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Miri, 9 May 2008 - Miri International Jazz Festival 2008 kicked off for the third time with a blast tonight at Parkcity Everly Hotel. For the next couple of days, the peaceful town of Miri is transformed to be the hub of all things jazzy as people from different cultures and backgrounds come together, united by their love for great music and a rollicking good time.
And a rollicking good time the audience and performers alike had that night, too. A total of 2,500 people turned up tonight – a massive increase from the 1,500 visitors of last year’s festival. Gracing the event (a brainchild of Gracie Geikie, CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board) was Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib, Sarawak’s Deputy Chief Minister YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, Assistant Minister of Tourism Sarawak Hamden Ahmad and Assistant Minister of Infrastructure, Development and Communication Sarawak YB Dr. Lee Kim Shin.
The celebrative atmosphere all over the festival grounds and pavilion was thick. When Mood Indigo of UK took stage, cheers abounded even before they began their act. Will Grealish belted out his stuff vocally (and sounding uncannily like Tony Bennett), supported by his talented 5-piece band members and paid great tribute to the jazz sounds from the 1930’s to 1940’s, which is the focus of their group. They performed a total of 12 tunes by jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Billie Holliday in their 1-hour slot, much to the delight of jazz and other music genre fans.
Marco Anderson, one of the band members is passionate about reintroducing the roots of jazz music, which is actually pop music in its day to the world, especially the youth. “The word ‘Jazz’ means so many things to so many people. In Mood Indigo it is very specific to the era of 30’s and 40’s. The great thing about being in an international festival such as MIJF is being able to see how great jazz musicians took that take the timeless music apart and make it their own, representing it in a new style just like the innovative band Oma Sound of Japan,” he said.
Next in line was the band from Down Under, Diamond Dave and The Doodaddies, an energetic 4-piece band who got the audience swaying with their Chicago-style blues jazz. and splendid harmonica playing. They garnered quite a number of new fans who heard their music for the first time due to what seems to be effortlessly outstanding performance - they made it seem so fun! This is their second time in Malaysia as they performed in Genting Highlands last month. Still, they were all agog over Miri.
“The Miri crowd is fantastically enthusiastic and we perform so well because they are physically close to us in the Pavilion. We feed on their positive energy, you know? And we love performing so near the beachfront!” raved the two Daves of the band. “It’s a totally different experience from Gentings - which was a grand affair. Miri’s an amazing and cosy town!”
Making their comeback this year due to popular demand, the 5-member band Habana Sax were greeted with enthusiastic shrieks by the crowd which contained some their fans of last year. This suave and smooth group charmed the audience with their well-choreographed moves, Cuban and Latin jazz, African tunes and even rap, Latino-style. Oozing with superb showmanship - the speed at which each member change from one musical instrument to another was dizzying - they had such a rousing reception that they kept on performing number after number well above their allotted time and the audience kept clamoring for more. It’s so easy to see why they were last year’s favourite band. They certainly did their best to garner the popularity votes this year so that they can come back to Miri a third time.
“I love Habana Sax!” enthused Edwin Punselie, an expatriate who hails from Holland. “And I think that Miri International Jazz Festival is the best gig of the year. I’m so happy that my fellow countrymen (T’Inventielke) are also performing this year and I’ll be sure to say hello to them.”
T’Inventielke (pronounced as 'Invent-til-kay'), a lively 14-piece band from Holland and comprising of a group of friends jamming together over the years (youngest member is 16 and the oldest is 55) marched across the extensive festival grounds during performance breaks, making invigorating music under the stars. It was the first time ever that Miri International Jazz Festival had a marching band on-board and the crowds were thrilled and trailed after them wherever they went.
Oma Sound was the last band to perform tonight and they were a source of inspiration to hard-core jazz fans with their funky, out-of-this-world brand of jazz. The Oma Sound members were unbelievably good and so into their music, it’s scary. Not being fluent in English, they let their music speak for itself and the audience was hooked. You'll understand why when you hear how they transformed a simple tune like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to a full-fledged pulsating and futuristic jazz orchestra piece. It was also fascinating to watch the sprightly and brightly attired in a fitted checkered cardigan and metallic flared pants 75-year old bassist Isao Suzuki perform and lead the band.
He fell in love with jazz when he attended a Louis Armstrong’s concert in Japan many years back when he was a lad. “When his exceptionally talented bassist looked right at me and smiled, I was so touched that I cried. It was then that I decided to be a bassist,” he said (with the aid of a translator) with a cheerful smile.
The performing bands are also selling their CDs at the many stalls set up all over the festival grounds, alongside with food and crafts stalls. Even Coffee Bean was there for the pleasure of gourmet coffee lovers.
Amanda Rudang, a local was completely bowled over by Miri International Jazz Festival. “This is my first visit and I was expecting a stadium-like concert. What I got instead was such a happening ‘carnival’ type of affair where everyone can just hang loose, and be themselves. And don't get me started on the awesome performers! I’m definitely coming again tomorrow night!”
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3. Sarawak expands WiFi coverage
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