A Jazz Miri-cle!

Well, my overdue write-up on Miri Jazz Festival is here (pics are incoming, so stay tuned to this channel).

Prelude

Just a little foreword, for those who aren't in the know, I was part of the David Gomes Sextet to play at the 2nd Miri International Jazz Festival, last week on the 11th and 12th of May. We were the ONLY band to represent Malaysia in this Festival, and I believe we're all (if not most of us) quite proud of it.

The preparations for our performance in Miri basically took months. Technically we only had 3 major rehearsal sessions (five if you count soundchecks at Top Room), and 2 preview shows at the Top Room. Of course, there's all the other kinds of preparations that took place out of the rehearsal room, such as arranging the music, preparing charts, arranging rehearsal dates (that was a b*tch, I tell ya... or rather, Junji can tell ya!).

For a lot of us, being a part of the festival was quite a big deal... I mean, here we are playing (we were the first band to open the festival, by the way.. how scary is that?) in front of all these cats from other countries like USA, Cuba, Australia, Spain, India and Germany, and Morocco. These cats are musically at the top of their field, and most of us Malaysians are just still trying to catch up. So it was definitely a challenge for us, and it's one that we are glad, and looking forward, to take!

Anyway, here's a chronological account of the trip:

10 May - Thursday

We (the band) basically met up at the LCC-T airport at 6am to check in (most of us still half-asleep somewhat - hello? we jazz musicians are lousy morning people!) the AirAsia flight. Then there was breakfast at McDs (oh by the way, they're serving pancakes now.. yummm!!), and we boarded the plane. Flight was uneventful, thankfully, on the new Airbus-es.. they were quite comfortable... kudos to the pilots, too, for a good take-off and landing. However, stewardesses weren't too great this flight. The flight was 2 hours long, and we got to Miri at about 9.30am.

Welcoming commitee was there to give us a nice (albeit small) welcome, and there was a bus that took us to Parkcity Everly Hotel (the host hotel for the festival), and we basically checked in, and we were all goofing around like we always do. By the way, I had decided to appoint myself official jazz fest videographer (when I'm not playing, that is) for the band during this trip. So, here I was video-shooting anything interesting that I could possibly catch.

Everything was a relaxing breeze after check-in.. we chilled out, then had lunch, and took a trip to Miri town. We began to notice one thing - everyone and everything in Miri is SOOOOO relaxed and laid back (including hotel service, shuttle bus service.. EVERYTHING!). So everything took longer to get... which was a bit of a pain after a while. We had lunch at the hotel coffee-house (that took ages to reach our table), and afterwards we took a hotel shuttle out to town (it came late). We waited more than one hour from the scheduled pick-up time, but the shuttle never returned for us! Bugger. Took a cab back instead.. and it cost RM12 a cab, for less than 15 minutes ride to the hotel! Damn, so expensive!

Most of the artistes were already in Miri since Tuesday, so we were probably one of the last few cats to arrive. We saw some of them at the coffee house, during lunch and dinner, but since we were still "new" around Miri, we didn't get to talk much to them (save some eye contact, a couple of nods), except for one of the German fellas from KCP4.. their tour manager. (He) Broke the ice, by joining our table during dinner, and chatting with us. And one of the other bands, Son2Nos, also starting greeting us, and we reciprocated, of course (we must uphold the "Malaysians are friendly people" mantra, right??).

After adjourning to our rooms, I basically brought my Mac and headed to the lobby to use the Wi-Fi services. Unfortunately I had to deal with the horrible lounge-showband (4 girls and one guy) that was playing there. It was typical - four scantily clad women (I think they were from the Philippines), and one male saxophonist/keyboardist. The sound from the PA system was terribly loud, and the band sounded terrible, with the terrible girl dance and MIDI backup music (commonly downloaded from the Net, most Top 40 bands use them!). And what was funny was one of the trumpet players from one of the jazz fest bands just happily slotted himself there and jammed with them!! He sounded really good, and for him to be so happy to play, even with a sub-standard band, I was amused but also admired his tenacity and humility. But being so used to how hotel bands here play, and being a Malaysian, it's a bit hard for us to do so. Maybe it's just pride, I don't know. But we're definitely not comfortable doing so... unless the band sounded good, then it'll be a different story lah. I might do that overseas, though.. haha, not in Malaysia.

11 May - Friday

We got up in time for breakfast, which was not much of one, the hotel food was really BAD. We also managed to squeeze some gym time, before we met up at David's room for a band discussion and rehearsal.

Just a little gym rant - there was this bloody lady walking on one (of two!) treadmills and reading a bloody newspaper! How bloody indulgent is that? Wanted to take the paper and smack her with it... let people who really NEED to use the treadmill use it lah, for crying out loud!

We stopped the rehearsal to make way for buffet lunch, which was quite bad also, although it was at the chinese restaurant. After lunch banter, we went back to David's room to rehearse some more, until soundcheck time. Soundcheck was alright, although we had some slight problems with the bass frequencies of the hall and stage. We rehearsed a couple of songs some more, and basically went back to our rooms to chill. We slept for a few hours until before standby time.

We met up at David's room, fully dressed in "The David Gomes Jazz Sextet" tee-shirts specially made for us by David and Junji, for a quick band meeting before we headed down to the stage. The Pavillion (a circular hall within the hotel compound) was starting to fill up, and while we were setting up our stuff, we met some familiar faces who came over to chat with us next to the artiste area, before we went up on stage. The lights dimmed to a dark, and the MC kicked off the festival... and announced The David Gomes Jazz Sextet... oh boy! We went up on stage, and I prayed that we would play some good sh*t tonight!

The Music Starts Playin'..

The first song (Just Swinging) started with a drum solo...wait, where's the one?... ah bugger, we missed the entry! Damn, what the hell happened there? At least, the rest of the song turned out okay...pheww!! Wait.. I missed the ending, and to think we practiced that shit so much! Argh!

Turnaround was a bomb, that was fun to play, and Thomas kicked butt.

Entry turned out really nice too, although I thought I could've built it up more. I was trying to set it up for Tom, but the band came in back the intro.. oh well, never mind lah.

Next was Junji's cameo on The Song Is You, that was a real swingin' one.. and Thomas was a killer again on that one!

Swung hard again on Almost Like Being In Love, and everyone danced to the latin/swing Nancy Wilson-version of A Lot Of Living To Do.

Junji went offstage, and we blistered and burnt again on David's Just Around The Corner. Thomas took it on first, and when he finished, I was almost too hesitant to play after him.. he just kicked everyone's butt!

We evened out the mood a little bit with a nice latin-type groove on Blues In Brazil, another original of David's, and it had a nice beachside feel to it.

Next was another burnout tune, another original Fire Within Water, I think we held it together as much as we could.. it was a fast one.. and it was a nice one for me to take out!!

The mood was then broken with David's sweet arrangement of Have You Met Miss Jones, and when David sang, everyone went estatic!!

We ended our show with a nice fast swing, All About Love, and it was a good feel that we ended with... crap, we missed the drum solo entry, what the heck was that?.. and we ended with a bam! That was it... several months of hard work done in EXACTLY one hour! Yeah.. and boy, was I feeling really tired after that! I think a lot of us really played hard!!!

When the music ends... eh, not yet..

After some quick photography sessions, and packing our stuff, we headed to the restaurant for food... nothing like makan after a good gig session! We missed KCP4 though.. bad mistake, no thanks to me and my artful procrastination. The trumpet player, Matthias Schriefl, was a real crazy player... that was the cat jamming with them top40 band fellas.

Anyway, we got back just in time to watch Lluis Coloma's band, with a 4pc sax section.. lots of boogie woogie, blues, and one really nice ballad (there were people actually shhhh-ing noisy fellas during that time!).

Next was the Dirty Dozen Jazz Band - now, these cats really can bring the house down with their music! And, whoever said that the New Orleans-based jazz band only plays funeral music?? Seems to be this thing going around about them being a funeral band? Get real, people! Funerals are one of many events that they play.. and most of the time, N'awlins music in funerals is happy music! No sh*t! I would like some happy jazz played at funeral!! They got everyone dancing on and off stage!! Infectious rhythms, and horn lines! And damn, those horn players sure love to play right up there. Oh, and a notable mention - the sousaphone player was the bomb! Instead of a regular bass player, the sousaphonist took the whole bass part! The cat looks lanky, thin, and I'm sure pretty out there, but when he's on stage, he's blowin' that thang like it ain't nobody's bizness, y'dig?

After the shows, you'd think we'd go back to our rooms and crash? Nawww....ended up at the coffee house, having supper, and the next thing we knew, we were jamming outside the coffee house - David, Junji, myself, David Blenkhorn (from the George Washingmachine Quartet) on acoustic guitar, and Vincent on double bass. Here's a Youtube video of it:



And even after that, Tom and I were up on the stage where the top40 band was playing, along with the horn section from the Dirty Dozen, jamming! Talk about music crazy. And even after THAT, we were sitting down with David Blenkhorn and ET (from DDBB) and jamming some more, with David and Junji singing every song that they could think off. I was also jamming with David and ET at some point too! Nothing like more music to end the night!

Part 2 coming soon...

Read more about it from Junji..

Back and recovering..

Hey all,

I've been back from Miri since Sunday. The experience was nothing short of awesome! I think the band really hit a real high on this one (despite a few snags)... but it was otherwise a pleasant and rockin' at the same time!!

Will blog about it sometime, when I recover a little bit from it! Will try to include some pictures too..

Till then..

Miri here we come!

In a couple of hours, we'll be flying off to Miri for the Miri Jazz Festival. I think it's going to be a fun and exciting show....

Wish us luck!! I'm so nervous... aahhaha.. we'll be the only Malaysian band there! Pray for us to kick some serious butt there!! Woo hooooo...

MIRI HERE WE COME!!!!

YES!!

I got in..!!!

Yes! Yes! YESS!!

NYC.. see you in a coupla months!

How about...

.. some thoughts?

I guess I haven't written much about some of my thoughts in here for quite a while haven't I? After all, it's Julian's HEAD.. not Julian's gigs! LOL. Well, the only reason being... well, I'm quite off the blogging bug these days. I just get so occupied with real-life stuff to sit down and blog about it (although I'm usually blogging real-life stuff, anyway). I'm not a blog-a-holic much, and even less these days. An occasional rant or two is quite fun to write about, though.

... anyway...

Spider-Man 3 and (ugh!) public transport..

I went to watch Spider-Man 3 with my brother last Saturday afternoon at Mid-Valley... one of those rare moments I actually get to spend time with him... and he decided we should take the train. Since the tickets were paid for using the e-payment order online, we didn't have to rush there 45 minutes before the show. I said that driving there would be a better idea than taking the KTM Komuter train. He digressed and said that being a Saturday, it'll mostly like be jammed. But of course, I knew better, being a previously experienced train/public transport rider.

So when we got to the train station, I bought a ticket, and waited for the next train (one left just as we got there). As I looked around the Kajang station, I noticed that nothing much had changed since my train-riding days in '96-'97. Or it did, but it just got worse. The whole place looks more decrepit, and the "Next Train" at the digital clock of the station doesn't even state when the next train is arriving, anymore. I figured, that's because the train is ALWAYS late... so no point for them to state the next arrival, only to find out it'll be late. And we waited for a little bit, and it was already 11.20am, and I knew that we'd be late, if not just on time. When the train had finally arrived, I could see that the trains were still in the same condition (if not worse) than when I really last took the train a few millenium ago! And the train was moving even slower than I remembered, too! It feels like it's gonna derail anytime, or break down anytime. Talk about proper maintenance... sheesh.

When we finally arrived at the Mid-Valley station, I was practically brisk-walking/race-walking as it was already 11.55am. I got the tickets from the E-Kiosk while my brother got the popcorn. When we went in, we knew that the show hadn't started, thankfully. Got there in the nick of time.

The movie was good... although they practically cramped THREE villain storylines, and one love backstory into a 2.5 hour movie. But I thought it was done fairly well, and that the producers gave enough time for each character to develop, albeit short. I wouldn't mind watching it again! But I do feel that this third instalment has far less substantial essence in its storyline compared to the first two... but I guess it can't be helped, for the 2.5 hour constraint.

The ride back on the train was also not so different from the earlier ride. I think I fell asleep on the bench waiting for the train to arrive... something at around 20 minutes of waiting. Bugger. Not only that, I noticed that KTM still has not done ANYTHING to facilitate wheelchair and disabled commuters. There's a big gap between the platform and the train car, and it's not even leveled with each other. Man, it'll be a long time coming for Malaysians... although I don't think that it has anything to do with our country being slow... but it's all in the attitude, couldn't care less....

Typical MALAYsian attitude. (no that's not a typo)

More rants coming.. when I'm not too sleepy to type...

QUINTUPLICITY

No, it's not the title of a brand new Quentin Tarantino movie. Neither is it Izlyn Ramli's 5th album release. No, no. It's for them bopping band of five we fondly know as BOPLICITY!

Back at The Top this weekend, let Julian Chan, Cher Siang Tay, Eddie Wen, Vincent Ong & Martin Ngim stir up your senses once again with those classic bop tunes by the giants that roamed our great jazz planet. Bop to The Top this Friday and Saturday and kick start your merry month o' May with Boplicity!



The first set usually gets started at 10:30 p.m. [or whenever the first signs of human life begin to turn up]. Top Room operates until 2 a.m. but these dudes have been known to play well past the tolling of the bells. In fact, these boys are usually pumping adrenaline by the time the last note is played and they most likely will grab some grub in our favourite haunt opposite General Hospital for the now infamous "heart attack mee hoon". Well, can you think of a better place to have a heart attack then right across a hospital?? So, enjoy the soul food dished out by these dudes then join them for supper afterwards... Either way, I guarantee it'll prove to be a pleasant experience.

Cover charge is RM20 nett.

See you at The Top!
--
http://www.thetoproom.blogspot.com

(Courtesy of The Top Room)

Ready.. AIM.. Fire!!!

No, it's not target practice! Just a nice way to put the AIM acronym in..

Me and Eddie, along with Lilian on trombone, will be working with reknown musical director Aubrey Suwito for the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) awards show this Saturday night. AIM is like the local Grammy Awards, blah blah blah. I honestly don't really give a hootz about it, but it's a good gig that we can work with Aubrey. We hardly ever get to work with him, and I would personally love to work with him more, especially on the more creative level. But Aubrey hardly ever gig outside like most of us... it would've been really interesting! The last open show, or specifically, a jazz show that featured Aubrey, was at the Sunrise-Mont Kiara Jazz Festival a couple of years back, maybe in 2003, I think.

Tomorrow's a full day rehearsal from afternoon, and a full dress run at night. Saturday's the show itself. If you have the right mind and interest to catch US, and not some of those fellas trying to sing on stage, then watch NTV7 at around 8.30pm, I reckon. I think it'll be shown "live".

Of course, there'll be some good artistes as well, such as Siti, Noryn, Sean Ghazi (good luck Sean!), Aishah, Reshmonu... the rest ahh??? Mmmmmm...

On another note..

I got a letter from Queens College sometime last week.. boy was I excited!! But it turned out a bit of a damper, they received my application, but couldn't fully process it because they didn't have my previous university transcripts!

WHAT??

I thought I had them sent from Curtin? Well, maybe they did, but it could possibly be that I didn't follow up with my application after I made that request to Curtin. So it's possible the Admissions department in Queens might have misplaced it. That was like, a quite few months back. Oh well. I called up Curtin again on Monday, and requested them to send another copy. And they did, as they sent me an email. I hope Queens get it, and process my application fast! I really need to make necessary arrangements to go pretty soon... applying for visa, plane ticket, blah blah blah. I don't want to end up waiting for another semester to go!

Wish me luck...

Breathless...

... that was what Friday night was...

... the band came together really well last night... and we played hard! Really hard!

... the crowd was great!!! It was almost so surreal.. a real jazz crowd... they were listening, and they were appreciative (even if they're not sure how to react to David's original tunes)... not like them poseurs that frequent a nearby restaurant about 5 kilometers away who knows bollocks about music and the people who make them.

... there was BIG crowd too!! My fingers crossed for the Room to really open up and have more people coming in for some good music, and good jazz bands playin'!!

... even with some "boo-boos" (and a disgruntled mate), but overall the band was kickin' butt...

... Mike Vee was there... Jeremy Monteiro was there (and even jammed two songs.. crazy!).. just WOW! Such a pleasure and an experience to jam with Jeremy for the second time. Wonder if I'll ever get to do anything on a more serious level with him, it would be something I will look forward to at some point!!

... it's one of those rare moments... you play your butt off like there's no tomorrow... the presence of awesome musicians on stage... and awesome music..

... I was flat out when I got home. Another satisfied customer.

... I hope we will be ready by 11th May!

MIRI, here we come!

Gig updates - April 2007

**UPDATE:**

If you missed our show last week, don't forget to come to The Top Room this weekend, for one night only, on Friday. This will be the last show before we head to Miri next month.

Admission: RM20 nett (free crackers!)
Time and date: 20 April 2007, Friday, 10.30pm onwards

See you at the TOP! Where everything is swingin'!!

SUPPORT LIVE JAZZ, SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC!!

* * * * *

Hey all,

It's been a while since I really posted any gig updates, but since I do them on Google Calendar, I don't really have to post it like this, especially if I'm really short of time. But anyway, here's a gig update... a one that deserves special mention:

The David Gomes Sextet (Feat. Junji Delfino) @ The Top Room

This Friday the 13th [and next Friday, the 20th] come and bask in the solid good swinging sound of The David Gomes Sextet! Not one to be fazed by superstitious beliefs [touch wood], this hard-bopping, swinging band o' six is ready to show off its mettle as it gears up for The 2nd Miri International Jazz Festival come 11th & 12th May at the Pavilion, Park City Everly Hotel, Sarawak in East Malaysia.

The David Gomes Sextet features David Gomes on piano, Charles Wong on drums, Vincent Ong [not in picture] on bass, Thomas Theseira on tenor sax, Julian Chan on alto sax & Eddie Wen on trumpet.

Founded & led by the one & only David Gomes, The DG Sextet is currently one of the few jazz outfits who actively perform home-grown jazz music, courtesy of DG himself. View a snippet of one of his tunes featuring the horn section here [courtesy of Brian the doinkster] taken during one of their performances in KL.

And to add spice to this already suave ensemble, Ms Junji Delfino joins them for another enchanting evening... only at The Top!

Cover charge is RM 20nett for 3 sets of solid good music. First set starts at 10:30 p.m. The bar closes at 2:00 a.m.

See you at The Top!

visit us at:
http://www.thetoproom.blogspot.com

Welcome back..

... Chee Meng!!

Look forward to hang out and play some music together... saxophones rule!!!

Me on Silky Girl Ad..

No... I'm not *IN* the ad. I recorded for the ad.. I played soprano and tenor sax on this one. I'm kinda proud of this one... I could get a clarinet-ish sound on soprano rather than the oboe-ish Kenny G tone! Ahahha.. yay!!

Thanks to Jinx for this baby!

PS: Don't even bother looking at the vid, unless you're a Sharifah fan.. I am.. but MAH-WEE spoils everything. Listen to the music! Eheheh..

Enjoy.

QUEENS, HERE I COME??

I JUST POSTED MY APPLICATION FORMS TO QUEENS COLLEGE VIA FEDEX (as of time of writing!). (here's to all of you fellas bambu-ing me about when I'm gonna go over there..)

Okayyyy.. now that I've settled down a little bit...

Now, I'll just have to wait for their reply once they get my application and process it. I hope it would not be too troublesome, my application submission date is actually past due. But from what CH told me, they'll still take me in anyway... I pray that is so!

Oh man... the wheels are turnin' and we're gonna start burnin'..

Genting!

Hey all,

I'm typing in from Genting Highlands, in a Starbucks with FREE WiFi connection. The wonders of modern technology. To paraphrase my friend, Jiin Joo, Starbucks Malaysia should be awarded for doing something good for mankind. Anyway, just some accounts from a couple of days...

Missing Pictures!

Two days ago, I accidentally deleted a whole bunch of photos from my Macbook, and my external hard disk!! ARGH!! It wasn't even in the Trash compartment, and it just disappeared. Of course, it wasn't the computer's fault, just that I performed a bad copy and paste procedure which over-written the picture folder that I have, and now I couldn't find any of my pictures.. and I had LOTS of them!! Trauma.. but thanks to Ken, I managed to get a data recovery software, and after many laptop hours, I managed to recover quite a few of them back. Some of them were pretty messed, as all the labels have been replaced by consecutive numbers. Even the data information such as the date, time, etc of those pictures were gone. So now, when I get back home, I have to sit down for another couple of hours to sort those pictures out. Sigh.. I think I may have lost a lot of it already.

Queens College..

My application process to Queens College is already on the way... I've got all the necessary items to send the application. I will be sending it next week.. and I can't wait!! I'm so excited and anxious to get to New York.

Chern Hwei

My good friend, violin nut, Chern Hwei flew back to New York two days ago, after several weeks of holiday since Chinese New Year. He did a couple of gigs while he was here, and I think he was quite happy with it, including the one he did with my band Boplicity, and also with Greg Lyons' Groove Junky at No Black Tie. I'll be joining him in a couple of months in NYC, and hope we can do some crazy sh*t there!! YEAAAHH!!

See you in a couple of months, bro!

PS: CH is coming back for short while in July for a concert in KLPac, so go support him and check out some of his crazy stuff! Get a taste of NYC!

Jonathan Lee @ Genting

I'm really happy, and I've been looking forward to this show for quite a while. Well, ever since getting involved in this concert, it has been nothing but fun, and very educational in many ways, which I'll tell you in person if I see you. The reason, being I'm too lazy to type these days. Go figure. Anyway, doing a Malaysian concert would probably be a big highlight for me. Why? 90% or more of the band members for Jonathan's show are Malaysian! And I feel particularly proud, because it gives me faith that we Malaysians have something to offer to the world, contrary to popular belief! And I'm thankful to Jonathan for choosing us Malaysians to do your thang!

However, this time around, there won't be that many guests compared to the previous shows... only Sylvia Chang and Winnie Hsin this time around. But anyway, it's still Jonathan's show... and he's definitely the main man on stage. It'll still be fun for us. Oh yeah, Jiin Joo's joining us on trombone this time around. Regular Roger is stuck in NSO's Beethoven show at Istana Budaya... don't even get Roger started about it, he's gonna fume!

My family will be here tonight as well.. so they'll get to see the show, a good taste of what we've been doing in our crazy romps in China, since last year!! Ahaha..

Wish us luck for tonight.. it's gonna be fun!! YEE HAA!!!

Loss..

The sudden feeling of loss came over me last night.

It's a loss for the Malaysian jazz scene. I'm glad I learnt with him for as long as I did, and for inculcating the right roots to learn the right way.

We all gotta do what we gotta do... let the less far-sighted ones wallow in their pathetic scope of vision.

You kick butt in Singapore, and everywhere else, man!!

Good luck..!!

Crystal Silence!

If you don't know what that means... it means, I went to see the great jazz duo, Chick Corea and Gary Burton, or the Crystal Silence duo, at the Malaysian Philharmonic Hall!

It was an incredible show, to see two great masters play together as the most known piano-vibes duo in the world. It is basically their reunion tour, and they recorded an album together about 15 over years ago. They're back, and even more kick-butt than ever! Chick and Gary played material from the Crystal Silence album, and some newer materials, such as Crystal Silence, Native Sense, Brazilia, and then some!

It was quite an experience, to see such intense musical interplay between the piano and the vibraphone, weaving through the undercurrent groove that mostly musicians and real music listeners can feel. Their compositions ranged from simple to complex, each with its own set musical challenges. But all-in-all, it's is an intense dialogue between two people, talking about experiences from the past, and relating it with the present!

Despite the breadth of the music, Chick lights up the room with his humor, taking a shot at the pre-recorded pre-show announcements that tells the audience members to switch off their mobiles and pagers, and not taking photos. To add to that, Chick takes another shot at the audience, telling them to treat the show like their living room, and that it's okay to take phone calls, talk when they like, to move around and the like. Sarcasm at its best, but it's just pure humor with a message to respect the music. Chick's a joker.

Favorite quote for the night, after Gary and Chick shows this incredibly long music chart, about 8 - 9 pages long... "We're jazz musicians... but we can read, too, you know??"

'Twas a crazy, amazing (two) night(s)..

.. at the Top Room!!

The last two days at the Top Room @ Top Hat Restaurant was a blast with my band, Boplicity! We had to really good nights, with a fairly enthusiastic, appreciative and attentive crowd. Needless to say, it affected the band so much, we were all kickin' some serious butt (musically speaking) for BOTH nights. We did a mixture of the bop stuff, and some of Chern Hwei's compositions, such as Riders of The Lost Track, Manda's Mood, Chloeitchka, and a haunting version of Geylang (Si Paku Geylang).

Let's just say after both nights, I'm still reeling from the experience. It's really rare to see all the band members playing their hearts out like there's no tomorrow! I'm really glad to see it happen... it was a thrilling experience! It's an indescribable feeling, when you know you got some of the most interesting musicians in town, and musically we're all on the same wavelength (plus minus a few kilohertz)... an unseen connection that happens on and off stage.

Thanks guys!

Back and reelin'..

I'm back from my 3-day trip to Jakarta for the Java Jazz Festival!

One word to describe the whole experience... OVERWHELMING!!

It was simply awesome, to be in the proximity of so many amazing musicians for three whole days... from Richard Bona, Eric Marienthal, Joshua Redman, Miguel Zenon, Kyle Eastwood, Jeff Lorber, Dave Weckl and more. I'm still reeling from the whole experience... so much music!!

Anyway, this is just a pre-cursor... I will try my best to write at least a short report of the festival, and include some pics that I took as well.

Till then..

Java Jazz Fest.. here I come!!

Hey all!

As I'm writing, I'm packing up my stuff right now for the airport. I'm going to Jakarta for about 3 days for the Java Jazz Festival. I'll be playing for Aussie smooth jazz keyboardist Sam McNally, and we're doing the 11.30pm slot.

I'm so excited... I'm able to go see some of the best jazz acts in the world.... SF Jazz Collective, John Scofield, Bobby Hutcherson, Eric Marienthal, and more!! And this is my FIRST ever international jazz festival overseas! And I'm playing in it too!! YAY!!

I'm going to try to catch Eric Marienthal in person. He's always been an inspiration, and saxophone hero for me. I caught him playing in KL a few times way back in the 90s, and his contemporary jazz style of playing influenced me for quite a while. It was so much fresher and more exciting than the Kenny Gs or the Kenny G clones that came out after that. And of course, there was no such thing as "smooth jazz" back then.. just that GRP sound.. yeah!!

Anyway, I've no time to waste, I'll sign off for now. Wish me luck at Jakarta!!

Woo hooo... my first international jazz festival!!

Gong Xi Gong Xi..

It's that time of the year...!!

Don't have to say much... except, I want to wish my family, my dearest friends, and everyone I've ever encountered (even if I didn't like you), a good year ahead.. hopefully a peaceful and healthy New Year!!!

GONG XI! GONG XI!
XIN NIAN KUAI LE... SHEN TI JIAN KANG!!

for the non-chinese fellas...

REJOICE! REJOICE!
MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING PEACE AND HARMONY AND GOOD HEALTH TO ALL!!

I'm on Plan B mag..

Check out February's edition of Plan B mag now on sale on most newsstands. This issue is pretty interesting... it features some of the younger jazz cats of KL, including myself. Hah.. imagine ME, of all people, modelling for a fashion magazine!

I love my job! Ahahah..

Anyway(!)... the concept is pretty interesting (read: funny as in hilarious), as you'll find us dressed up and shot in various interesting (and precarious!) poses! I'm not going to spoil the fun and tell you how I was shot in... go buy the magazine and laugh your butts off!

But it's quite an interesting experience... but I'm no model material.. LOL! It was fun to do it.. not to mention giving everyone else a good hearty laugh at my expense! By the way it also has a nice short interview caption with the pictures, and basically asking each of us about what we do and some of our (concise) views on jazz in Kay-El.

Check it out!

What happened to you lah?

That's probably what you're saying to me right now, aren't ya? ".. why never update your blog wan???" Well, I'm pretty tired of apologizing each time I even post something here. So here's the deal, I'll update when I can lah... you'll just have to deal with that.. hahah!!

Anyway, just some updates of myself for the last couple of weeks since my last post and I would like to share them with you. Suffice to say, the schedule's been pretty hectic before New Year, and even after New Year, as shown by my lack of posts. A lot of stuff happened in January, gig-wise, at least. A lot of interesting gigs that took place. Some of them include:

50 Cents Jazz Club Reunion @ Bangkok Jazz

This is been Hardesh Singh's pet project for several years now. For those who are unaware, Hardesh does a variety of musical and even film projects (he's also a very good sound engineer), including the infamous (and apparently, very controversial) Lelaki Komunis Terakhir. Anyway, 50 Cents Jazz Club (50CJB) is an experimental jazz/world music band, showcasing original material written by Hardesh and Rozhan. Rozhan Razman, bassist extraordinaire (Groove Unction, Metalasia), was back in town for his winter vacation from Berklee, and it was a good opportunity to play with him as well. After all, he was definitely one of the original members of the 50CJB.

The gig went well, for most part, but the sound stage during the show wasn't that great. I was a bit uncomfortable, so I didn't think I played as well as I could have because of it. We did some crazy stuff that night. Hardesh expanded on some of his older material, such as Cool Chews, and played some tunes from the previous repertoire (from our show almost two years ago). There were a lot of odd metered stuff, which we memorized over two nights of heavy rehearsals.

Dayang Nurfaizah @ Planet Hollywood's Sunday Nite Live

This one of the few times I got to play at Planet with a horn section for a mainstream artiste (the last time was with Ning Baizura a few years back). Anyway, Dayang performed two shows, the first on 14 Jan, and the second one on 28 Jan. Musically directed by Jenny Chin, it involved the usual rhythm section (Aji - guitars; Jenny Chin - keys; Sze Wan - 2nd keys; Kelly - bass; Fendi @ Sotong - drums; Ameer - percussions) and the addition of the KL Horny Horns, or now known as KL TOWER (after Tower Of Power), namely me on saxes, Eddie Wen on trumpet, and Roger Chee on trombones! This month was definitely heavy on the horn section gigs involving the three of us! This was definitely another fun gig to do. Eddie and I also recorded two tracks on Dayang's latest album. When it comes out, don't forget to check it out!! Another nice one to add to our musical resumé, don't you think?

I think there'll be another gig coming out in July, so watch out for it!

Btw, Dayang kicks butt!! Her vocal technique is amazing, compared to most local mainstream artistes! She's probably one of the best mainstream pop singers in town, and I feel really glad to be able to work with her! The rest of you half-past-six artistes who think you can even pull a tune properly, could learn a thing or two from her!

Thomson Big Band

I got to play with the Thomson Big Band from Singapore, for the first time, this month. I've heard a lot about over the past several years, probably one of the best amatuer big bands in the Malaysia/Singapore region. Comprising of full-time and part-time musicians, they rehearse every weekend at the Thomson Community Center, and they play various big band repertoire, from the Ellington songbook, Basie, and even some of Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band pieces.

Anyway, my gig with them was for this Negri Sembilan royalty wedding anniversary, or something like that. Didn't really pay attention to it, found it quite skanky for my taste. Anyway, the gig didn't really go down too well. It was okay, for most part, but the stage sound mix was terrible, we couldn't really hear each other properly. The stage was too small, and it was too dark to see the charts to play it properly. Although the theme was "Roaring 20s" or something like that, it didn't really turn out like that at the end. What a drab, this function! But I got to meet some really nice musicians from that band. Cool cats. Hope to play with them again soon.

Jonathan Lee World Tour Concert @ Beijing

Yay! I finally get to travel to Beijing for another edition of Jonathan Lee's Tour concert! This time around, the three of us KL Tower horns flew there a few days earlier, and we got to experience winter chill for the first time. It was around -7°C to 5°C when we were there. It was really cool to get to experience winter like that for the first time. But at the same time, it was a real pain, too... everytime we have to go out we have to wear layers of clothes to protect ourselves from wind chill, and putting lip balm and moisturizers every few hours or so! We did a lot of walking this trip, and we managed to visit places like Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and the most spectacular sight of the trip - The Great Wall of China.

Of all the sites we've seen, I was most impressed and taken with the Great Wall. Eddie arranged for us to go to one (of seven) starting points, called Simatai. It wasn't as crowded as Ba Da Ling site (which is the most popular visit for most tourist groups), but it was more fun, too. We managed to climb up about seven stops, or mini-forts. We were literally climbing a mountain! If I have time I'll post some pictures in the next post for you to whet your visual appetite, for those who are curious about our Beijing trip.

The concert itself went well, although towards the end of the concert, I was feeling really flu-ish. I somehow came down with sinus and flu towards the end of the trip and the concert, I couldn't even stay up long enough to enjoy the post-concert party.

This was definitely a good trip. Beijing-ites are generally more friendlier than the Shanghai-ites. Imagine our surprise at the imigration point, after processing our passports, we said "Thank You" in Chinese, and the officer replied "No problem!". How's that for courtesy? In addition, at numerous restaurants and eating houses we went to eat, the waiters were generally more helpful and courteous! Very good service for most part!! Of course, there's still one thing we find really unacceptable in China - the toilets!!! Our trip to the Great Wall involved a two-hour drive. We had a pit stop, and the toilet was one of the most disgusting sights we've ever seen! There are no urinals, no toilet booths. Just watering holes (literally!), and shitting holes. Don't even get us started on the smell! We even heard from Jenny, that the women's toilet is worse... sanitary pads piling up the shit holes!!! Sorry if I just ruined your breakfast/lunch/dinner! Oh well, it was definitely an experience!

Oh one more thing, Jonathan's doing a concert HERE in Malaysia, on March 17 at Genting Arena Of Stars!! YAY!! We can't wait for it!! There's nothing more proud that playing a big concert like that in your own homeground!

And to end January..

Reshmonu's album launch - Superfine @ The Curve

Yeah, our funky, corn-braided hair friend has released his new album, Superfine, with a two-hour concert at The Curve, next to Cineleisure. The concert was fun, lots of happening, funky tunes, and outrageous clothes, sponsored by Key Ng (yes, we had to wear them too!).

Buy the album.. ORIGINAL... support local talents!!

* * * * *

Here are also some upcoming updates to look out for.. some really happening gigs coming up!

March
- Sam McNally @ Java Jazz Fest, Jakarta. I'll be playing with Sam for this three-day festival, with lots of happening jazz and fusion acts happening. Check out http://www.javajazzfestival.com/2007/ for more details.

- Boplicity @ Top Room. We're gonna be playing two nights at the best jazz club in town! Stay tuned... you'll be hearing some kick ass jazz you've never heard before in KL!

- Jonathan Lee World Tour Concert @ Genting Arena Of Stars. Finally, after one year of touring around China region, he's coming over to Malaysia to do his own concert!! I'm really looking forward to that!

April
- Johor Bahru Jazz Festival. I will update when I get more information!!

It's gonna be an exciting year for me. There'll be more things happening, and I will write when it goes through! So stay tuned! Of course, my main goal - to get my sorry a$$ to New York at the middle of the year!!

Later!!

Goodbye and farewell..

.. to 2006!!

Talk about time passing by really fast. And for some strange reason, it was even faster this year. As cliched as it sounds, the end of last year only seemed like yesterday. But in 2006, a lot of things happened, and suffice to say, it was a very, VERY interesting year in more ways than one. A lot of ups and downs in some ways. So just to fill out blog space, despite the drag in internet connection due to the Taiwan quakes, I'm just gonna list down a few of them:

Ups:

- Got involved in the Jonathan Lee World Tour concert. This was really special for me (it's still ongoing), because I really got to travel quite a bit. We went to Taiwan (I love that place!), Hong Kong, and various parts of China (I don't love that place!). But I really love travelling, and this year we really got the chance to do it. Next month, we're going to Beijing, too!

- My new band, BOPLICITY. This is also another plus for me, although it only took place towards the end of the year. In a way, it was a kind of affinity for me. It wouldn't have been possible if I didn't get to meet and play with those guys a lot more this year. Most importantly, meeting our piano player, Cher Siang, who without him, I wouldn't be able to form this band.

- Moved to a new house. We moved to our new place at Taman Bukit Mewah Phase 9 early January 2006, and fianlly I GOT MY OWN ROOM!! After staying in the same room with my brother for 27 years, this will be my first year that I have my own room! My own space and privacy! It is quite gratifying. A queen-sized bed all to myself! People don't disturb me, I don't disturb people!

- Branford Marsalis Quartet. Being able to watch and meet Branford Marsalis and his Quartet when he came to Malaysia to play in April was definitely one of the most inspiring events that has happened this year. Seeing and hearing his band really opened up my eyes and ears, and totally changed my perception of the music I play, and my attitude towards it. In some ways it was almost life-changing. It was definitely the best jazz band I've seen so far!

- David Muehsam. I met this guy sometime in March/April, and he also inspired me musically as well as personally. A yoga instructor, as well as a fantastic saxophone player, he's opened up my mind a little bit more about many other things, from practicing saxophone, yoga, life, music, and then some. A very spiritual person (and a yoga master, too!), we talked about a variety of things that affect us and the world in general, not to mention jamming with our horns out in the open at the side of the street!!

Downs:

- Out of training mode. This year, due to my overseas tour gigs, and a different hosts of gigs, I am out of training mode, and my last race I did in 2006 was the KL International Marathon. Because of the over-eating during my travels and the lack of training, my weight has also gone up. My fitness has gone down. I didn't run as much, or ride my bike as much. I'm definitely not so proud of it.

- (Un)Happy People. This year my 3.5 year old band, Happy People, finally disbanded. Due to some ongoing circumstances, I have had to finish with the band so that I could also move on to other projects and other ventures. It had been good while we lasted, and we did a quite a few good gigs together, such as two years at the Sunrise-Mont Kiara Jazz Festival, and then some. And some of the members also have had to move on to other projects, so there was no reason to continue it. Don't worry though, we're still good friends!

- Politics. Nothing like office politics. There's more and more of it every year, and each year when I'm more aware of things around me, I see it more. There is lack of unity of musicians in KL. This guy hates this guy's guts, that guy hates the other guy, or one fella hating everybody else. What the hell? Get over yourself and see the world around you? Can't we just resolve our petty differences, be a better person, and just work together? You know why the music scene here is bad... it's because of ALL of us. Not the industry only, but the musicians themselves. Self-centred, self-involved, and inconsiderate. Can't think beyond the tip of your nose! All I want to do is just play, make good music. And we're trying to do it not just for our pockets, but for everyone to enjoy and have a good time. Smarten up people, we only life ONE life at a time. Don't ruin it out of your own petty interest. We all can be better.. we're not getting any younger you know... why keep your minds at such childish levels?

***

Anyhow, I definitely have some things to work on this year. I actually have PLANS for this year. In previous years, I never really had any kind of real plans on how to go the year ahead, but this year I do.

1) Prepare myself to go to the US

This includes doing all the necessary arrangement so that I can ACTUALLY go to New York this year! I plan to leave sometime in late July to early August. I'd like to spend some time there before semester starts.

And in no particular order...

2) Practice a whole lot more, and do less unnecessary things

Yes, practice. It's like I haven't done it for a long time, due to inefficient use of time and activities. And I really need to get my sh*t together, if not I'm as good as useless when I go to NYC. I might even turn down gigs which I feel will not be worth my time - society gigs like weddings, etc.

3) Train a whole lot more.

I slacked so much from running, biking, and swimming the last year, due to lack of discipline, and also a lot more work (which involves travelling). Whatever it is, I'm determined to not let it stop me from getting back into a more serious training regime. I want to start doing races again, and also to lose a whole lot more weight!

4) Work more on my band, Boplicity.

I have plans to work this band much more, to tighten up as a band, and also to progress musically. I will try to get more gigs for this band, and play as much as possible, to get better, and who knows... maybe even record. But most importantly, I want to work this band, so that there's a band that can work after I leave for the US, made up of a bunch of dedicated cats, who will have the resolve and the initiative to progress as a band as well as musically. So, in short, Boplicity might be a shortlived band, I'm afraid. But it's one band I'm really proud to work for.

Wish me luck.

PS: Oh by the way...

***HAPPY NEW YEAR 2007!!!!!***

Gig update @ Top Room

Hey everyone!!

Counting down to the new year, means more music and more happening stuff happening! To help countdown to the new year, my new band, BOPLICITY will be playing tonight at The Top Room from 10.30pm onwards. If you missed us the last coupla times, do come down tonight to check us out, enjoy some kick-butt jazz in KL, and celebrate the end of the year with us. We hope we'll be getting more gigs and shows next year, and we'd really appreciate your support for us.. as well as the live jazz music scene. I'll say no more.. I hope to see you at the gig!!

PS: Don't be shy and come say hi to the band (we're not gonna eat you, y'know!)

Julian Chan's BOPLICITY @ Top Room



Date and Time: 29 Dec 2006 (Friday), 10:30pm onwards
Venue: The Top Room @ Top Hat Restaurant, 7 Jln Kia Peng, KL
Admission: RM25++ with one drink

Have Yourself..

........ A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would like to wish EVERYONE, a Merry Christmas! It's a good time to reflect and be thankful of our blessings, no matter how big or small!

Have a good one, y'all!!

PS: *Happy Hanukah for the Jewish!*

Last minute shopping.. TOEFL scores..

I managed to do my last minute shopping today, believe it or not! Braved the jam and the crowds, etc...

In fact, this was possible because I had to come back from Batu Pahat early this morning, I reached home at about 3.30am, as I drove back after the Chinese musical thing we did. Of course, I didn't manage to wake up until about 12.30pm, and I was still bummed out. Anyway, I managed to drag myself to KLCC where I met up with Greg to get something from him and pass him his Christmas present (which with the help of Eddie, we managed to get). And of course, last minute Christmas shopping. I don't usually get into the habit of buying presents on an annual basis, but this year, I just feel so compelled to get present for people I hold dear. For those who know me well enough, when I get into something bad.. I really get into it bad!! And I'm feeling super-licious happy with it. Never mind the fact I busted out my Christmas gaji (even before getting it by the way.. hahah), but I feel damn glad about it. I guess I'm really feeling all Christmas-ey this year. You guys feelin' it?

Anyway, just a few minutes ago of writing this, I just checked the TOEFL website for my scores, I managed to get 105/120... which is probably not too bad, although I hoped I could've done better with an ACTUAL preparation for it! Better start watching more American TV, then? Ahah... but anyway, the evaluation for the Reading, Listening and Writing section was what I expected I should get. The Speaking section, however, really sucked (although that is expected too, from the way I did it during the test). I don't know what it was, but I really couldn't speak properly during the exam. Maybe I was a little pressured, given only 20 seconds to prepare an answer and 60 seconds to reply, and I'm talking to an inanimate object. I don't really agree with this particular format actually.... too impersonal for me. Give me a real human anyday. At least I know I'm not fast enough with words to deceive and cheat people.. or manipulate them! Aahah..

Okay. Off to bed...

Christmas eve is just 'round the corner!

Good night!

"You better watch out.. you better not cry.."

Can you guys believe it?? It's already near Christmas of 2006 and in a week after that, it'll be 2007!! Where has the time gone??

Well, I'll be working on Christmas eve, and I'm not sure what plans I have yet for Christmas Day itself. I'll be working New Year's eve too... (if you check my Upcoming Performances section, then you'll probably know what I'm talking about.. *tsk tsk*). I've got some invites for open houses and stuff, so I'll probably go for some of those.. nothing like spending Christmas with family and friends.

I'm feeling the Christmas spirit a little more this year, for some strange reason, compared to last year. So that's good I guess. Only wished I had more gigs playing Christmas tunes. I remember the first two or three years out in the business, we had this Christmas gig playing jazzed-up Christmas tunes at Star Hill and Lot 10, and we were playing with some kick-butt players, and it was just so much fun to play. There's something about Christmas songs I really dig.. a certain spirit to it. Always touches my heart and even make me cry tears of joy... it's just beautiful. Beautiful melodies, beautiful lyrics...

Anyway, I just got back from a Christmas function, and I helped to put the band to play some jazz tunes and Christmas tunes, too. I'm heading off tomorrow morning to Batu Pahat, as I'm involved in this Chinese musical show there, "Shanghai Nights", I think. So we're playing old chinese tunes based on that story.

I still haven't finished my Christmas shopping darn it.. I bought some already, but I haven't had time to wrap them and everything.. bugger. Gotta find some time on Saturday to get the rest of the gifts and wrap them too. So busy..

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...."

Update: New Look and functions!

I've just spent the last couple of hours (... I know.. time wasting!) updating the appearance of my blog! No biggie yet.. I'm not TOO crazy about making my blog look like a super hi-tech site! As long you can read what I'm writing, then it's good enough. I'm making up for lost internet-time!

I've even changed the Upcoming Performances to Google Calendar format. Basically, you just click on the link of the show you want to find out more about, and it'll direct you to more information on my upcoming gigs! Fancy that..? LOL!

This Blogger Beta is pretty fancy, actually.. some functions are actually pretty cool, although there are few things I prefer to just manually configure using HTML code.

I've also managed to sort out the Beta comments function with Haloscan comments function too. I'll continue using both until Blogger Beta sorts out an agreement with Haloscan. So feel free to pick your comment box!

One problem after updating the template was that almost ALL my links from my old template disappeared. And I'll have to manually use the Beta widget functions to add them back. But I can't add little comments on the links without having to include them as links, as compared to the older template. But it sort of looks cleaner that way I suppose. Maybe I'll find a way around it.

Enjoy my new site anyway!

I'm back online.. AGAIN!!

Finally...

What's the deal with TMNet anyway?

One good thing though, when I called their hotline the last time, the receptionist was nice enough to explain to me that my case report (and some others I gather) was taken to a higher level, as they were experiencing some problems with their network card (or whatever) in the Kajang area, or at least where we're staying.

And today, I'm back online... I won't know about tomorrow or the day after though.. we'll see how!

heh...

Stupid f**king TMNET!

*Warning: This post contains loads of expletives. If you're offended, just read another post, or go somewhere else.*

Idiots at that stupid national tele-comms service f**ked up my internet line for more than a week! Called them almost everyday for the past week, and they still haven't fixed it, blardy muthaf*ckas. Pay RM88 for this bullsh*t?? Jeezzzz...

That's the problem with Malaysia, when one particular service industry is monopolized by a lesser company. Especially this one.. sigh.. Malaysia Boleh.. of course.. Malaysia Boleh (tapi lepak lah dulu!). Always look at the f*ckin' fine print. Bastards.

Some updates... finally!

To my dear loyal Julian's Head readers (as well as my other blogs!),

I would really like to thank you for bearing with me over my severe lack of updates over the past couple of weeks, months even. It's just a phase thing.. I'm not in the blogging mood that much, really. So many things to do, and to take care of. Anyway, I would like to update just a little bit of what I had been up to the last week or so..

Boplicity..

Well... here it is, my new band, Julian Chan's BOPLICITY. We did our first gig at No Black Tie if you've noticed already, last week. It turned out really good, or the band did, at least. You can read about it here (and pictures are on the way!). But do keep a lookout of this band... I think it's a really awesome band, I'm really looking forward not just to our next gig, but all our future undertakings (before I leave for the US, anyway).

Julian @ Singapore...

Thursday:

I went to the Lion City last week, just for the weekend. I had planned to meet my dear saxophone-soul-brother, David Muehsam. We had planned to meet up, hang out, and just jam at Jazz @ Southbridge, with David Gomes and his trio (with Junji Delfino as well, for the Friday and Saturday).

My trip started rather funnily (but quite stressful for me) on Thursday morning. I was so bummed from the past of days from Boplicity and some other gigs, I ended up waking up at 6.30am (and I was supposed to catch a 7.30am bus at Bangsar!!), even though I had already set a 4am alarm which I snoozed and dozed off again. I got out of bed like a crazy fella, and packed so fast, it's the fastest I've ever packed for a weekend! I left my house at about 7am, and sped to the First Coach office and managed to get there at about 7.30am (I had to call them to hold the bus a short while, and they did, bless them!). I'm even surprised I managed to get there in the nick of time! Anyway, I had to leave my car at a metered parking lot, to the dismay of my mum. As a little upset from getting the grill from her, I realized she was right, that someone could've easily towed my car away, and we're not talking about DBKL here. Anyhow, my brother managed to arrange to pick my car up with a spare car key I have (Thanks guys, I owe you lots!).

Got to Lion City without a fuss. Met up with David at his hotel and we went to Little India for a nice South Indian buffet fare. Not the high class variety, but the nice small, home cooked variety. Walked around to SimLim Square and checked out some computer stuff, handphone stuff, etc. Did you know how cheap handphones are in Singapore? Damn... and I'm talking about original handphones here, not the "underwater" variety. Of course, the "underwater" ones are even cheaper then! Then we headed to Jurong East to go to the usual shop where we get our saxophone stuff. Stayed there for a couple of hours, while we compared horns, got it looked at and fixed by the technician. Met up another friend of David's - Timothy- who runs a yoga school in SG, for dinner, and we hung out all night at JSB. Me and David of course went on stage to jam for at least two sets for a few songs. But since we were tired that night, we weren't really in top form, but it was still good fun.

At this point I must say this: The rhythm section of Eddie Jensen and Tan Boon Gee (with the fiery David Gomes) is a killer rhythm section! Probably the most killer rhythm section in Singapore right now!!! If you've time, go down south and check them out!

Friday:

Friday afternoon started out just alone hanging out at Parkway Parade (about 10 minutes walk from David's apartment). Shopped at Gramaphone and got myself three CDs: Branford Marsalis' Braggtown, Brandon Fields' Fields and Strings, and Miles Davis' Complete Birth of The Cool album. And I got it at quite a steal. Then I met up with David later, to go out for a run at East Coast Park (not until the heavy rain cleared). Did about 5km, before heading back to the apartment to get ready to go to town for dinner and Jazz @ Southbridge. Friday night's jam was much more interesting, as Singaporean pianist Jeremy Monteiro came in and sat in for the last few songs for the night, and we jammed on I'll Remember April and a blistering fast Cherokee!! The energy from all the band members were also at quite a high. Me and David definitely had more energy banks, from the 5km run we did (and not to mention great food at Chella's Vegetarian Corner @ Little India!).

After the jam, food was to follow, of course! We chatted a lot that night (like musicians always do.. lots of things to say), from politics, music, religion, you name it!! One thing about hanging out with musicians, and I'm guilty of it at times, is that you'll always hear a multitude of information. Who says musicians are dumbf**ks..?? Wait till you meet these people...

Saturday:

Next day wasn't much rest for me too, really! We (me, David and Junji G) got up quite early
(1030am.. that's early for a musician!), and headed to Parkway Parade (they needed to go to the bank to settle some stuff), and we had an early brunch. Shopped around some more (shopping's a good angst management therapy, I might add!), and bought some clothes, and branded fancy umbrellas (I got a nice small green Esprit for me mum!), as it was raining and we needed to get back. Later, I met up with David Muehsam again at Sim Lim Sq, and checked out some more phones. Although I had my eyes set on the Nokia 5500 Sport, I decided against it after testing it. The interface and the user-friendliness were not so great. I ended getting the same phone as David's: Sony Ericsson K610i. It's quite a nice phone, very well done, I must say. After I got back to KL, I managed to purchase-download a software to enable it to sync with the iCal program on my Mac (and it syncs way better than the Motorola, which is such a pale comparison.. they look good.. only!).

Had dinner again at Chella's (the food there is AMAZING!!!), chatted a whole lot more.. about yoga, life, music, the works. (Note: this trip has also been heavy in terms of what we chat about this time 'round, not your usual lounge conversation variety!). Then it was JSB, again, for another round of jamming!! This time around, there was a much bigger crowd, and much more appreciative one, as well. So the energy was pretty intense as well. But the after effects of a high energy music exposure.. wow... very tiring. After a round of supper, we taxi-ed our way back. We said our goodbyes to David Muehsam (he was due for a flight to New York the following morning), and it was back to Gomes' apartment.

Sunday:

After packing all my stuff, I napped for about an hour, showered, and woke David up at about 6.45am. We left the apartment at about 7am, took a taxi to the First Coach departure stop, and headed back to KL at about 7.30am.

Later, me and David headed to Top Room for another round of jam sessions, for the Top Room Sunday jams. We had a couple of younger fellas coming up to jam, and showing their mettle a little. It was quite a good jam.

Monday:

I slipped, and sprained my right ankle! Argh.. how crazy is that? Have to lay off running for now.. sigh.. It's getting better at time of writing, though. Can't wait to get back on track again..

My new band.. BOPLICITY!

Presenting..

JULIAN CHAN'S BOPLICITY!!

BOPLICITY, a new jazz outfit formed by upcoming saxophonist, Julian Chan, brings more bop music into the Malaysian music fold, when he saw the need to expose this usually unexplored territiory of Jazz music, to the ears of the growing Malaysian Jazz audience. Concentrating on the various styles of bop – ranging from the bebop, hardbop and even to the more contemporary sounds of post-bop – BOPLICITY sticks true to what is known as the “Blue Note” sound-style band – two horns (sax and trumpet), with a piano, bass, and drums rhythm section.

BOPLICITY is Julian Chan on saxophones/flute, Eddie Wen on trumpet and flugelhorns, Vincent Ong on double bass, Martin Ngim on drums, and Cher Siang on piano.

JULIAN CHAN

Julian Chan started playing the saxophone at 14, but only began playing professionally at the age of 21, after graduating in a degree in accounting from Perth, Western Australia. He began taking lessons from Malaysian-based English top jazz saxophonist Greg Lyons, after his return from his studies, and began playing in his various ensembles such as the 19-piece Emergency Break Ensemble, the jazz-funk band Biophonics, and The Greg Lyons Nonet, a 9-piece ensemble featuring Greg’s compositions and arrangements. Julian also played with various KL jazz luminaries, such as The David Gomes Quartet/Quintet, Julian Chan and David Gomes’ The KL Hardbop Band, Jose Thomas’ Groove Unction, Michael Veerapen, Farid Ali and more.

Currently, Julian runs several bands, from the (now defunct) Happy People Quintet, The Julian Chan Quartet, as well as The KL Hardbop Band (a collaboration between Julian Chan and David Gomes, featuring various hardbop-based music as well as David’s original compositions).

EDDIE WEN

Eddie Wen started playing trumpet from high school, playing in high school bands, moving up to the local symphonic orchestras in KL, such as the PJ Youth Symphonic Band, KL Symphony Orchestra, The National Symphonic Orchestra, RTM Orchestra, Shah Alam Municipal Council Orchestra, and the Petronas Performing Arts Group. His path to jazz started out when he began learning and playing with Greg Lyons’ Biophonics in 2001, and eventually joining in Julian Chan’s Happy People Quintet. He then began playing in various other ensembles from Greg Lyon’s Nonet, jazz latino band Ireson, The David Gomes Quintet, The KL Hardbop Band and more.

VINCENT ONG

A graduate of the International College of Music, Vincent started playing bass professionally when he was still in college, and eventually formed his own band Black Machine in 2000, and eventually GruvAvenue in 2005 (and recorded their self-titled debut album). Vincent has played in various settings and in various hotel lounges, and club performances, as well as different jazz festivals in KL.

Vincent has performed with various jazz artistes such as David Gomes, pianist Hakan Rydin, Sharizan, Rachel Guerzo, and various local jazz artistes.

MARTIN NGIM

A relatively newcomer to the jazz scene, Martin began playing drums from 23. Starting out playing in funeral bands, he then moved on to playing drums in commercial bands in various top-40 pubs in and around town. Later on, Martin started to take lessons from top Malaysian drummer Lewis Pragasam, and joined some of his Asiabeat percussion ensembles in various shows. His foray into playing jazz began when he joined the JJ Jazz Ensemble in their debut concert in UPM, and played their subsequent shows in various clubs in town. Learning as he went along, he began playing in some jazz groups in KL, such as the Happy People Quintet, Julian Chan Quartet, Rachel Guerzo, Greg Lyons’ MezzaJazz.

and introducing

TAY CHER SIANG

Tay Cher Siang started his piano lessons just like most people, learning classical music. He took up an interest in Jazz during his teenage years and began to pursue his musical journey as a jazz pianist. He received his Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from West Virginia University and continued to get his Masters Degree in Jazz Pedagogy, studying under Dr. Miltenberger and Professor Scea.

His achievements include winning the WVU Young Artist Competition in 2004, recipient of the HERF Top-Off Award and the Valerie Canady Award. He was the Graduate Assistant for the Jazz Department in WVU where he got the chance to direct the college's Jazz Big Band and various Small Group Ensembles.

Throughout the years, Mr. Tay performed regularly as a soloist, as well as with ensembles such as the WVU Big Band, the Mon River Big Band, the Jenny Menna Trio, the Washington Street Jazz Band, and the WVU Wind Symphony Orchestra. He also performed regularly in Malaysia, China , and the United States.

* * * * *

The band debuts tonight at No Black Tie from 10pm onwards. Check out our new website, Enter Boplicity! for more details!

Here's something for those with dreams..

Hey all..

To those who have dreams, and the passion for the music... from the mouth of Wynton Marsalis, and from our hearts!! Enjoy...

Wynton Marsalis's Speech to the 2006 Graduating Class:

Wynton Marsalis's Speech to the 2006 Graduating Class:

I'm going to provide you all with very few practical words, the fruits of
many happy years of varied experiences in the arts.
First, congratulations. No one is ever going to ask you to see your grades.

Take all jobs. If somebody says, "Can you ??" say, "Yes, I can."

Leave jobs that you hate immediately.

If you find a job that doesn't feel like a job, don't let others for whom it
is a job make it feel like a job to you.

If you find yourself working at your craft, be happy, because it might not
happen again.

Being dissatisfied is not an achievement.

Every chance you get to perform is important. It could be at an elementary
school, it could be at a rehearsal-every little aspect of it is sacred and
is significant.

And, just as a rule, people are generally more enthusiastic the less they're
being paid. Many times people want to know about commercialism versus art.
Do what you want to do. Don't be conflicted. But realize that integrity is
real, and so is starvation.

Never let pay and the talk of pay occupy more time and space than the talk
of your art. If you find that it is, go into banking, or start a hedge fund
or something.

Also, about pay: understand where you are. When I was 19, I was on a tour
with Herbie Hancock and I started complaining to him before we walked
onstage about what I was being paid. He said, "Come here, man. Look out into
the audience." He said, "Now, do you see those people?" I said, "Yes, sir."
He said, "They paid for these tickets. If you don't walk out onto the stage,
how many of them are going to leave? ? Now, if I don't walk out, how many
will leave? ? That's why you're being paid what you're being paid."

Always remember that an agent that you have just met is not your friend.

Never deny a compliment after a performance. "Oh, I love your ?" "No, I
didn't ?" No. No ? Say, "Thank you." It takes a lot less words.

If you sign an autograph, always look at the person before you hand it to
them. Always.

If you've written some music, and everybody is bored, and you even find
yourself getting a little bored, it's boring. Don't worry. I would also like
to debunk the notion that it will be understood later, because if that were
the case, we would have a lot of boring pieces from the 1870s that would be
popular hits right now.

If you notice that everybody at the table has been quiet for a very, very
long time, except for you, you've been talking too much.

Now, to combat nervousness: Number one, practice a lot. Two, think about how
unimportant what you're doing is in the general scheme of things. Three,
breathe very deeply and relax. Number four, envision great success, or
envision failure and figure, how bad could that be? Finally, forget about
all of that stuff and just go ahead and do your thing.

In a crisis, or if you are caught lying, you have to come with the truth.
Always tell the truth in a crisis.

When you get a bad review, never ask someone if they've seen it.

Don't pretend not to have seen it. Never, ever dwell on it-or on them, in
case you get more than one, which you will if you stay out here-so as to
mention it to someone who might not even know or care about what you're
talking about. Too much commenting on bad things or criticism, somebody
attacking you, is really a form of egotism.

Don't eat too much bread late at night after performances. But wine is O.K.

Never take the last of anything off of a table when you are a guest. Let
that last thing sit there. "Do you want ? ?" "No, I don't want ?" the last
of anything.

I also want you all to realize that our collective success as artists, all
of us, is inextricably tied to the taste levels of the world. The concerned,
the refined, the soulful-they're always at battle with the callous, the
crass, and the exploitative. That's why Picasso said that a work of art is
actually a weapon. You know, we fight for consumers. Artists have always had
to fight for consumers. And you all-all of you young artists-you're called
to battle the runaway global descent in the popular taste. You're called to
do that without snobbery, or prejudice, or retreat into the smug, high
ground of the academy-and please, without selling out, or selling people
short.

Use your talent, your good looks, and your education, to transform the whole
world with the power of art. Engage the world through inspired teaching,
through tireless proselytizing, through an unwavering practice of craft at
its highest levels. Engage the world of fellow artists, teachers, audiences,
students, critics and other various haters, with a boundless energy, an
irrepressible zeal, an unassailable humility, and an infectious joie de
vivre. Then you go from being the isolated, misunderstood, besieged artist
to being a powerful testimony for the inevitable transcendence of artistry.

You see, as you all go out into the world, know that you have a very special
gift: a gift that announces itself through music, dance, drama, film,
literature, comedy, painting. You have a gift that survives. It survives the
disappointment of not being famous, or not becoming as great as you thought
you would be. It's a gift that many times actually grows larger with life's
unpredictable and inevitable heartbreaks.

This gift is as old as cave people gathering around a campfire to skillfully
lie about some animals they killed. Or some grizzled old cowboys trying to
shake the trail dust off their brains with an old harmonica and some
out-of-tune song, and some nasty coffee. Or Negro slaves at a jubilee,
healing days and nights of sorrow with the bittersweet balm of a dancing
fiddle and the piercing cry of the blues. Or a stage re-enactment of some
epochal love affair that rekindles again and again the grandeur of romance
between a man and a woman for those who may have forgotten.

This is the gift that caused old, sick, deaf Beethoven to crawl out of his
bed at 2:37 in the morning and put his ears on the piano just to hear the
vibrations. He couldn't hear any notes. This is the gift that had old, blind
Matisse laying up on his bed, looking up at the ceiling with a stick, trying
to put some color on the ceiling, to figure out some way to squeeze the last
moment of something out of his life.

What about Louis Armstrong? The Promethean giant of American feeling, with
lips as scarred as the moon, reaching for those last few, blood-soaked high
C's? Yes, this gift is something.

Whether you play on the main stage of the world or you toil in obscurity,
believe me, you have the gift to create community with your song, with your
dance. Don't sell it short. Get people to gather around, and understand that
we are us, and we become us through art by hearing about who we used to be,
who we are, and, in some cases, who we should be-or who we're going to be.

Use this gift wisely. And if you end up broke, or unhappy, or lonely, it's
going to be by choice, because people love art, and they love artists, and
they love to be touched, and they love for you to touch them, and they love
you. They're not your enemy; they're your friend. And you won't believe the
way that they'll open their heart and the love that they will give you.

In closing, I'm going to go to an old master of plantation trumpet, Enute
Johnson, the early pioneer. He played the cornet around 1883.

A government interviewer found him as an old man, got him a new set of
teeth. He saw him working in the sugar-cane fields, around Vacherie, La. He
observed that Enute Johnson was not bitter at all about his seeming
misfortune. So he asked Enute to reflect on his trumpet playing and other
things that he liked to do.

Mr. Johnson said, "Son, play long, play hard, and play as much as possible."
And that makes life quite sweet, brothers and sisters.

Quite sweet.