Talented veteran jazz pianist Håkan Andersson Rydin of Sweden (L) arrives at Noi Bai International Airport on October 2 for the Jazz & Friends concert. (Photo: Vietnamnet)

Rydin and his two friends formed Swedish jazz group Nexus and performed at over 1000 concerts from 1972 to 1992. They made three highly celebrated records and performed at international jazz festivals, on radio, and TV shows in several counties.

Between 1988 and 2003, Rydin played all over the world alongside American singer Kim Parker, the stepdaughter of jazz legend Charlie “Bird” Parker.

In recent years, Rydin mostly performed in the classical piano trio format with piano, bass, and drums. In 2010 he became the first jazz musician to perform at the Great Theatre in Beijing, China.

Rydin, 72, has published two books in Swedish on playing piano by ear. He is working as Professor of Jazz Piano at the Malmo Academy of Music.

The legendary musician will be joined by many foreign artists at the fifth Jazz & Friends concert, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the main hall of Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM).

The one-night concert marks the 10th anniversary of the VNAM’s Jazz Department. Vietnamese and international jazz artists will perform several famous works, including Nostalgia, Moonlight in Vermont, Breezin, Vietnamese folk song Inh lả ơi, Feels Like Home, and Now's the times.

Rydin will have a lecture with students of the VNAM next Monday and Tuesday.