Genting Jazz Festival 2008 (part 2 of 2)

This is the last part of my two part review of the Genting Jazz Festival 2008. (Read the first part here).
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Let me continue with my pawikan awards (eh?):

Best keyboard duel: Mario Canonge on the piano vs Tangora's Hammond organist. It's a pity I didn't get the organist's name-- whenever he'd turn on the volume and hit the big chords on the Hammond it was just so grand! And Mario, oh Mario! After he played, I'm sure you could light a cigarette on the piano strings because they'd be smoking hot!

Hottest female performer - This is without a doubt petite South African saxophonist Shannon Mowday (Here's an interview of her)! Her skirt and boots outfit, fantastic hairdo and subtle dance moves-- so cute!!! Coming in a close second is uber-tall Karin Hammar, trombonist from Sweden. (Here's a sample video of her playing.) How many female trombonists do you know?

Most unexpected song - This would have to be Singapore's acapella band, Key Elements and their version of the theme from Spiderman. Plus points to the sounds effects (BIFF! BAM!) and their quaint choreography! (Video courtesy of earthxavier below.)

Best on-stage chemistry and crowd favorite - Neanders Jazz Band from Denmark. Their big band old-sk00l New Orleans blues got my head bobbing. Their on-stage antics were very endearing, reminded me of daddies having fun.

They got the most awwws and cheers when Neander Kristensen channeled Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World' (video below) in their encore performance. When the audience started singing the chorus to the song, that's when I thought-- hey these Malaysians are really getting into it!

Best bassist - Definitely Schalk Joubert! Check out his solo below. Pay attention between the 7th and 8th second when he sticks his finger in his mouth to make a small pop! to punctuate his music. Yeah!


Best dressed band - These would have to be the boys from Jazz Jamaica. Skinny neckties, leather beret, the well tailored pants and heartthrob Kevin-Federline-look-alike drummer (with diamond stud earring!).

Conclusion: 5/5
Five pawikan points! Minus points because the alcohol was expensive. MYR64 for a bucket of five Heineken bottles! Ridiculous!! Bonus points for the impromptu all-star Jam during the last night of the festival. Here's a video courtesy of d7b9. Pay attention to the riff from "Flight of The Bumblebee" at 0:58 which melds into theme from the Flintstones on 1:19 which drew approving roars from the crowd.

I'd definitely be back next year!

Genting International Jazz Festival 2008 (part 1 of 2)

Great selection of top-notch jazz performers, excellent sound engineering and an efficient crew made the 2008 Genting International Jazz Festival a success.

I had the good fortune to attend the International Jazz Festival held at Genting Highlands in Malaysia. Everything was perfect! The efficient crew took only 15 minutes in between sets to setup the stage, the room acoustics was top-notch and the performers-- let's just say that there was a party in my ears and everyone was invited.

For what it's worth, reviewsbyp is awarding errr pawikan awards (eh?) to the performers:

Best solo - Hamilton de Holanda's "Disparada" (full version here) on the 10 string mandolin. Imagine this big guy with a shaved head who looks like Dominic Purcell (from Prison Break) playing an instrument as small as a banduria. His fingers flying through the small fret board, each note ringing true and full of emotion. This alone was worth the MYR112 admission price. more videos here and here.

Best duet - Hamilton de Holanda again on the mandolin with Gabriel Grossi (?) on the chromatic harmonica. This performance gave me goosebumps. (Ang OA ko!) But it's as if both instruments were lovers intertwining.

Strangest Fusion - A cross between salsa and celtic music by Salsa Celtica. (Salsa with bagpipes!) They had an unconventional entrance by walking to the stage from behind the auditorium while playing their celtic tunes. Watch this sample video of Salsa Celtica. Their music was also livened up by the spontaneous dancing of salsa students from Havana E Studio.

Best vocalist - This award definitely goes to Tangora (video below). Her scat improvisations were breathtaking and although I barely understood a word of what she was singing because it was all in French, she just proved that her music could cross languages. She also had the best backup band!

The guy (what's his name?) on the steelpans was amazing. In the first place, I didn't even know what this instrument was! It looks like a giant snare drum, sounds a bit like a xylophone but not quite. Check out a the video of his steel pan solo below taken by earthxavier. (Here's another solo taken by d7b9 at the festival itself.)

I'm also awarding the steel pan guy and Jazz Jamaica trumpeter Abram Wilson the best duel! During the last performance of the festival, a lot of these jazz greats went on stage for a huge jamming session and these two really stood out trying to outdo each other with their riffs.

It started out innocently-- a few bars of the trumpet here, a few bars of the steel pan there; but then it got faster and faster and more intricate and the crowd went on their feet and started cheering!

Who won?

Well, the steelpan guy took the pan off its rack, placed it on the floor and started to spin it like a roulette while playing it. That's badass! And it was beautiful musical mayhem!

I wanted to scream "we're not worthy! we're not worthy!"
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Find out reviewsbyp's sexiest performer, best dressed band, most unexpected song and more-- continue reading the second part of the review...

Robbie Johnson Quartet at the Green Dolphin

"Excuse me waiter, which one is Robbie Johnson?"
"He's the one with the respirator."
I chuckled quietly at what I thought was the South African waiter's funny English. Was he calling the old man's instrument a respirator? Then I looked more closely and I saw the plastic tubes running into the singer's nostrils...
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Some friends and I decided to drop by the famed "Green Dolphin" at the waterfront to catch some live jazz music. We took a table on the second floor overlooking the stage during the night Robbie Johnson Quartet was playing and I had a great view of the action.

Mr Johnson is this old gentleman whose spirit for jazz is far stronger than his failing lungs. He'd bellow out a couple of songs then he'd have to stop and catch his breath. After his set, I started shouting "more!" but my companion told me not to ask for more because he might over-exert himself! He was taking deep breaths and a doctor from the audience went up to ask him if he was alright.

After a 15 minute break, he was back on stage but the piano solos were noticeably longer than his singing. Lots of soul in the performance and I'd definitely be back.

The food is expensive and of average quality. During that night I went, patrons had to order a two-course meal which was a bummer for me because I did not feel like having a big dinner. If you decline, you'd have to sit way behind by the bar where you won't have a view of the band.

Rating:
Four pawikan points. Skip the dinner and come here for the jazz and drinks. I've heard that on some days (Sunday night?), they clear all the tables and replace it with comfy lounging chairs. I can imagine myself sipping an Amarula (with crushed ice) while listening to some excellent jazz.

Abakhaya at Mama Africa, Cape Town

African beats fused with jazz and an unbelievable vocalist who sings in an operatic tenor. It's a voice built for the opera crossed with African chutzpah. (bonus points for the rhyme?)

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My mouth was agape with incredulity. Here was an African man in a sleeveless shirt hopping up and down a makeshift podium made of a pair of overturned plastic coke cases.

I wasn't surprised at the tourists hopping up and down with him and swaying rhythmically as if in a trance. I couldn't help myself either. The playful marimba complemented by the various percussions and jazz trumpeteer was just a rocking good time!

And such a familiar playlist! Sexual Healing, Don't Worry Be Happy, No Woman No Cry, Fallen; these songs were all performed African style with percussions, a killer marimba, trumpet solos topped with an opera-tenor voice and it just worked!

This is a mash-up to end all mash-ups!

I bought a CD from them but sad to say, it's just not the same. Abakhaya has played in many international venues and they are best experienced live.

Anyway let's talk about the food at Mama Africa. Surprise, surprise it is typically African. For starters, try the Snoek pate (ZAR32.5) which is similar to an open-faced tuna sandwich. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, order the wild game mixed grill (ZAR165) that has grilled kudu, ostrich, crocodile and springbok. You've seen them in the wild, now you can eat them.

For dessert, I recommend the banana flame (ZAR37) just for the theatrics. Finally, to top it all off-- order a double Amarula on crushed ice. Yum.

Rating:

Bonus points for the Michael Jackson-esque exclamations of "eeeheee!" (minus crotch grab) that punctuated some of the faster songs! This is a must-see if you're in Cape Town. Visit Mama Africa on Long St. Abakhaya performs during Wednesdays. The place gets packed really quick so make sure you call and reserve a seat.

New music by Josh Verdes

Josh Verdes is a cross between John Mayer and Jack Johnson. Check out my favorite song of his, "Save Me". He's a Fil-American and the performers in the video below are his sister (back-up vocals) and brother (on bass).



If you liked this video, you may also want to check out Happyslip's short "Boypren" which features the song.

Crazy Pianos, Scheveningen

Crazy Pianos by the boulevard at Scheveningen has talented pianists but so-so food.
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Among the many many pubs along Scheveningen, Crazy Pianos is the only one that's got decent live music and is packed late at night.

Every evening there are pairs of keyboardists that entertain the audience by playing requests and making playful banter. It's amusing because the Dutch ask for some pretty strange songs and it's quite an experience to hear Tom Jones' Sex Bomb and the Theme From Baywatch being played on a piano.

My favorite performers are Kevin Owen from Canada and James Byron from UK. They're very good if they manage to finish a song but half the time they're clowning around and trying their hardest to get the audience to sing along.

The food is average but comes in huge portions so sharing is not such a bad idea. A three course dinner costs about EUR20 and I had the tuna appetizer, fried fish over pasta and a berry dessert thingie. Nothing fancy.

Conclusion:3.5/5
Three and a half pawikan points. Minus points for those of us who can't speak Dutch because the performers are bilingual and switch between Dutch and English. It's free entrance before 9pm but the place fills up pretty quickly so if you decide to visit, come early.
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To get here, take tram 9, alight at the Kurhaus stop and walk towards the beach. Crazy Pianos will be along the boulevard.

Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2007

If music were sex then we had exhibitionist pornstars from all over the world and this was their orgy.
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Tickets for the two-day Cape Town International Jazz Fest were sold out! Fortunately we were staying at the same hotel as the artists and we got invited to the free after-party.

The festival itself was just foreplay and this jamming session was the real deal. It began to build up at 1 am to its climax at 4am and wound down just before six.

Just like the best sex, this was much more personal, much more spontaneous, unscripted and full of improvisation. Artists would just come up to the stage, plug in their instrument and started playing. When he got tired and stepped down, someone would nonchalantly fill up his place.

The first couple of hours were dominated by the horns. (Could it be described as horny then?) Trumpets, saxophones, a French horn, wicked electric pianos. There was a rousing Mas Que Nada, a rapper, some lounge singers...

And when the drummers came the audience were voyeurs no more.

They pounded rhythmically, loud, raw muscles on drum skin. It was repetitive, hypnotic and coupled with the chanting and yelling I'd say this was almost spiritual.

Conclusion:4/5
This was my first South African festival (would that make me a Jazz Fest virgin?) and I was duly impressed. Four pawikan points. Plus points to the young trumpeteer who looked like Harry Potter.

Zouk Out 2006 (part 4)

Rating:
This is the last of a four part review. Read about the pre-party in part one,the high guy who ripped his shirt in part two and the sausage fest in part three.
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From the main arena, I switched over to the live stage-- Plain Sunset (also on myspace), a home grown Singaporean band was playing some singable music. Vocalist Jon Chan had a lot of rockstar banter and I think they would be Singapore's answer to Parokya Ni Edgar. They had playful, risqué lyrics such as: We're not made in the USA/we're red and white without the blue.
Cute.

I dunno what the bassist and guitarist were thinking but midway through their set, they stripped down to their boxers.

Ummm. okaaay. Rock on!

I thought I was finally going to get to see an honest to goodness brawl but a couple of seconds after some elbows went a-flying and the mosh-pit went a-moshing, the over-excited auxiliary police stepped in to put some order into the chaos. Boo. It's a freaking rock concert! You don't really expect people to sit and clap politely! (or do you? Sometimes I forget that order is of paramount importance in this part of the world.)

2manydjs
I didn't want to wait for sunrise so I decided to go home after Plain Sunset. On the way out, I passed by Belgian DJs Stephan and David Dewaele spinning on the velvet underground stage. Compared to Steve Lawler, they had more variety and had funky remixes of familiar rock songs. People here were a bit more social with each other as opposed to just bobbing up and down with a hand in the air like mindless drones. So I had to stop and groove a little because the music was finally danceable!

I had to tear myself from this happy place because for sure leaving this island together with thousands others would be a challenge. I had my last look around the beach and got an eyeful: this girl on a chair doubled over throwing up, a threesome asleep on the sand, slippers who lost their feet and in the distance, the subtle dull throb of bass.

The long road home
Going home is a pain. Booking a taxi was impossible so I figured I had to get onto a main road and flag one down. Although there was a free shuttle service from the beach to the harbourfront MRT terminal every 10 minutes, don't count on people keeping their manners when it's 4:30 in the morning, they're tired and just want to go home.

It doesn't matter that some of these folks were fashionable and educated and could afford the $40 entrance fee, $30 slippers and $10 beers-- in the absence of authority figures (and there were none to be seen at the time I was there), it's every man for himself Lord Of The Flies style. Queue to the bus? What queue? As soon as it arrived, semi-pandemonium with pushing and shoving. I was trying to be gracious and let the ladies first but some of the gentlemen used their bulk to bulldoze through.

Paksyet! This hot shuffle definitely was cramping my style. Disgusted at the mob, I calmly stepped back, reached into my bag....

and unwrapped my chocolate bar.

I munched happily along, sighed at this degeneration into chaos (where were the auxiliary police when they're needed?!), lamented about the tragedy of the commons and with a spring in my step, took the leisurely 30 minute walk to a car park where another bus was waiting.

The shuttle ride was eerily quiet. I guess if Zouk Out were sex, this would be the part where you'd take out your cigarette and have a smoke. An ambulance was wangwanging away. Some were barefoot (they lost their slippers) and with it went their sense of humour.

In Conclusion
Three and a half pawikan points. Bonus points for the variety and live jamming but minus points for the hassle on the way home. It's a great party best enjoyed with friends but don't expect to strike conversations with complete strangers here (not unless you're uber friendly or verrry good looking). No pretentious too-cool-for-you attitudes here, just some people looking to enjoy the music and have a good time.

It felt just a wee bit cold though. It doesn't have that warm, fuzzy, peace-love atmosphere of a reggae bar. It felt a little too slick, too engineered, too surgically precise... too perfect. (Heh! What am I complaining about?)

If you like music, you like dancing and have $60 to spare, go to next year's party. If the bouncer doesn't let your chocolate bar in, tell him reviewsbyp sent you wah.

Zouk Out 2006 (part 3)

Rating:
(This is part three. Read about the pre-party in part one and the high guy who ripped his shirt in part two)
***
Four time DJ Awards winner in Ibiza, Steve Lawler was definitely The DJ god tonight. And I make apt references to religion because he wove an almost spiritual musical experience-- people were hardly talking with each other and most were immersed in their own little worlds having private conversations with drum and bass only stopping to raise their hands and whoop whenever Steve Lawler would slip a catchy hook.

(On second thought, this can't be religion because I've never seen this much people in church!)

Steve Lawler's set had repetitive, hypnotic beats; definitely deep, definitely dark but not sexy enough for me. I would have preferred more vocals, more tribal and less progressive but i'm old school. (Music is relative anyway). But if there's one thing I can say without a doubt is that he had the best visuals.

Spinning in front of a giant light wall (check out the video) which was pulsating in perfect time to the music combined with artificial fog and and lasers made for a verrry trippy effect. He put Sentosa's 6pm laser-lights exhibition to shame and made the Merlion's eyes look like puny laser pointers! It seems unfair that the other arenas did not have as much firepower as this one.

Sausage fest!
Oh yeah and back to the ledge-- sad to say, they were all dominated by guys! All shirtless some with chiselled bodies, some rolling with fat, some in tight skimpy swimming trunks but all oily, all sweaty, all beastly. Ugh. Where I come from, only beautiful creatures are supposed to be up on ledges. We want to see soft, flawless beauty-- not hairy, grunting beasts. (I should've asked that bouncer from Cookie to come over and enforce the male:female ratio on the ledge.)

So I started to look around and out of the corner of my eye, I saw some men in boxers on stage and what looked like the beginning of a brawl!

Continue to the last part and read about the bus mob...

Zouk Out 2006 (part 2)

Rating:
(This is part two. Read the first part of Zouk Out 2006 here.)
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Apparently I had stumbled upon the Mambo Jambo arena which explains why they were playing err-- the best of the 80's (yeah baby!). The theme from ghostbusters was a nice touch and I had to resist the urge to do the dance step from the movie (lest I betray that I am a child of the 80's...) So I quickly moved on to the next stage before they decide to play some New Kids On The Block.

The Atmosphere
The Zouk team did a great job of setting up a carnival atmosphere. Tents lined either side of the beach offering the usual suspects: food, drink, henna tattoo, massage, palm reading and trampoline jumping (!). Corporate sponsors Intel, CK, Singnet and Subraru (to name a few) also had booths showcasing their wares. Of course there was also the velvet-roped VIP lounge to remind us that there are people and then there are Very Important People.

I specially liked the fun roving stilt-walkers dressed in funky space-age, superhero and alien costumes. There was also a pair of African-tribe-ish ati-atihanish looking men pounding on drums who would invite you to drum along with them. There was even this Indian gentleman who got so high that he tore his shirt into pieces while grooving to the drumsong. (Plus points for authentic hairy chest).

On to the Live Stage...
Electrico was on stage and finally after so many months here in Singapore, I've heard some serious Singaporean rock! From their name, I figured that they'd be playing electronica but it was old fashioned guitars, drums and keyboards coupled with solid vocals from David Tan.

You know how rock is supposed to provide the soundtrack of your youth? Well my first impression of Electrico is that their songs are hard to become anthems-- you know like Eraserheads' Pare Ko or Rivermaya's Kisapmata? It's definitely rockable but the meaning is hard to understand and don't tell stories that you could relate to. But then again I only heard a 40 minute set and I didn't grow up here so I could be wrong...

After the set, I spied some ledges packed with people so I went over to the main arena where lo and behold-- The DJ Steve Lawler was spinning.

Continue to part three and read about the almost-brawl...