ETHNO JAZZ WITH A TWIST AT BORNEO JAZZ

Kuching, Monday–YK Samarinda is an ethnic jazz band from East Kalimantan who started out as a fusion jazz band and eventually made and combined ethnic songs of Kalimantan in jazz rhythm.

The YK Band is a quartet from Samarinda whose music is an unique blend of Indonesian Borneo tunes built into western jazz techniques and improvisation. Yusuf and King formed the band in 2003 when they established some projects of ethnic songs. In 2005, the keyboardist and studio arranger Yin joined the group and later on Thrash Metal drummer Avant joined, which resulted in the group growing bigger.

In 2013, Avant decided to go for a solo career, and M. Iqbal came to join the YK band. Since then the band has found more groove and has showed impressive performances at the Java Jazz festival in Jakarta and the Mahakam Jazz Fiesta in Samarinda.

Come and see them at the Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 on Saturday, 10 May in Miri, Sarawak and enjoy their South East Asian ethno jazz with a twist.

DJ Roundhead spinning at Borneo Jazz Festival 2014

KUCHING, Friday – The Malaysian famous DJ Roundhead has been added to the Borneo Jazz main program performing both nights on the 9 and 10 May 2014. The 9^th edition of Borneo Jazz will dedicate a special DJ slot right after the main stage show each night held at the Pavilion, Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri, Sarawak.

Crowned as the ‘Malaysia DJ Champion’ 3 years in a row when he entered the Malaysian DJ Championship competition from 1995-1997, DJ Roundhead has recorded a long history in the Malaysian music industry with accumulation of at least 20 years performing as a DJ. Among the best moment in his artistic career is representing Malaysia in the Rotterdam Love Parade in the Netherlands for a crowd of 10,000 strong on a 34 wheel trailer while proudly flying the Malaysian flag in front of his console. He also has served as a DJ residency in Melbourne, Australia for a year before returning to Malaysia and currently attached fulltime to TraxxFM in Kuala Lumpur. Roundhead was the producer, composer and the song writer for Malaysia’s very first techno group Asian Tech for Sony Music Malaysia in 1994.

He started career with humble beginnings but at the peak of his career, he never considered himself a celebrity. His passion is music so when he was in high school, he would work part-time jobs during the weekend just to blow it all away on CD's and records. That made him the "go-to-guy" when it came to house parties from high school all the way to college. Roundhead would bring his own player and set up his own mini console and rock the crowd at the party. He did it for free of course, but only after college he join a company during the 90's called Clubworld Entertainment that supplied DJ's to entertainment outlets around Malaysia, where then only he started his professional training.

Explaining on his early passions and influences, Roundhead stressed that he was heavily influenced by the styles and technique of DJ Jazzy Jeff, DJ Terminator-X, DJ Rob Base, Jam Master Jay when it came to hip-hop and Frankie Knuckles, Masters at Work, Armand Van Helden and CJ Mackintosh when it came to dance music.

Sarawak Tourism Board, the organizer of Borneo Jazz has added value to the programme format this year by adding a Club Set with DJ Roundhead after the nightly stage shows. Although the organiser encourage the public to come to the 2-nights festival, those who are only able to attend the clubset will be allowed in after midnight at a cover charge of only RM10.

Eight international bands has been confirmed for this year’s festival. Program detail as well as the pre-sale promotional tickets to Borneo Jazz are still available online at www.jazzborneo.com .

Volunteering is Enriching

KUCHING, Monday – Outside of prize winning or free tickets to the festival, there is one reasonable option available to all music fans; volunteering. It’s not wrong to enjoy free music this way, but doing something you’d love, the money will seem less relevant.

For the next two weeks to come at the Borneo Jazz, Rose Au has embarked on the sixth year as a volunteer. She not only did this in Miri for the Borneo Jazz but Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching has also become her playground during Rainforest World Music Festival.

Really feel glad to be called back to help Borneo Jazz again this year and Rose will always make a return every year, for the love of this wonderful Jazz event that she has contributed in building from scratch in Miri.

Retired lawyer, but now teaching tour-guides, Rose Au Nyat Jun or Rose Au as she is usually known really enjoys doing things she loves. She found volunteering work as something that is very interesting to do in life.

“Volunteering is enriching, being given an opportunity to learn new skills, share and train first time volunteers. Not all paid jobs are necessarily fun jobs, volunteering is unique, rewarding to be part of Borneo Jazz - our State’s growing festivals”, says Rose.

Rose has been freelancing as a DJ with Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) for 20 years and used to present “Just Jazz” with RTM for many years. She’s been in the tourism-related industry for 13 years and it naturally follows that she loves to be involved in tourism. During Borneo Jazz, she will be assigned as the liaison officer to the performing bands normally of a foreign country. Very familiar with Sarawak’s tourism product is an added advantage to her task, as she can play well the part of an Ambassador for the state tourism.

“Music lovers should come over to Miri next month. Borneo Jazz offers a very charming ambience, beautiful garden setting, people are ever ready to help and there is good food. Not many places in the region have such mixes!, she added.

Borneo Jazz is organized by Sarawak Tourism Board. The volunteer program at the festival provides a learning platform for all the volunteers. Although ideal attributes will vary from role to role, all volunteers must be able to conduct themselves in line with the Festival’s core values, which is integrity and teamwork.

Running over the weekend 9-10 May at the Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri, Borneo Jazz promises two days of fine jazz music with great food and a craft bazaar at a very beautiful beach resort ambience. The festival will be featuring bands from countries never featured before and also bands having repertoires that are unique. The performing bands will cover a wide range of jazz influences with participating jazz bands from Georgia, Germany, Cuba, Martinique, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Malaysia as well as Sarawak’s own jazz artist who has established well in the music circuit in China.

Pre-sale promotional tickets are still available at only RM50 for adult single entry and RM95 for a 2-day pass. This offer is valid until 8^th May and can be purchase online at www.jazzborneo.com . Child ticket promotional offer is only RM25 and RM45 for a 2-day pass. After the promotional period, door sale tickets will be RM70 for a day adult pass and RM130 for a 2-day pass. Children tickets at the gate will be RM30 for a day and RM50 for 2 days.

Rose Au

Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 - Performers Line Up

This blog post will focus more on the performers of Borneo Jazz Festival 2014.

Every year, this festival attracts local and international acts. This year is no different. So far, 7 performers was announced and I'm not sure whether there will be more performers added into the list soon.

So, the 7 performers are, JunkOFunc (Malaysia), Vocal Sampling (Cuba), Brassballett (Germany), Anthony Strong (U.K), Mario Canonge (Martinique), Iriao (Georgia) and Diana Liu (Malaysia). So, there you go, 7 line ups of the jazz festival.

Quick review of the performers :

1. JunkOFunc of Malaysia.

A band made of 12 members (a large band indeed). The first debut of this band is on 2008 at Genting Internation Jazz Festival. Their genre is funk/soul with the powerful gospel influenced voice of Elvira Arul and Russel Curtis.

2. Vocal Sampling of Cuba.

All male a cappella group. The members are Rene Baños Pascual, Pedro Bernard Coto, Reinaldo Sanler Maseda, Oscar Porro Jimenez, Hector Crespo Enriquez and Luis Alzaga Mora. Founded on 20th December 1989, most of their music style are based on the rhythms of Cuban music.

Heard their music online and trust me, it will make you move.

3. Brassballet of Germany.

Before I begin, after reading their bio at their website http://www.brassballett.com/, I go WOW!!

What can I say about this band. They claim that their name is not just a band's name but a musical revolution. They play music fuses with dances style like hip hop, salsa, street dance and etc. A must see act at Borneo Jazz Festival.

4. Anthony Strong of U.K

A man that has been claim as England new jazz superstar. Read about his bio and comments of other superstars are like "F**king amazing - Rod Stewart". Now, when an artist received such comment from a legend in the industry, he must be good, really good. Another must-see act people!

If you don't believe me, here's the link to his website and go check it out!

http://www.anthonystrong.co.uk/index.html

 5. Mario Canonge of Martinique

A pianist held from Martinique. He's been playing since he was at the age of 10. After watching his video in youtube, I find his music is calming. The kind of music that you would listen during your Sunday afternoon drive or just chilling. Beautiful, smoothing and calming. That is how I describe his music. Looking forward for his performance at Borneo Jazz Festival 2014.

Below is the link to his website:

http://www.mariocanonge.net/en/musique.html



6.  Iriao of Georgia

Name Iriao comes from the common phrase “Iriao-uruao” of the famous Georgian jodling singing style ” Krimanchuli”.

Iriao’s repertoire is based on Georgian authentic folk instrumental and polyphonic music, which has been recognized by UNESCO as being a masterpiece of oral immaterial heritage.  However, the band is not aiming to modernize the unique Georgian polyphony music, but to saturate and adorn it with jazz elements.

7. Diana Liu of Malaysia

Diana Liu, one of Malaysia’s most celebrated jazz musicians.  Her latest collection of songs treats listeners to a fresh burst of original and upbeat sound, bringing together Diana’s various musical influences in pop, jazz, bossa nova, funk/soul, gospel and experimental music.

You can also checkout her website at http://dianaliuwy.weebly.com/