All posts by Qistina

A rich blend of young and old lay the foundations for the widely successful Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival 2015.

Held at University Malaya, a plethora of experienced jazz impresarios arrived in Kuala Lumpur featuring some new and returning faces.

Around 4,000 people had the pleasure of witnessing debutants Benito Gonzalez, Chieli Minucci and headline performer Eric Wyatt display the talent that sees them widely celebrated in many corners of the globe over a highly-illustrious weekend.

Returning performers included composer Patrick Terbrack (tutor of Thursday night’s UiTM jazz ensemble) and hugely popular Ezra Brown, both of whom have featured consecutively since inauguration.

It was an exuberant opening to the fourth Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival as friends and family convened to relive famed compositions of the legendary Alfonso Soliano.

The maiden concert organised by the related Guerzo and Soliano families in honour of their inspiring ancestor was supported by Bizhu, Lokman Aslam and Datin Paduka Julie Sudiro.

In a fitting tribute to remember the great Soliano 25 years on since his passing, jazz enthusiasts gathered at University Malaya’s Experimental Theatre to take in the evening’s sublime tapestry of jazz excellence.

Commencing the show were the UiTM jazz ensemble introducing saxophone virtuoso Armand Malik to the festival. The Kuching-born student, 19, raised the bar in his performance calling it a “touching experience” to open the night dedicated to Soliano.

Renowned Jazz guitarist and tutor at ACM, Carl Orr was joined by ACM Performance School Alumni James Paton (Drums) and Joe Downard (Bass Guitar) at the recent International Jazz Festival in Kuala Lumpur.

The event which took place in September, saw Carl and his band – which included keyboardist Bill Mudge – perform alongside a number of internationally renowned and local headline artists from the world of jazz and experience jazz on the other side of the world.

The annual festival (which has four indoor and outdoor stages) brings together the best in jazz where all forms of this genre including contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, straight ahead jazz, classic jazz, jazz – rock, r&b, swing, funk, classic rock and blues converge!

Opening day of the 3rd KL International Jazz and Arts Festival at Universiti Malaya welcomed 2,000 fans, especially expatriates. Over 100 musicians from North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore and Indonesia had arrived to perform.

Malaysian musicians included the KL Jazz Project, UiTM Jazz Ensemble and UM Big Bang.

The top-billing artistes were Grammy-nominated John Beasley, Grammy award-winning vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur and LA-based guitarist Jeff Kollman.

MORE than 100 musicians from North America, Europe, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia will converge at University Malaya in Kuala Lumpur for the third edition of the KL International Jazz & Arts Festival (KLIJAF) this weekend.

It is organised by KL International Jazz Festival and Asia World Events in collaboration with University Malaya and sponsored by Malaysia Airlines and AmBank Group. Supported by Visit KL and Kuala Lumpur City Hall, its patron is KL Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib.

KLIJAF aims to be a major music and arts event and a tourist draw for the city. Started in 2012, it is a signature event where contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, straight ahead jazz, classic jazz, jazz-rock, R&B, swing, funk, classic rock and blues converge.

A slew of international acts confirmed for the Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival, happening next weekend.

IT’S going to be one big carnival when the second Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival (KLIJF) takes place at the Universiti Malaya grounds on Sept 14.

Jazz aficionados can expect a convergence of contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, straight ahead jazz, classic jazz, jazz rock, R&B, swing, funk, classic rock and blues. More than 100 musicians are expected to perform at the annual event, billed as Malaysia’s biggest jazz festival.

Headliners at the festival are contemporary jazz guitarist and Grammy-award winner Lee Ritenour, and alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, who has been creating ripples in the scene with his brand of fusion jazz.

While Ritenour needs no introduction, Mahanthappa is an Italian-born, Canadian-raised, US-residing Indian musician who mixes various genres of music (predominantly Indian) and combines them with the language of jazz to create new form, which is still recognisably jazz.

Other international acts slated to perform at the one day event include saxophonist Jessy J, ex-Billy Cobham guitarist Carl Orr from London; progressive jazz rock fusion groups The Subterraneans from Sydney and Kazutoki Umezu Kiki Band from Tokyo; R&B musician eZra Brown from New York and South African vocalist cum songwriter Zamajobe.

Homegrown talents performing include veterans Jose Thomas and Jordan Rivers, who are familiar faces in the industry. Others include Cats In Love, UiTM Jazz Ensemble, UCSI Contemporary Ensemble, Ballads & Blues, John Thomas Trio and John Dip Silas.

One of the festival highlights is a jazz tribute to the legendary P. Ramlee by The UM Big band led by director of Universiti Malaya’s Cultural Centre Professor Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim.

To go with the music, there will be booths offering art exhibits, good food, fashion, eco products, kids zone and a hot air balloon show.

The KLIJF takes place from 11am to midnight on Sept 14. Festival Village entry tickets are priced at RM60 while All Excess tickets start from RM138. All Excess ticket holders are entitled to the village stages as well as all indoor shows at Dewan Tunku Chancellor. Tickets are available from www.tickethotline.com.my or by calling 03-7725 1177. Log on to www.klinternationaljazz.com for more information.