[AS PUBLISHED IN MALAY MAIL]
Raise your trumpets
By Jordan Barnes and Gwen Manickam
THE jazz scene in Malaysia is brimming with verve, young talent and a kick like no other in the region, according to local musicians and jazz aficionados.
Eminent pianist Michael Veerapen said the community is thriving and the country’s music industry is better for it.
“The role of jazz is like a gym to an athlete. Jazz improves you as a musician. Our top musicians playing all over the world are trained in the gym of jazz.”
The Seremban native said the stages of popular jazz haunts, including No Black Tie and Alexis Bistro in Kuala Lumpur, are essential to the progress of up-and-coming artistes.
“We have a very good relationship with clubs. It’s win-win for both. They have a lot of customers who enjoy live music and we have a lot of musicians.
“Kuala Lumpur is very fortunate to have these places to play. Look at our neighbour Bangkok; huge city, phenomenal musicians but no place to play.
“It’s the same in Singapore, Jakarta and Manila,” said Veerapen, a professional musician since he was in Form Five.
“Kuala Lumpur is the only place to get high-quality jazz every weekend.”
He added unlike others in the region, Malaysia has had a jazz identity since the 1950s thanks to Alfonso Soliano and Jimmy Boyle.
This weekend and the next will see hundreds of musicians continue their good work, bringing venues across the Klang Valley to life with the beat and swing of the celebrated genre in conjunction with Unesco International Jazz Day.
One of them is Isabella Soliano, who has been performing since she was 19. The Soliano children (and now their children) have continued their late father’s musical legacy, entertaining local music lovers with their brand of jazz standards and pop tunes.
Isabella, who will star alongside Don Guerzo and others at the KL Jazz Club in Universiti Malaya tomorrow, said as musicians, the family is always exploring new areas, while recognising the greater significance of sustaining the Soliano legacy.
“Initially we didn’t see the importance of playing his music because we wanted to play our own.
“But as years went by, we found his music to be more and more interesting.”
She added Soliano’s greatest contribution to the nation is his music compositions.
Festivals have become the cornerstone of any successful showcase in the country.
After pulling some 24,000 revellers to Dataran Merdeka last year, the World Youth Jazz Festival will take place at TREC, Kuala Lumpur from May 5 to 7. Admission is free.
The event was founded by jazz enthusiast and impresario Datuk Nik A. Azmi.
“It provides a platform for young musicians to be discovered and I also teach them how to manage themselves.
“Many don’t have the luxury of earning money, so I guide them on to how to drive their passion.”
It is a truth commonly acknowledged that the life of a jazz artiste is musically rich but not necessarily financial-wise.
The same goes for organisers. Despite support from Kuala Lumpur City Hall for the festival, a cut in the arts budget from RM25 million to a mere RM3 million means Nik has had to downsize this year’s edition.
Funding for the festival is only 25 per cent of what was received last year.
“If we cannot raise enough funds, I am prepared to stand alone on an apple box, declaring the festival open, strum a note on the guitar and close the festival.
“It will go down in history as the shortest festival ever, but at least I will not break the chain,” he said in jest.
Raise your trumpets
By Jordan Barnes and Gwen Manickam
THE jazz scene in Malaysia is brimming with verve, young talent and a kick like no other in the region, according to local musicians and jazz aficionados.
Eminent pianist Michael Veerapen said the community is thriving and the country’s music industry is better for it.
“The role of jazz is like a gym to an athlete. Jazz improves you as a musician. Our top musicians playing all over the world are trained in the gym of jazz.”
The Seremban native said the stages of popular jazz haunts, including No Black Tie and Alexis Bistro in Kuala Lumpur, are essential to the progress of up-and-coming artistes.
“We have a very good relationship with clubs. It’s win-win for both. They have a lot of customers who enjoy live music and we have a lot of musicians.
“Kuala Lumpur is very fortunate to have these places to play. Look at our neighbour Bangkok; huge city, phenomenal musicians but no place to play.
“It’s the same in Singapore, Jakarta and Manila,” said Veerapen, a professional musician since he was in Form Five.
“Kuala Lumpur is the only place to get high-quality jazz every weekend.”
He added unlike others in the region, Malaysia has had a jazz identity since the 1950s thanks to Alfonso Soliano and Jimmy Boyle.
This weekend and the next will see hundreds of musicians continue their good work, bringing venues across the Klang Valley to life with the beat and swing of the celebrated genre in conjunction with Unesco International Jazz Day.
One of them is Isabella Soliano, who has been performing since she was 19. The Soliano children (and now their children) have continued their late father’s musical legacy, entertaining local music lovers with their brand of jazz standards and pop tunes.
Isabella, who will star alongside Don Guerzo and others at the KL Jazz Club in Universiti Malaya tomorrow, said as musicians, the family is always exploring new areas, while recognising the greater significance of sustaining the Soliano legacy.
“Initially we didn’t see the importance of playing his music because we wanted to play our own.
“But as years went by, we found his music to be more and more interesting.”
She added Soliano’s greatest contribution to the nation is his music compositions.
Festivals have become the cornerstone of any successful showcase in the country.
After pulling some 24,000 revellers to Dataran Merdeka last year, the World Youth Jazz Festival will take place at TREC, Kuala Lumpur from May 5 to 7. Admission is free.
The event was founded by jazz enthusiast and impresario Datuk Nik A. Azmi.
“It provides a platform for young musicians to be discovered and I also teach them how to manage themselves.
“Many don’t have the luxury of earning money, so I guide them on to how to drive their passion.”
It is a truth commonly acknowledged that the life of a jazz artiste is musically rich but not necessarily financial-wise.
The same goes for organisers. Despite support from Kuala Lumpur City Hall for the festival, a cut in the arts budget from RM25 million to a mere RM3 million means Nik has had to downsize this year’s edition.
Funding for the festival is only 25 per cent of what was received last year.
“If we cannot raise enough funds, I am prepared to stand alone on an apple box, declaring the festival open, strum a note on the guitar and close the festival.
“It will go down in history as the shortest festival ever, but at least I will not break the chain,” he said in jest.
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