered being fascinated by an episode of Sesame Street where Big Bird visited China and met some 'lions'. Wasn't there a big dog on Sesame Street who looked a bit like a Chinese lion? After some research (Googled it!) I found this clip where Big Bird and the dog (Barkley) are taught a few Chinese words by a very cute little girl:



Back to the book and another ingenious way of holding a vase:










Bonus Section: Revolutionary Chinese Art Cards
Positive depictions of agriculture and industry.

Clive Chin in Hong Kong October 2010

Chinese Jamaican Reggae producer Clive Chin (Randy's Records, 17 North Parade) is back touring China this Autumn. The tour begins in Hong Kong, 7th October:

Happy Mid Autumn Moon Festival

Hope you enjoyed your moon cakes this week. Here's a nice lantern pic. Next year is the year of the rabbit - my year!

I'm On Youtube!

I was flattered and delighted when I stumbled across this clip on Youtube of an excerpt from my Lucky Cat radio programme. It's on The Styler's Band Channel - the 1960s/70s Singaporean band (who along with the Quests were very big on the East Asian music scene). I am playing their groovy tune I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha and you can hear Joey Leung from Terracotta Film on the clip too (he was on the show to discuss the upcoming Terracotta Film Festival).

Oh, and by the way I wasn't googling myself, I found the clip because I was searching for the amazing Chinese Reggae singer Cha Cha, and I cam across it that way - honest guv!

Learn more about The Stylers:
@ Questing Bandstand
@ Radiodiffusion
@ Singapore 60s Andy's Pop Music Influence

Where It All Began Part 1

People often ask me when my fascination with Chinese and East Asian culture began and I am still working on a suitable amusing anecdote to tell. There was no great epiphany and as with so many things in life it just sort of happened. It was gradual and accumulative, starting most likely with food. My parents have been eating out regularly in London’s Chinatown for nearly 40 years. I was taken as a baby in my crib and I must have loved the smell of char siew pork and steamed rice from an early age! Another influence were the books I had as a child that were around the house. In particular there were 3 important ones, the first was given to me by some family friends when I was born (“for baby Baxter” is written inside); Pictures by Chinese Children. It’s a wonderful book full of illustrations of everyday life in China, as drawn by kids. I have scanned in some of my favourite pictures for you below.
There are two other books that were also influential; I shall post about them soon. I hope you enjoy looking at these pictures.

My BBC China Article on Sophie Yau

You can read my article for BBC China on singer songwriter Sophie Yau here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukchina/simp/entertainment/2010/08/100818_ent_chinesesinger.shtml

Here is my text in English:

A Melodic and Spiritual Debut EP from British Singer Songwriter Sophie Yau
By Zoë Baxter

Singer songwriter Sophie Yau launches her debut EP this month - Some Great Union in the Sky. The EP is a culmination of many years of musicianship and is heavily influenced by American folk music.

Sophie Yau was born in London’s Camden – an area famous for it’s vibrant market and live music scene. Sophie’s parents then decided to move to East Anglia, where, like many British Chinese, they opened a takeaway food business. Whilst growing up Sophie also spent some time in her parent’s birthplace – Hong Kong. Her early musical influences were mainly pop – both Cantopop and 1980s British pop music. Later on she was introduced to Christian pop and hymns (both traditional and modern).

Sophie began to play the guitar age 17 and has not looked back. Whilst at university in Bristol Sophie began singing to accompany her guitar strumming and gradually started to write her own songs. It was during this time that she began to listen to American folk music, which would influence her singing and guitar playing style.

Moving back to London after graduating, Sophie has been fine-tuning her music – touring the open mic circuit and playing in many bars and clubs. In 2009 Sophie debuted at the City Showcase festival in London’s Chinatown.

The EP Some Great Union in the Sky is a collection of songs which are all quite paired down – the focus is on Sophie’s sweet lilting vocals and the guitar led melodies. The song with the strongest hook is Even If I Try, co-written with guitar player Jean Guy Sylvestre. Sophie explains the lyrics: “Me and my mate Phil had just watched ‘Independence Day’ at the cinema and decided to walk the hour and a half walk it took to get back to our village. On the way we talked about aliens, and gods and the compulsion to believe in something bigger than ourselves. It’s like a reflex.”

Other songs on the EP are also contemplative and there is definitely a spiritual theme. For example Brothers on a Hill is about a week that Sophie spent at a monastery in France: "They prayed 3 times a day in this massive hall with candles and songs sung in every language. I spent a lot of time sitting in the back with my feet up. It was weird and it was wonderful and I found a kind of peace there that surprised me because I wasn’t aware that I was at war with myself.”

I asked Sophie if we could expect an album to follow on from the EP: “It was kind of interesting with the EP - by the time we finished recording we were playing a fairly different live set to the songs as recorded on the disc. The album will feature the 5 songs on the EP, plus 5 news ones.”

The Sophie Yau UK tour will hit the roads soon. There are also plans afoot for collaborations with beats producers for remixing some of the EP songs. It will be
interesting to see what effect the remixes have on Sophie’s style – adding more layers and textures will hopefully enhance the musical direction and let her dreamy singing style shine through.

Links:
http://sophieyau.com/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/SophieYau

Picture Show Annual 1959

This beauty is from my vintage film annual collection. I have quite a few as I used to buy them for pocket money when I was a teen (and infatuated with Clark Gable and the glamour of old Hollywood). I was flicking through this British film annual recently and although I have always loved the cover I didn't realise it had some hidden gems inside. The cover features Dirk Bogarde and Yoko Tani from their film The Wind Cannot Read. There is more on Japanese actress Yoko Tani inside in a feature rather snootily titled:

Here are some of the pages from the article that feature East Asian film stars:

The page below shows Chinese film star Li Lihua (credited as Lili Hua here) on the set of Hollywood movie China Doll with director Frank Borzage and co-star Victor Mature (also a teenage crush of mine!).

And an Italian film star going 'yellowface' for The Quiet American. This was common practice in Hollywood films - using a non US star to play many different races (e.g. Yul Bryner's career), just adding extra eyeliner! This has been well documented in the excellent film Hollywood Chinese which also looks at Chinese Americans in the movie industry.


The Picture Show Annual has another article titled New Faces in Films which does feature some East Asian American actresses:

Marie Tsien is at the top of the page in a strange ruffle shirt and floral shorts combo: "Hailing from Hong Kong Marie Tsien went to the United States to study interior decoration in San Francisco. Modelling jobs, however, eventually led to television. One of her film roles has been in 'The 27th Days'
Amercian born Miiko Taka is pictured to the right: Taka has her first engagement as an actress playing opposite Marlon Brando in 'Sayonara'. Black-haired brown eyed Miiko is 5 feet 6 inches tall.
Bottom left is France Nyuen who played Liat in South Pacific.

Well that's all folks. I hope you enjoyed my scanning efforts.

White Rabbit Gallery Sydney

(Faces of KonKong by artist Xiong Wenyun)

A friend told me about this contemporary Chinese art gallery in Sydney:

www.whiterabbitcollection.org/

It looks wonderful, brilliant web site too. Bit far for me to pop into the teahouse for an Oolong or two though.

Hero Q&A this Weds 11th Aug @ Prince Charles Cinema

I am delighted to have been asked to do a Q&A after the screening of Zhang Yimou's Hero this Wednesday 11th August @ The Prince Charles Cinema.
This is part of the Electric Sheep Film Magazine cinema club; they hold monthly film nights at the Prince Charles with guest speakers.
Please come down and enjoy the film on the big screen (and ask me some nice and easy questions like "which shampoo does Donnie Yen use for his glossy locks?").

Show starts at 8.30pm. Tickets on the door, usual Prince Charles value price!

Facebook Event Page

(Team Green: Maggie Cheung Man Yuk and Tony Leung Chiu Wai pictured)

My BBC China Article on Hong Kong in the 60s

My article on Lucky Cat favourites Hong Kong in the 60s has been published on the BBC China web site, check it out:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukchina/simp/entertainment/2010/07/100722_ent_hongkong60s.shtml
For those of you who cannot read Chinese (myself included, the article was translated by Lily Feng @ the BBC) here's the English version:

Hong Kong In The 60s
Nostalgic Electro Pop from a Cool London Band
By Zoë Baxter

Electronic Pop trio Hong Kong in the 60s have released a brand new vinyl single this month, on the acclaimed independent label Ghost Box. It is fitting that the band are on vinyl – an old medium - as their music is infused with nostalgia. The track Seasons Change is a collaboration with The Advisory Circle (the alias of electronic musician Jon Brooks).

The band, who comprise of Mei Yau Kan (lead vocals, keyboards, guitar), Christopher Greenberg (keyboards, vocals, guitar) and Tim Scullion (guitar, keyboards, vocals), formed in London in 2007. They have an unusual name which reflects their passion for Hong Kong Chinese music and film of the 1960s. They were looking for a name that evoked Hong Kong in the 1960s but couldn’t find another phrase that fitted quite so perfectly. Christopher describes their sound as “pop music that is a bit unusal, unsderstated, atmospheric and involving.” Band mate Mei Yau adds “my aim is to make music that has a faraway sound – the sound of an echoey empty dance hall”.

The trio produce all their own tracks and also use old instruments, such as Casio keyboards, to get more character in the music. They also use old equipment and even toy instruments which give their sound a quirky and youthful naivety.

As their name implies, they are fans of Hong Kong Chinese culture and film in particular. They cite Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love as a real turning point in their appreciation of Chinese music: “Wong Kar Wai’s soundtracks were a gateway in to appreciating Chinese music. The atmosphere and feel of the Chinese music I have heard is very intoxicating” says band member Tim Scullion. Mei Yau, who is British Chinese and speaks Cantonese, already had an appreciation of Hong Kong Chinese music from her parents’ cassette collection. She has fond memories of hearing Rebecca Pan, Feng Fei Fei and Anita Mui around the house whilst she was growing up. Her parents would keep in touch with Hong Kong music by buying cassettes from shops such as Golden Disc in London’s Chinatown.

Visuals are important to the band as they are interested in “creating a whole world that people can get lost in” says Tim. This follows on from their love of film, they are fans of Italian and French cinema as well and are also influenced by 1960s Italian soundtracks. Their visual style reflects their music – soft, retro, considered and dreamlike. The band were spotted at a gig by director Claudio Napoli who was so impressed with them he offered to shoot the video to their track Footsteps for free. The video is beautifully stylish; shot in black and white, it echoes the film noir genre movies of 1940s and 50's European cinema.

The track Footsteps comes from the trio's debut EP Willow Pattern Songs which was released earlier this year. Hong Kong in the 60s produce all their own tracks, which means that they have total control over their sound. They have also remixed tunes for other artists – such as the sublime bossa nova remix of Valorian they did for indie duo Arthur and Martha. They are not averse to their own tracks being remixed either – London Hip Hop producer The Last Skeptik remixed Footsteps earlier this year, giving it an urban dance music feel with heavy bass lines.

Since releasing their EP the band have been busy working on their debut album, My Fantoms, which is due out at the end of the year on the Proper Songs label. The title is named after a collection of haunting short stories by 19th century French writer Theophile Gautier (translated by Richard Holmes). So what can we expect from the band's debut album? “It's quite a lot more varied and ambitious than our EP, but we've tried to create a dreamlike, understated atmosphere throughout all the songs. Something we are particularly excited about is the track "King Of Chinatown". It's our theme to an imaginary Hong Kong action film, and something we've been wanting to do for a long time!” says Christopher Greenberg. Let's hope that they get to make a video for that track, it sounds amazing. It also shows that the band's passion for Hong Kong cinema is very much present in their music as well as their unusual name.

Links:
http://hongkonginthe60s.com
http://www.ghostbox.co.uk
http://propersongs.net/

New Release on Randys Label - Chinese Reggae!

The brand new limited edition 10" vinyl of Shanghai singer Cha Cha and Jamaican DJ Ranking Joe is out now! The track One Day You'll Know is a combination duet with Cha Cha singing in Mandarin and Ranking Joe toasting in English over a Rico Rodgriguez rhythm. Produced by Mr Clive Chin (Randys, Impact!), who recorded Cha Cha whilst in China on tour last year.

SIDE A
1. One Day You’ll Know- Cha Cha & Ranking Joe
2. One Day You’ll Know Dub – Rico & The Alpha Boys

SIDE B
1. One Day You’ll Know – Cha Cha
2. Rico Special (Reloaded) – Rico & The Alpha Boys

Available at Dub Vendor Records. Only 500 pressed, this is a real collector's item that I heartily recommend you invest in!
The tune is perfect for summer and has a really nice vibe to it, plus you get the original rhythm track instrumental too. I am a big fan of Cha Cha's (see also her tunes on the Jahtari label and upcoming Adrian Sherwood LP Dub No Frontiers) and am pleased that her singing is equally good as her toasting/rapping.

Maggie Cheung Man Yuk Podcast

Here it is, my tribute to screen goddess Maggie Cheung. Thank you to all who contributed, I hope you enjoy listening.





Playlist:

• Police and Thieves – Junior Murvin
  
• Tears on My Pillow – Little Anthony and the Imperials
  
• Siboney – Xavier Cugat and Connie Francis (Center Stage and 2046 soundtracks)
  
• Me, Myself and I – Billie Holiday
  
• Under the Bridges of Paris – Eartha Kitt
  
• I’m in the Mood for Love – Fats Domino
  
• Bengawan Solo – Rebecca Pan (In The Mood for Love soundtrack)
  
• Yumeji’s Theme & Li-Zhen’s dialogue – Umebayashi Shigeru (In The Mood for Love soundtrack)
  
• Strawberry Stain – Maggie Cheung (Clean soundtrack)
  
• Angkor Wat Theme Finale – Michael Galasso (In The Mood for Love soundtrack)
  

Sammo Hung Award & Interview

Hong Kong film legend Sammo Hung recently won the First Star Asia Lifetime Achievement Award at the New York Asian Film Festival. Check out this interview with him @ Twitch:
http://twitchfilm.net/interviews/2010/07/nyaff-2010-sammo-hung-speaks.php

Ripe Mango Som Tam

I have recently categorised all my 'Food' posts and I couldn't believe that I haven't posted a som tam recipe. A shocking emission as it is one of my favourite dishes. Traditionally this Thai salad is made with green papaya, I also like the green mango version but you can use other types of fruit too. This one was made with large fresh ripe mangoes (the type most commonly found in the UK).

My Mango Som Tam Recipe

Dry roast a handful of mixed nuts in a frying pan. Leave to cool.

Next make the dressing in a mortar and pestle:

• Crush two cloves of garlic
  
• Add a teaspoon of brown sugar or palm sugar and crush that in
  
• Add the juice of a small lime, you should be getting a nice paste now
  
• De-seed and chop up 2 fresh Thai chillies. More if you like it spicier.
  
• Keep pounding and add some fish sauce - about a tablespoon or less if you are not a salt freak like me.
  

OK that's the dressing done. Now get a nicely ripened mango and cut it into strips. Cut up a few baby tomatoes too and put in a salad bowl with the mango strips. Pour over the dressing. Then put your dry roasted nuts into the mortar and pestle and crush up a bit. Add them to the salad and mix in.
Usually I like to add dried shrimps too but I didn't have any so I served it with some Tean's Gourmet crispy prawn chilli (I seem to serve that with everything these days, addictive stuff).

Food Blogs

May I recommend some food blogs:

1) Fuck Yeah Condiments
Because your fridge MUST have at least one condiment shelf and your cupboard too. It's the only way to live.

2) Anna Chen Eats
And she eats good. Recipes and restaurant reviews; I'm looking forward to more posts on this new blog.

3)Rasa Malaysia
Malaysian food combines Chinese, Indian and Indonesian flavours. I think I'm in food heaven.

4)Chez Pim
The best Thai recipes I have found online. Pim is a foodie extraordinaire, step into her world, you'll leave hungry.

Ruan Lingyu & Li Lili 'Little Toys' 1933

I recently watched the Stanley Kwan biopic/documentary Center Stage (1994) starring Maggie Cheung. The film follows the life of legendary Chinese silent film actress Ruan Lingyu and I realised that I would like to try and see some more of her films. Some years ago I was lucky enough to see her most well known feature The Goddess (1934) on the big screen at a film festival in London.
Little Toys (Xiaowanyi) is a film she made in 1933 alongside friend and fellow actress Lili Li (pictured), directed by Sun Yu.

Maggie Cheung Talking About Acting & Copyright in Art

Maggie Cheung Man Yuk - Your Views Please

I'm preparing a podcast feature on Maggie Cheung and I'd love to know your favourite Maggie movies. From beauty queen to award winning art house actress and now film composer Maggie has had quite a career. Please let me know your favourite films and moments by either leaving a comment below or emaailing me : luckycatzoe at gmail.com

Thank you.

Here are some of my favourite Maggie movies:

• The Heroic Trio - female superhero caper co-starring Anita Mui and Michelle Yeoh. Here come the girls!
  
  
• Center Stage - Stanley Kwan's Biopic of Chinese silent film star Ruan Lingyu (thanks to Dave @ Soft Film). Kwan lights her cheekbones beautifully and Maggie truly embodies the character of the glamorous and emotionally vulnerable movie star. An amazing wardrobe of qi paos rivalled only by....
  
  
• In the Mood for Love - Wong Kar Wai's masterpiece. Celluloid yearning that breaks your heart and satisfies your soul. Maggie and Tony Leung act their silk stockings and cotton socks off (respectively).
  
  
• Irma Vep - (pictured) Directed by Olivier Assayas (Maggie's now ex husband), a film about the film making process and French cinema in particular. Maggie plays herself, cast in a remake of Louis Feuillade's classic silent serial Les vampires. An amazing catsuit and some postmodern chortling.
  

She may have started out as a bubblegum teen beauty queen but Maggie Cheung has developed into one of the finest actors on the planet. Maggie Cheung Man Yuk I drink to you, ganbei!

Funny Women - Comdedy night at Asia House 17th June

PAWA (The Pan Asian Organisation of Women) presents a night of comedy with an all female line up.

Shazia Mirza, award winning stand up comedian and columnist, is headlining. Joanne Lau, runner up in the 2007 Funny Women Awards is supporting and there will be a chance for brand new talent to showcase their comedy at the start of the evening. All hosted by Sajeela Kershi.

Thursday 17 June 2010
at Asia House, 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP
Doors 6:30pm & Welcome Drink
Performance 7:00 - 8:30pm
£12 (Members & Concession)
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/78266
£15 Non members
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/78265

(Ticket prices include welcome drink and bar nibbles)

C.F.O.C - Paris shopping

As my earlier post states I visited a wonderful store whilst in Paris recently. It has been there since 1966 I think - Compagnie Francasie de l'Orient et de la Chine (170 Boulevard Haussman). Due to the bad exchange rate and my lack of funds in general I was unable to go totally crazy and buy an antique deco light or a wonderful cherry red 1950's fish shaped clock. I did however pick up these little gems:


A double happiness (shuang xi) mug perfect fro either beer or tea (the sight of soya-milky tea in a glass mug gives me a warm glow, can't explain why).


Monkey! I paid too much for this but my heart wouldn't let me leave the shop without it. I wondered if it had started life as a jar, like the nutella or mustard jars you get in France with cartoon characters on. I remember getting some lovely Chinese honey jars/glasses until Chinese honey was banned here in the UK for a while.

Paris

It was pouring with rain in Paris so I didn't stand around to take a photo but we saw this fabulous red Chinese building which is now some kind of a private gallery.
Picture on Flickr.
Nearby there's a Chinese department store, it has been trading for 20 years or so and has beautiful crockery, antique furniture and nick nacks and clothes. I found a Monkey (Journey to the West ) glass which I could not bare to part with so parted with some Euros and now it is mine, mwahh ha ha ha ha. Picture to follow when my holiday is over. Right, no more blogging, I'm en vacance!

Nina

No special reason, just found this great clip and wanted to share.
The one and only Nina Simone.

Vote Terracotta

The Far East Film Festival, Terracotta, comes to the Prince Charles cinema tomorrow (Thursday 6th May). The opening film is Jackie Chan's latest Chinese movie Little Big Soldier (which does not have any tie in deals with supermarkets but is a film worth watching).
All the films in the festival are being shown at the cult "Prince Charles cinema in London's Leicester Square. Here are some of the movies that I am looking forward to:

• Development Hell: A documentary about the making of the historical epic martial arts film Bodyguards & Assassins. As the title suggests it was a rocky road and took 9 years to complete.
  (Friday 7th May 2pm)
  
  
  
  
• Bodyguards & Assassins: Director Teddy Chen will be in town to give an intro and Q&A on the film. A star studded production (Donnie Yen, Leon Lai, Tony Leung Ka Fai, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bing Bing, Simon Yam) which tells the story of an attempted assination attempt on Sun Yat Sen in 1903 when he visited Hong Kong. Watch out for Eric Tsang playing the Chief of Police with a Poirot style moustache!
  This is an epic film which deserves to be seen on the big screen.
  (Sunday 9th May 6.10pm)
  
  
• Fish Story
  Can a Japanese band's punk rock song save the world? Mmm, perhaps, do you remember how yodelling saved the world from the martians in Tim Burton's Mars Attacks?
  (Friday 7th May 3.15pm)
  
  
• Accident
  Hong Kong thriller produced by Johnny To and directed by Soi Cheang. A team of professional killers whose work always looks like accidents are stumped when the tables are turned. Noir Hong Kong style.
  Q&A with Xavier Jamaux (soundtrack composer).
  (Friday 7th May 6pm)
  
  
  
  
• Antique
  A Korean movie on the big screens in the UK that isn't violent! Hurrah. A comedy based on a manga about a cake shop with romantic farce. Looks like delicious foodie fun (no live octopus eating).
  (Saturday 8th May 1pm)
  
  
• In the Mood for Doyle & Yakuza Eiga
  Documentary double bill: 1 Christopher Doyle, Wong Kar Wai's cinematographer of choice. 2 The impact of yakuza (Japanese gangsters) on cinema.
  Q&A with director Yves Montmayeur.
  (Saturday 8th May 3.25pm)
  
  
• Vengeance
  Johnny To action thriller starring the great HK stalwart Anthony Wong Chau Sang and French crooner and national treasure Johnny Hallyday. Expect gun shots a go go and serious male brooding!
  (Saturday 8th May 6.15pm)
  

For a full programme visit terracottafestival.com

On Saturday night there's a Japan Party at the Slug & Lettuce (or should that be the Eel & Mizuna?) Lisle Street (Chinatown). I'll be DJing before bands Peter Parker Rocks and Sunset Drive perform live. (Part of It Came From Japan). For full details see the Facebook Event Page.

cherry blossom

Resonance FM Fundraiser Weekend

Resonance FM has been on air for 8 years and to celebrate and ensure another 5 years of outstanding broadcasting they are having a fundraising marathon this weekend.

Sat 1st May 12noon-12midnight: Johnny Trunk hosts
Sun 2nd May 12noon-12midnight: Bob & Roberta Smith hosts

Special guests will drop by and some marvellous items are up for auction, check out the Resonance site: resonancefm.com/fundraiser

Or you can always donate right now!

Please help to support Resonance who work tirelessly to provide interesting, intelligent and exciting new radio programmes for London and beyond. All presenters and engineers work voluntarily to provide you the listener with something other, something a little different, something advert free and good for your soul!

Thank you.

Clive Chin

Last week I had the honour and the privilege of interviewing the legendary Chinese Jamaican Reggae producer Mr Clive Chin.

Clive is the son of Vincent Chin (whose Chinese father moved from mainland China to the West Indies in the 1920s). Vincent Chin opened the the music store and then recording studio Randy's in Kingston Jamaica way back in 1957. Artists to record on the Randy's label included Alton Ellis, John Holt and Lord Creator.

Clive Chin began working at the store and studio aged 15 and in the 1970s began to produce tracks of his own, starting up the Impact! record label. His first big record as a producer was with his school friend Augustus Pablo (aka Horace Swaby, the melodica playing dub legend!)- Java.

I talked with Clive about the influence of Chinese music in Reggae and he mentioned some tracks he produced with an Eastern flavour. One of which is this superb Tommy McCook number Harvest in the East which was the instrumental B side to Dennis Brown's The Cheater:


This track can be found on the compilation LP Impact! .

Clive took a break from music production when he left Jamaica in 1978. He moved to New York and had a Jamaican restaurant there for ten years or so. Now he is very much back in the music business and manages the Randy's back catalogue along with Impact! and some other selected labels. And what a catalogue of music, in 2007 Randy's celebrated 50 years and brought out the box set 2 CD anthology with documentary DVD:



I talked at length with Clive about his Chinese Jamaican roots, other notable Chinese Jamaicans in the music business and his historical knowledge of Jamaican music. I have recorded the interview for a future radio project which I hope to tell you about very soon.

In the meantime check out Clive Chin's Myspace page and listen to the FRESH NEW CHINESE REGGAE TUNE FEAT SHANGHAI's CHA CHA!!!! As you can tell I am very excited about this, Clive is pressing 500 10" vinyl copies of this tune which is a combination track with Cha Cha (singing in Mandarin) and veteran DJ Rankin Joe. When the discs are ready I will be sure to let you all know where you can get you hands on them (I'm first in the queue though, obviously!).

Fong Fong's got the moves!

Podcast & Playlist Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 12 - Terracotta Film Festival

Lucky Cat Series 4 Episode 12 - 8th April 2010

Lucky Cat

For the last episode in the series I am joined by Joey from Terracotta Film distribution to discuss the upcoming Far East Film Festival (6-9th May, Prince Charles Cinema London).

Playlist:

She Does it to Me Right - Jimmy Cliff (produced by Leslie Kong, B side to Vietnam 7")

Jackie Chan - The Toasters (from the CD Don't let the Bastards Grind You Down)

The Ussuri Boatmen's Song - Kuo Sung, a Ho-chih nationality folk song (1964 LP Peking in Melody, China Record Company)

Hong Thong Daw Udon: Isan - (Siamese Soul: Thai Pop Spectacular vol 2, Sublime Frequencies CD)

Buttercup (I'm a Supergirl) - Shonen Knife (Powerpuff Girls: Heroes and Villains CD)

I Love Boh Boh Cha Cha - The Stylers feat Johnny Teo (7" EP of same name)

Footsteps - Hong Kong in the 60's (Last Skeptik Remix)

Links:
Lucky Cat blog
Terracotta Film Festival
Lucky Cat Radio Facebook Group

Terracotta Film Festival

On tonight's Lucky Cat radio show, I'll be joined live in the studio by Joey from Terracotta Distribution about the upcoming Terracotta Far East Film Festival.

This unique film festival features 15 hand-picked films from Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Block busters such as the Jackie Chan film Little Big Soldier will be screened alongside lesser known nuggets such as the Korean musical comedy Antique.
I'm really looking forward to the epic Teddy Chan directed film Bodyguards and Assassins and am delighted to see there is also a documentary on the making of this film Development Hell (guess the title says it all!).

There's also a documentary on East Asian cinematographer of choice Christopher Doyle which is part of a double bill with another documentary by the same director, Yves Montmayeur , Yakuza Eiga (the history of yakuza cinema).

All this and a Johnny To film starring Lucky Cat favourite Anthony Wong Chau San and French national singing treasure Johnny Hallyday - Vengeance!

Last Episode of Lucky Cat Series 4 Tonight!

Tonight the fourth series of Lucky Cat draws to a close - cue the violins (or should that be erhus?)! I have thoroughly enjoyed making this series and have had some great guests - Hong Kong in the 60's, Mira Stout, Alex Fitch and Jo Ho. Still there are many topics I didn't get round to covering - The 7 Princesses of Cantonese Cinema, readings from Wuxia novels, the image of Shanghai in Western cinema, interviewing Anna Chen (had to postpone dues to illness), the world of Doraemon & Hello Kitty - Japanese characters of cuteness. Hopefully I can include all these in series 5, watch this space.

In the meantime enjoy tonight's show, I'll be chatting to Joey from Terracotta Distribution about the upcoming Terracotta Far East Film Festival (see next post).

7pm Resonance 104.4FM www.resonancefm.com

To stay in touch please join the Lucky Cat Facebook group or email me luckycatzoe at gmail.com

Previous episodes of series 4 can be found here:
luckycat.podomatic.com

I'll be recording some exclusive podcast only mixes over the next few months so stay tuned.

Thanks for listening and thanks for all your interest and support I really appreciate it.

Lucky Cat Club - Fri 30th April @Arts Bar

To celebrate series 4 of the radio show Lucky Cat (last episode next Thursday 8th April) I'm having a party. I've invited special guest Jean-Paul Séculaire (Right On! club and author of the London Dossier) to do a DJ set. I'll be playing too of course, vintage sounds from Shanghai to New York - from Yao Lee to Brenda Lee! Chef Malcolm will be running an East Asian bakes n' cakes stall and I'll be screening Shaw Brothers films on the walls of the lovely Arts Bar.

Arts Bar is tucked away above the Funky Monkey in Camberwell, a great bar with plenty of room to dance as well as sofas to lounge on.

So get your cheongsams drycleaned now!

Exhibition of Contemporaray Chinese Art in London @ Iniva

Lu Chunsheng & Jia Aili : Counterpoints
31st March - 15th May 2010

Both artists are interested in the rapid modernisation of society and the individual's relationship to the machine.

• The first man who bought a juicer bought it not for drinking juice (2008)
  A film by Lu Chunsheng which mixes documentary and fantasy to theatrical effect.
  The film commissioned and produced by Artpace San Antonio and supported by ShanghART Gallery, China.
  
  
• Make Believe... at Rivington Place is Jia Aili's first solo exhibition in Europe, with new paintings and a site specific piece for the window overlooking Rivington Street (see picture above).
  
  Living and working in Beijing, Jia Aili presents monumental new paintings reflecting on the human condition, and the individual's vulnerability in a rapidly developing world.
  

FREE! @
Iniva, Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA