Monday, May 13, 2013

Day 1: Borneo Jazz Festival 2013, 10-11 May


FIRST and foremost I would like to give a big heads-up and Thank You to SARAWAK TOURISM BOARD for inviting me again to cover this wonderful event under SARAWAK BLOGGERS! Three years running covering the event, and I'm already looking for more years ahead to great Jazz music and an awesome celebration!

It was another year in the waiting, a few preparations needed to be done, but its finally here again! Its the Borneo Jazz Festival 2013! The one and exclusive event held yearly, only held in Miri SARAWAK. The venue of course has always been at ParkCity Everly Hotel's beautiful beach side! And just like last year I came rumbling to the event on the Honda Shadow 1100cc with its Vance And Hines pipes! If you see a candy red and white cruiser, for sure I'm in the vicinity somewhere!

Just like last year, the opening act was done by the Chung Hua Miri Marching Band and as before they gave a stellar performance to start of the night. My favorite has always been when they played the Pink Panther song, and I wasn't disappointed!

WEST JAZZ BAND (MALAYSIA)

A talented foundation and a special gift only from Sarawak! They play every thing from Swing to Latin to electrifying Funk. Founded by Eugene Clifford and Sahfri bin Mustapha. Made from all walks of life and united together to share the love and passion for music.
(excerpts from Borneo Jazz 2013 leaflet)

West Jazz Band, first performance of tonight! A Sarawakian band, their music a mixture of various ethnic cultures in Sarawak! A cultural treat for our visitors from out of town, who came down (again?) to experience a weekend of Jazz music! Their music choice taken from local evergreen songs remade and remixed into a sort of fusion ethnic jazz. With the distinct sound of the clarinet used in a traditional ngajat song which makes a very nice closer for the first group performance tonight!

LISA YOUNG QUARTET (AUSTRALIA)

The award winning Lisa Young Quartet ('Bell Awards' Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album), is well known to Jazz and World Music listeners as an ensemble of creative improvisers incorporating Indian and African elements in their work.
(excerpts from Borneo Jazz 2013 leaflet)

Lisa Young Quartet from Australia was the second group performing tonight. An award winning group, their music is an ensemble of Indian and African elements very prominent in their performance especially by the vocalist Lisa Young herself. Their performance with a mesmerizing Indian inspired number! Applause!

Continue reading (Incl. Pics & Vids) at: Day 1: Borneo Jazz Festival 2013, 10-11 May
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