There could not have been a more
meaningful opening to the fourth Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival (KLIJF)
at University Malaya than the tribute to the legendary Alfonso Soliano.
25
years after his passing, his grand-daughter Rachel Guerzo, her brothers Don,
Diosdado and Daniel together Lokman Aslam, Bihzu and Datin Paduka Julie Sudiro paid
loving musical tribute to Alfonso.
Not to be outdone, Irene, Isabella, Connie,
Valentino, Rizal, Tristano and Salvador Guerzo (The Solianos) also appeared onstage
with a plethora of musical instruments to pay their personal tribute to
Alfonso. What a multi-talented and artistically blessed this extended musical family
is.
for more on Alfonso Soliano, click here
Since its inception KLIJF has grown
from strength to strength, increasingly attracting a younger audience
particularly Malaysian music students not only hungry for great jazz but eager
to play it themselves.
The fourth KLIJF brought in 30 acts
from all over the world to turn KL into a throbbing jazz hub for the weekend and
entertained an estimated 4,000 people over four-days with the rare sensory
pleasure of watching world greats like Eric Wyatt (New York based Saxophonist)
for more on Eric, click here
Ezra Brown (Saxophone, keyboards, music director and arranger)
for more on Ezra, click here
Benito Gonzalez (Venezuelan jazz
pianist)
for more on Benito, click here
Chieli Minucci (American adult
contemporary, smooth jazz guitarist, composer, music producer, and arranger)
with his band Special Efx
for more on Chieli, click here
The Frederik Koster Quartet (German group
consisting of Frederick Köster on trumpet, Matthias Akeo Nowak on bass, Ralf
Gessler on drums and Tobias Hoffman on guitar)
for more on Frederick, click here
Tizer (American composer Lao Tizer on keyboards,
drummer/percussionist Raul Pineda, multi-instrumentalist Steve Nieves and bassist
Rufus Philpot)
for more on Tizer, click here
As KLIJF’s main focus has always been on
John Coltrane, one of the most cited influences in jazz history, the festival naturally
culminated with the John Coltrane All Stars Band, fronted by Wyatt, supported
by Gonzalez, Eddie Layman, bassist Christy Smith, Terbrack and Armand Malik.
In closing, Eric Wyatt said it best
when he enthused “Credit to the KLIJF organizers who’ve got a lot of respect
from the young musicians here”
Each artiste went on to praise festival
organizer Rodin JS Kumar for his initiative to hold the event at the prestigious
Dewan Tunku Chancellor in University Malaya as this provided a channel for
young aspiring musicians see, hear and meet prominent figures of the jazz culture
worldwide.
Understandably, festival co-founder
Maizon Omar was happy that their main responsibility to present world class
jazz performances coupled with great sound and clear visibility was a
resounding success, calling KLIJF 2015 “A distinctively great melting pot of
jazz”
Indeed, Rodin and Maizon have consistently
pulled off amazingly successful KLIJF not once but four times now, and we wish
them continued success for many more to come.
If there was one bug in the ointment
it was this - our thoroughly enjoyable time spent with Jazz luminaries was
somewhat numbed by the arctic force air conditioning of the Dewan Tunku Chancellor.
We’ll remember to bring our winter jackets next year.
