Coco Zhao Quartet
Sunday den 5. July kl. 8:00 pm - 11:30 pm
The internationally acclaimed jazz singer Coco Zhao from Shanghai visits La Fontaine with his characteristically warm vocals and powerful stage presence. He has performed at some of the world’s leading jazz venues and festivals, including Blue Note Shanghai, Beijing Jazz Festival, JZ Festival, and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
For this concert, he performs alongside a strong Danish lineup consisting of Martin Schack on Hammond organ, Jesper Riis on trumpet, and Janus Templeton on drums. Together, they create an expression that blends classic jazz with soul and modern sounds, focusing on groove, musicianship, and intimacy.
The audience can expect a concert featuring both well-known standards and personal interpretations, delivered with virtuosity, elegance, and international class.
Line-up
Vocal
Coco Zhao (Zhao Ke) is one of China’s most prominent and internationally acclaimed jazz vocalists. He is celebrated for his unique ability to fuse traditional Chinese music and 1920s Shanghai melodies with modern Western jazz. Dubbed “The Boy Billie Holiday from China,” he has performed at major venues like the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Zhao has a strong connection to Denmark through collaborations with musicians such as Sinne Eeg and Christina von Bülow, where his velvety voice and charismatic stage presence bridge the gap between Eastern and Western musical cultures.
Bass, Drums, Vocal
Janus Templeton is an acclaimed Danish drummer, celebrated for his intuitive sense of interaction and collective improvisation. He possesses a unique ability to propel the music forward without ever overpowering his fellow musicians. Templeton has performed with a broad spectrum of Danish and international jazz names, including Svend Asmussen and Chris Cheek. His versatility and subtle yet authoritative playing have made him a highly respected figure on the Scandinavian jazz scene.
Trumpet
Jesper Riis is one of Denmark’s leading trumpeters, arrangers, and composers, particularly recognized for his work with big bands and large ensembles. As the Chief Conductor of The Orchestra and a composer for the Danish Radio Big Band, he has forged a sophisticated, modern expression of orchestral jazz. Riis possesses a rare ability to combine technical composition with a deep jazz sensibility, which has led to collaborations with stars like John Scofield. He is a central figure in contemporary Danish music.
Hammond organ, Piano
Martin Schack is a versatile and acclaimed Danish pianist and organist, moving fluently between neo-bop, mainstream jazz, and re-interpretations of the Danish songbook. He has an extensive international career, releasing albums on Storyville Records, notably featuring Tom Harrell. Schack is also a prominent cultural figure, serving as a lecturer at the Conservatory of Music, as the owner of the venue Termansens, and as the founder of the Ribe Jazz Festival.
