This article is
dedicated to the memory of the late Robin Hugh Gibb, co-founder of the Bee Gees and a huge
part of my childhood memories. Rest in peace, Robin. Heaven must surely be rocking to a disco party now.
FVE Project
image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
First
up to storm the virgin stage were FVE Project (Funky Virus Experiment), a Kuala
Lumpur based experimental band formed in mid 2011 comprising of five fresh,
young musicians, all of whom were independently experienced well before the
band was formed.
Guitarist
Dean Sim performed with pianist Timothy Toh, bassist Feri Lau, drummer Omar
Ibrahim, and smooth crooner Jeffny Kamar who plays saxophone. The crowd cheered
the boys enthusiastically but it came as no surprise that home boy Dean got the
most applause for his blistering solo, as the boy hails from their own turf, Miri.
FVE
Project have performed at various venues and events around Kuala Lumpur as well
as the Ambon Jazz Plus Festival in Indonesia.
SLIXS
image credit: frigglive/Veronica Ng
Next
up was SLIXS, one of Germany’s best vocal ensembles. The six member vocal
ensemble comprises of the phenomenal voice of Katrina Debus, the only woman in
the band; Michael Eimann, the composer and founder of SLIXS, talented singer Gregorio
Hernandez, Karsten Muller and Konrad Zeiner, two men with a rare vocal ability
and of course; Thomas Piontek who blew everybody’s mind with his beat boxing
skills who can create sounds capable of putting a whole orchestra to shame.
Every
song that they performed drove the crowd crazy for more. They covered a number
of hit songs such as TLC’s “Waterfalls”, Prince’s “Sometimes It Snows In April”
and an improvised cover of “Jungle Boogey” that got everybody up and dancing.
Towards
the end, each one of them showcased their fascinating ability to imitate the sounds
of nature. It sounded so real that you would have to witness it to believe it. When
their show ended, Emcee Gerard led everyone in shouting for an encore until the
group members came running back into the spotlight to perform their closing
number.
Nita Aartsen
image credit: frigglive/Veronica Ng
Fast
rising Indonesian star Nita Aartsen is all about the connection between
classical, jazz, a delightful touch of bossa and Latin music. Nita is a gifted
pianist who also sings and she stands out as a music composer. Be it pop, rock,
blues, classical, or any other genre, she breathes soul into it to make it
alive.
On
her website, Nita says “Music is like home to me.. It’s like a dining room
where I have my harmony food, it’s like a bed to lie down and relax my mind
from my restlessness, it’s like a living room where I join my fellow musicians,
and even a spiritual room for my peace and inspiration. Music is also like a
big garden for joy, fun and excitement.”
It
was plain to see that music is everything for Nita, and that was what she gave at
the Borneo Jazz Festival. Her show was thoroughly enjoyed by her audience.
My
favorite had to be “Lullaby of Motherland”, where her forceful Piano playing
weaved skillfully through the pounding bass and hypnotic vocals.
New Cool Collective
image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
Question:
What’s hipper than hip?
Answer : Why the New Cool Collective, of course!
Holland's
sharply dressed 8 piece New Cool Collective are led by renowned Dutch saxophonist
and composer Benjamin Herman. Formed in 1994 from a loose collective of some of
Holland’s finest jazz players, their music is a fresh and visceral mix of
highly danceable soul and jazz, spiced with Latin flavors. Their trademark
power stems from their fiercely grooving rhythm section, complemented by
Herman’s innovative arrangements which fuse big-band horn charts with live
DJ-inspired beats.
As
pioneers of Dutch jazz, the band was long regarded as the ugly duckling of the
scene. Jazz purists found their ‘soul jazz latin flavours nineties vibe’ too
hard and fast. But when a group of younger club goers found their way to Café
Meander where they played regularly, the dam burst. Now everyone loves their
concerts.
As
a drummer myself, I was absolutely blown away by their drummer Joost kroon’s
powerhouse style of drumming. The man is amazing, drumming non stop from start
to finish with a unique minimalist style that is surgically precise and does
not waste a single movement.
Tropic Green
image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
An
8 piece band led by pianist and composer Susan Harmer, Tropic Green’s musicians
are from USA, Japan, Singapore and Cuba — a truly cosmopolitan mix in true
Singapore style, which is where they are based.
Chua
Siong Loo, Regan Wickman (trombone), Brad Swope, Fabian Lim (saxaphone),
Stephen “Mr Sexy Eyes” Rufus, Mario Lopez (percussion), Pablo Calzado from Cuba
(drums), Hiroaki Maekawa (bass).
Their
material is original with captivating and unexpected twists — all written by
Harmer. The fact that the band members have known each other for many years both
as friends and as fellow professional musicians shows in their tight playing
and camaraderie on stage.
In
2011, they were awarded a Singapore International Foundation grant to perform
at Samui International Jazz Festival in Thailand. My favorite number had to be
“Breakfast For Sparrows”
Tangora
image credit: frigglive/Veronica Ng
Bringing
sexy back to Jazz, that’s what French-Italian Annick Tangora is all about. As a
singer, songwriter and composer, Tangora is heavily immersed in the sounds of
the Caribbean and afro-Latin jazz, and mixes a heady cocktail of influences.
Her
songs, sung in Creole, English, Latin and French, are delivered in her sensually
sultry voice. She is backed by a rhythm section of Eric Vincenot, Tony Rabeson
and Jonathan Jurion.
Always
warm, smiling and radiant, Tangora’s songs are odes to love and celebrations of
life, delicate and sensual ballads, poignant messages in a mosaic of colors
that carry the soul of intermingling. She juggles with notes as well as with
words, evoking emotion, mellowness, and intensity that she shares with her
brilliant fellow musicians.
Schalk Joubert and the
three Continents Sextet
mage credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
Schalk
Joubert is a Cape Town born award winning producer, arranger and performer who
plays bass and sings. His Three Continents Sextet totally changed the dynamics
and energy of Borneo Jazz as they entertained with a sophisticated mix of
western and South African jazz.
The
uniqueness of this group is that they are from South Africa, Scandinavia and
the USA - the 3 mega jazz zones in the world. SJ&T3C is made up of new
generation jazz musicians, all schooled in the younger modern jazz scene where
technical ability and inspiration are necessities.
Long
cool Stockholm based lass Karin Hammar plays the trombone but loves Salsa and
Brazilian music as well.
Melissa
van der Spy, long time Schalk associate plays the grand piano and is a composer
in her own right.
I
have seen Oslo based cili padi Shannon Mowday’s amazing alto sax and clarinet
solos before, but she still blew me away again in Borneo, and stole everyone’s
heart with her passion.
Hildegunn
Oiseth is the Norwegian based avant-garde modern jazz trumpetist.
The
super talented Rich Armstrong multi-tasked effortlessly on lead vocals, percussion,
guitar and trumpet, even managing to change his shirt in between playing!
US
based Kevin Gibson on skins completed the band, providing the much needed
rhythm to keep the flow going.
Koh Mr Saxman and
Takeshi Band
image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
Mr
Saxman @ Sekpol Unsamran, has been winning awards for the last two decades. He
started his career when he was 16, and has since performed in over 10 different
countries and recorded 5 solo albums.
Koh
began his professional career in 1989, and later became a member of different bands before he finally formed his own band
called “The Funk Machine Band” playing fusion jazz, funky and pop jazz music
and played in many clubs in Thailand.
He
also performed in hundreds of records, films, television shows and commercial
jingles. On-stage, he is an energetic and captivating musician.
Koh,
his band and guest singer Betty added a mellow and surreal ambiance to Borneo
Jazz, preparing it beautifully for the finale.
The Finale
image credit: Sarawak Tourism Board/Pein Lee
The
festival’s finale was as enchanting as it was exhilarating. In a brilliant
move, Mr Saxman pulled Shannon Mowday back on stage!
The
two then proceeded to duet much to the excitement of the crowd. A warm
synchronization between Koh and Mowday produced a tranquil and heart-warming ambiance
that left the audience wanting more.
What
a fitting end to The Borneo Jazz festival 2012 amid thunderous applause, gorgeous
music and great company.
