PATTAYA, Thailand – The Pattaya City Expats Club’s March 18 “Words and Music” program featured Russian-born jazz vocalist and vocal coach Marina Ganty alongside saxophonist Arty, with Dutch resident Bruce Welthulsen joining later as an unannounced guest vocalist. The set paired familiar jazz standards with brief remarks on how music can connect people across cultures and languages.
Marina told the audience she was initially nervous speaking in English, describing it as her first time addressing a large crowd of foreigners in a non-native language. She said performing abroad over the past 15 years—working as a singer and DJ in China, Vietnam, the Maldives and Thailand—helped reinforce her view that music communicates emotion even when words fall short.
She contrasted classical music’s emphasis on precision with jazz’s focus on interpretation, noting that no two performances of the same standard are identical because phrasing, rhythm and even silence between notes change in the moment. Quoting trumpeter Miles Davis, she added, “Don’t fear mistakes, there are none.”
The musical selections ranged from enduring standards to modern jazz. The program included “My Funny Valentine,” a saxophone feature on “Georgia on My Mind,” and Esperanza Spalding’s “I Know You Know,” which Marina introduced as light and full of personality. Bruce later joined Marina for “Unforgettable,” then sang “The Way You Look Tonight” before the trio closed with “What a Wonderful World,” inviting the audience to sing along.
During the set, Marina highlighted how a saxophone can “sound like a human voice,” saying instrumental solos can convey feelings beyond words. She also encouraged anyone interested in learning to explore music as a language, noting that she teaches vocal coaching while Arty offers saxophone and music theory instruction.
Bruce shared a personal note with the club, explaining he returned to singing after a 45-year break. Since moving to Jomtien and Pattaya two years ago, he said, he began sitting in with local Filipino bands to practice and improve—an experience he called a unique opportunity for music lovers in the area. He credited his weekly trio performances with Marina and Arty as a highlight of his renewed connection to music.
At the conclusion, MC Ren Lexander thanked the performers for what he called the club’s first “jazz morning,” presenting Certificates of appreciation and suggesting a possible future session featuring additional jazz vocalist Coco. Marina also invited attendees to catch the trio’s weekly Tuesday performances at Harry’s Bar on Soi Buakhao and to follow their social media announcements for upcoming local music events.
MC Ren Lexander then brought everyone up to date on upcoming Club events. This was followed by the Open Forum where questions are asked and comments made about Expat living in Thailand. To learn more about the PCEC, visit their website at https:/pcec.club. To view the videos of the presentation, visit the PCEC’s YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOVrQIyH6Hc.
