A jazz fiesta
A slew of international acts confirmed for Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival.
IT’S going to be one big carnival when the second Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival (KLIJF) takes place at the Universiti Malaya grounds on Sept 14. Jazz aficionados can expect a convergence of contemporary jazz, smooth jazz, straight ahead jazz, classic jazz, jazz rock, R&B, swing, funk, classic rock and blues. More than 100 musicians are expected to perform at the annual event, billed as Malaysia’s biggest jazz festival.
Headliners at the festival are contemporary jazz guitarist and Grammyaward winner Lee Ritenour, and alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, who has been creating ripples in the scene with his brand of fusion jazz.
While Ritenour needs no introduction, Mahanthappa is an Italian-born, Canadian-raised, US-residing Indian musician who mixes various genres of music (predominantly Indian) and combines them with the language of jazz to create new form, which is still recognisably jazz.
other international acts slated to perform at the one day event include saxophonist Jessy J, ex-Billy Cobham guitarist Carl orr from London; progressive jazz rock fusion groups The Subterraneans from Sydney and Kazutoki Umezu Kiki Band from Tokyo; R&B musician eZra Brown from New York and South African vocalist cum songwriter Zamajobe.
Homegrown talents performing include veterans Jose Thomas and Jordan Rivers, who are familiar faces in the industry. others include Cats In Love, UiTM Jazz Ensemble, UCSI Contemporary Ensemble, Ballads & Blues, John Thomas Trio and John Dip Silas. one of the festival highlights is a jazz tribute to the legendary P. Ramlee by The UM Big band led by director of Universiti Malaya’s Cultural Centre Professor Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim.
To go with the music, there will be booths offering art exhibits, good food, fashion, eco products, kids zone and a hot air balloon show.
The KLIJF takes place from 11am to midnight on Sept 14. Festival Village entry tickets are priced at RM60 while All Excess tickets start from RM138. All Excess ticket holders are entitled to the village stages as well as all indoor shows at Dewan Tunku Chancellor. Tickets are available from www.tickethotline.com. my or by calling (03) 7725 1177. Log on to www.klinternationaljazz.com for more information.