HCMCITY— A music production in jazz by music producer and composer Võ Thiện Thanh of HCM City has been released, after six years of composing and recording.    

The album Saigon Feel features nine songs in praise of life, love and women, and shows the artist’s appreciation to his home city, Sài Gòn.  

The CD features singer Hồ Trung Dũng, a graduate in German language at HCM City University of Social Sciences & Humanities.

“I hope my new albums can encourage young people to listen and love jazz,” said Thanh, 50, who has more than 20 years in the industry.

Thanh, a graduate of the HCM City Music Conservatory, began his professional career in 1999 after working for Kim Lợi Studio, one of the city’s private music agencies.

His music is pop, R&B and alternative rock using Vietnamese folk elements.

He has composed several hundred songs, including top hits such as Xích Lô (Cyclo), Chuông Gió (Wind Chimes), Bạn Tôi (My Friend) and Hạc Giấy (Paper Crane).

His songs have been performed by pop stars like Thu Minh, Cẩm Ly and Hà Anh Tuấn, and young pop idols Phương Vi and Thảo Trang.

In 2006, Thanh worked with Thu Minh, winner of the HCM City Television’s Singing Contest 1993, in a production of dance and electric music.

Their album, Thiên Đàng (Heaven), features two hit songs Bóng Mây Qua Thềm (Passing Girl) and Chuông Gió, both that won on the Best Song of the Year at Cống Hiến (Devotion) Awards presented by Thể Thao & Văn Hóa newspaper.

Thanh also received the prize Composer of the Year.

The annual Cống Hiến Awards began in 2004 to promote Vietnamese music and honour artists who have made significant contributions to the industry.

His latest album was Sóng Hấp Dẫn (Attractive Wave), a production performed by Hoàng Quyên, the runner up of Việt Nam Idol 2012.

The work’s music is mainly pop mixed with other genres such as jazz, electronic and traditional electronic music.

More than 800 copies of the album, worth VNĐ499,000 (US$22) were sold in just the first day of distribution in April.

“Thanh is demanding in recording. He spent several hours a day in studio to help my voice perfect in Saigon Feel,” said singer Dũng, who sings Vietnamese, English, Spain and German. — VNS