Melodies and Motif

Often times, music is one of the first few aspects of a culture that is embraced by people of other cultures.  Moreover, most cultures have a very distinct combination of melody, tempo, meter, harmony, texture, dynamics, timbre, and articulation.  So, what better way to celebrate Vietnamese American musicians, including both instrumentalists as well as vocalists, than by attending Toast of the Town: Music Edition at Motif Lounge in San Jose on Friday, June 24^th.  RSVP at http://tot-music.eventbrite.com/

Here are some of the featured guests.

VietDreams is a non-profit organization founded by musicians, artists, and music enthusiasts who all share a common goal – to provide disadvantaged children in Vietnam with better educational opportunities and a more healthy, sustainable way of living.  VietDreams uses its musical talents to raise necessary funds to support projects, such as donating bicycles and helmets, granting scholarships, offering medical supplies, and providing access to clean water.  VietDreams hope that its efforts and commitment will serve as a powerful reminder that there are many children in Vietnam who still need help, and through providing this help, hopefully these children will be able to make their dreams a reality.

Thai, formerly known as Thai Viet G, is a rapper and actor who centered his music on expressing raw emotion and truth.  His debut album, “Together We Rize,” focused on street unity and aimed to uplift and empower various Asian gangs who were segregated by nationality.  He currently is living out his vision of Asian unity under the record label 454 Life Entertainment.

Hung Lam is a seasoned violinist of two decades.  He graduated from UC Davis and majored in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Music, which is his true passion.  He has performed with the Mission College Symphony Orchestra, UC Davis Symphony Orchestra, Winchester Orchestra, and Camellia Symphony Orchestra.  In his spare time, he also performs at senior homes as a volunteer.

Richard “Rich” Tran is a Bay Area, California rapper who has toured the underground rap scene and colleges across the United States.  As the only son in a refugee family, he had persevered through poverty and disenfranchisement to contribute to society through his music.  Since 2007 to present, he has collectively raised over $10,000 for charity while performing.

Le Quoc-Tuan and Nini Nguyen are two very talented vocalists.  Both have sought vocal lessons under the tutelage of Dr. Betty Owren, performed with Evergreen Valley College Chamber Choir, are active members of Most Holy Trinity and St. Patrick parishes’ choirs, were special guests at the annual Saigon Chamber Orchestra, and have collaborated with Ngoc Hue Productions.  Tuan is currently collaborating with Imusik Productions on their second music DVD project to follow-up on the success of their debut “Imusik – Dong Nhac The He Moi.”

Nine-year-old Catherine Truc Cam Nguyen was raised in a family with two generations of violinists.  However, her interest is in singing.  She received vocal and performance coaching at Starstuck Theater and was asked to perform in the annual fundraising concert International Children Assistance Network (ICAN) every year for the past three years.  In April 2011, she stole the night with her performance of “Beo Dat May Troi” at the “Hat Cho Tuoi Tho 9” concert.  Moreover, even at such a young age, Catherine’s heart is already giving back to orphans and disadvantaged children in Vietnam by lending her vocal talents to charity projects, such as 100 Bikes Project and Children of Kontum.

Born into a musical family, Matthew Le is a multi-talented instrumentalist.  He began playing the saxophone at age 11 and continued throughout his high school years by performing in both marching and jazz bands.  In addition to the saxophone, Matthew also plays the piano, guitar, and drums.  His passion is in jazz, which led him to study jazz professionally at San Jose State under the guidance of Benny Torres.  Matthew has performed with various Vietnamese as well as Chinese bands.

So, come mingle with these musicians and more while supporting OneVietnam!

There will be special DJ-ing by Alfredo Lopez Jr. aka DJ JR XOL.  He have played as various venues ranging from 1015 Folsom, Ruby Skye, and Anu Lounge amongst others over the past decade.  He is also a professional working with sound designs and editing for short films and commercials.

Special thanks to our venue and media partners:

Motif Lounge
Jackfroot.com
454 Life Entertainment

For more information about future Toast of the Town and/or to stay up-to-date with all things Toast of the Town, be sure to log on to OneVietnam Network and follow @toastofthetown!