Sarah McKenzie - another graduate from WA

                                Sneak preview of CLOSE YOUR EYES! published on Jun 19, 2012 by ABCClassics

Following the success of her debut album, ‘Don’t Tempt Me’, which was nominated for The ARIA’s Fine Arts Awards* in 2011 for Best Jazz Album, Sarah McKenzie presents her brand new album ‘Close Your Eyes’. The album is a classic collection of blues, jazz and pop songs including ‘Big Yellow Taxi’, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’, ‘Too Young’ and ‘At Last’. Produced by iconic music producer, Chong Lim (Australia’s Got Talent, Dancing With The Stars), the album marks a crucial milestone in the rapidly developing career of the Melbourne-based artist, whom critics around the country have identified as a once-in-a-generation talent.

At 24 years of age, Sarah McKenzie the pianist, vocalist and composer is a graduate of the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where Hugh Jackman, Marcus Graham, Lisa McCune and other leading Australian musical and theatre performers also trained.

Sarah also sang backing vocals for Michael Bublé on the multi-platinum artist’s ‘Call Me Irresponsible’ Tour and was the opening act for US Trumpeter and five-time Grammy® nominee, Chris Botti, in 2011. Her musical pedigree is impeccable, having been mentored by legends like Graeme Lyall, Jamie Oehlers, and James Morrison. In 2010 she won the James Morrison Scholarship (Vocal) – the only finalist to be nominated in both vocal and instrumental sections.

2012 will mark as an exciting and historic time in this young musician’s career, with the release of her latest album ‘Close Your Eyes’, she has also just recently attended the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy (July 6 - 15) where she was invited to perform at the festival. Upon her recent performance, The Dean of The Berklee College of Music (Boston) saw her play and following an interview and audition, has offered Sarah a Full Scholarship which she has accepted. Berklee is the most prestigious environment for the study of Contemporary Music in the world. The College also supports students continuing to progress their professional careers which provides a great opportunity for Sarah to promote her new album in the US also.

‘Close Your Eyes’ album contains two originals tracks titled, ‘So Got You This Way’ and ‘Lover’s Tune’. “I’ve been very inspired this year by Canadian singer songwriter Joni Mitchell.” Sarah reveals. “She’s an incredible.” artist who’s has survived for decades because she is truly talented. Sarah adds “My style and sound is constantly evolving and I try to incorporate new influences all the time. I am always discovering new material and working out something I can do with it to make it different. That to me is what I really want to do because, as an artist, I don’t want to be known simply as, ‘that jazz and blues girl’. I want to be known as, ‘Sarah McKenzie, that girl who does something fresh with every song she delves into”

Source: ABC Music

Sarah McKenzie recently received a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, so this ARIA Award win has topped off a successful 2012 for the vocalist and piano player.

Double Take

Last Saturday I attended a lecture on ValueGrowth Investing by University of Salford Professor of Investing Glen Arnold at the Sime Darby Convention Centre (owned by a GLC with the standard of upkeep of a G property)

The event was organized the truly amazing Laurence Lau who usually rants and raves at Malaysia-Finance Blogspot.

Super investor and philanthropist Koon Yew Yin gave the opening address (Mr Koon was kind enough to sign my copy of his recently launched book, “Roadmap For Achieving Vision 2020”, see footnote)

If you want to know what Prof Arnold meant by Value Investing, get hold of a copy of his book of the same title.

Besides being another terribly brilliant investor, Laurence is an avid promoter of good local music production. He actually gave away a free CD (The Solianos, an audiophile recording normally priced at at RM69.90 but more about this album in another post) to each participant.

And he got Pop Pop Music to set up a booth offering CDs by local artists at a discount. I picked up one by guitarist Roger Wang and am truly impressed by Roger’s virtuosity.

Listen to Roger accompanying vocalist Mia Palencia on this Filipino song, Dahil Sa Iyo (Because of You) which had been uploaded to youtube by captjazzelle on Dec 16, 2011

Roger and Mia will be celebrating the 12 years of musical partnership with concerts around Malaysia. They will be in Kuala Lumpur this April:

Date : Saturday, 21 April 2012

Venue : Bentley Music Auditorium, Mutiara Damansara, The Curve

Time : 3.00pm - 4.30pm (matinee)

8.00pm - 9.30pm (evening)

RM80 and RM50 admission pass available at www.airasiaredtix.com or call 012-2083790

If you like to sing along to this youtube recording, here are the lyrics by Tom Spinosa and Mike Velarde Jr.

Sa Buhay ko`y labis, Ang hirap at pasakit

Ng pusong umiibig, mandin ay walang langit

Atng lumigaya, iniwan mosa dusa,

Tanging Ikaw Sinta, Ang akingpagasa.

Dahil Sa iyo, Nais kong mabuhay

Dahil Sa iyo, hanggang mamatay

Puso ko`y tanungin, ikaw at ikaw rin;

Dahil sa iyo, ako`y lumigaya,

Pagmamahal, ay alayan ka; kung tunayman ako,

Ay alipinin mo, ang lahat sa buhay ko,

Dahil sa iyo

(Repeat...)

Kung tunay man ako,

Ay alipinin mo, ang lahat sa buhayko,

Dahil saiyo

……and in English if you wish:

Because of you,

there's a joy in living

Because of you,

life is heavenly

I never lived before

never felt a single thrill before

My heart stood still before ,

Darling, I'm in ecstacy

Because of you,

love is sweet and tender

And this my love,

I will offer you

If you will care for me,

all things to you i'll be

My heart is ever true,

because of you

* Both Koon Yew Yin and Prof Arnold were grilled by Khoo Hsu Chuang on BFM the day before on Valuegrowth Investing. Usually a recording of the Breakfast Grill will be available for download on BFM’s website. Strangely, this is not the case for these two fellas. I suspect it has to do with the remark on the shennigans of a political organisation that Mr Koon managed to squeeze in at the end of the interview. Click HERE for an indication, better get the details from his book, “Roadmap For Achieving Vision 2020”; buy online, Click HERE

Sarah McKenzie : Corcovado

Sarah McKenzie with the James Morrison Sextet live @the Basement, Sydney (uploaded by leigh23451 on Sep 8, 2009)

"Corcovado" (known in English as "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars") is a bossa nova song written by Antonio Carlos Jobim. The English lyrics were written by Gene Lees. The US chart version was sung by Andy Williams.

Quiet nights 'n quiet stars, quiet chords from my guitar

Floating on the silence that surrounds us

Quiet thoughts 'n quiet dreams, quiet walks by quiet streams

Climbing hills where lovers go to watch the world below together

We will live eternally in this mood of reverie

Away . . . from all the earthly cares around us

My world was dull each minute until I found you in it

And all at once the happiness I knew,

Became these quiet nights of loving you!

< instrumental break >

We will live eternally in this mood of reverie

Away . . . from all the earthly cares around us

My world was dull each minute until I found you in it

And all at once the happiness I knew,

Became these quiet nights of loving you!

You can also be entertained by Sarah McKenzie’s Please Be Kind HERE

Sarah McKenzie

While shopping in Perth after getting a grip on the ‘after dribble’, an advertisement announcing the adaptation of Christos Tsiolkas' best-selling novel, The Slap, into an eight-part TV drama series attracted me to the ABC shop. The Slap is a story about middle-class suburban Australia and its notions of child-rearing and acceptable behaviour that I had read in 2009. Good on ya, Christos!
While browsing in the shop, I felt obliged to buy something. Already loaded with a backlog of books to catch-up on, I picked up an ABC JAZZ CD instead, paid for it and tucked it away in my carry bag.
Weeks later, I recovered the CD, and discovered Sarah McKenzie!
At 23 years of age, pianist, vocalist and composer Sarah McKenzie is already a musician of remarkable flare and technique.
"Sarah McKenzie is a musical marval. She sings with the kind of phrasing that only a true Jazz singer can come up with while her groove of the piano is the stuff that makes people want to play Jazz”. James Morrison, Australia's best-known jazz musician.
I have downloaded Sarah’s rendition of the 1938 Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin’s Please Be Kind accompanied by James Morrison at The Basement, Sydney (uploaded by leigh23451 on Sep 8, 2009) to whet your appetite.
But really, you should go out and get Sarah’s debut album, Don’t Tempt Me.
Produced by Chong Lim, the man behind the success of many Australian artists, the album contains three originals by Sarah, including the Latin-style title track Don’t Tempt Me, a rollicking gospel inspired I’ve Got The Blues Tonight and the blues heartbreaker Love Me or Leave Me, written when Sarah was just 16 years of age.
This album has been nominated for The ARIA – Fine Arts Awards / 2011 Best Jazz Album.

Zestz JAZZ - I Thank You

I THANK YOU, more country & western than jazz but we could not resist the opportunity to honour two great Aussies, was written by Johnny Young in 1969. Lionel Rose took it to the Australian top 10 in 1970.
Young, singer, composer, record producer, disc jockey, television producer and host, was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 1945. He grew up in the Perth Hills suburb of Kalamunda, Western Australia.
Lionel, born June 21, 1948, was raised in Jackson's Track, a poor aboriginal settlement 50 miles south of Melbourne. Rose won the Bantamweight title in 1968 against Fighting Harada from Japan.




Lyrics:
Let me thank you for just being you
When a boy becomes a man
He must do the best he can
To live his life and find his childhood dream
I've had the good times and the bad
But the biggest break I've had
Was when I found that girl that thought of only me

Thank you for your smile
And the love that's in your eyes
And thank you for the heart that's big and true
Thank you for the many things you are my love
Let me thank you for just being you
Let me thank you for just being you

Every man must make a few mistakes
And put a few feet wrong
And sometimes I feel I want to say forget it
But with my baby by my side
I can swallow foolish pride
And stand upright to fight another day

Thank you for your smile
And the love that's in your eyes
And thank you for a heart that's big and true
Thank you for the many things you are my love
Let me thank you for just being you
Let me thank you for just being you

Now I'm 21 and grown
And I'm know I'm not alone
In this great big world of wars and fear of dying
I wear a smile and not a frown
Cause I know You'll be around
To keep me full of happiness and love

Thank you for your smile
And the love that's in your eyes
And thank you for the heart that's big and true
Thank you for the many things you are my love
Let me thank you for just being you
Let me thank you for just being you

Zestz JAZZ presents lagu Orang Asal

Perjuangan Orang Asal

Orang Asal ... oh-oh Orang Asal,
Mengapa nangis, matamu bengkak,
Aduh Papa, aduh lah mama, )
Hak Orang Asal, semakin ditindas.).. 2 X

Orang Asal oh-oh ... Orang Asal,
Jangan nangis, jangan putus asa,
Ayuh semua, wahai Orang Asal )
Mari berjuang, pertahan hak kita.).. 2 X

Orang Asal ... oh-oh ... Orang Asal,
Mengapa nangis, matamu bengkak,
Aduh aru, aduhlah aki,)
Adat kami kini hampir hilang.) 2 X

Orang Asal oh-oh ... Orang Asal,
Jangan nangis, jangan putus asa,
Ayuh semua, wahai Orang Asal)
Mari berjuang, tahan adat kita.).. 2 X

CLICK HERE to sing along

Source : Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia

Zestz JAZZ : Cucu Alfonso Soliano

Rachel Guerzo bakal muncul di Dewan Filharmonik Petronas pada 27 April

DIIKUTKAN pengalamannya, wanita yang dilahirkan dengan nama Rachel Guerzo ini sebenarnya sudah kira-kira dua dekad menghambakan dirinya pada dunia seni. Begitupun, namanya tidaklah mekar di arus perdana kerana wanita berbakat ini lebih senang meneruskan minatnya dalam dunia persembahan berskala lebih kecil seperti majlis makan malam korporat mahupun di hotel serta kelab.

Namun, sejak tiga tahun lalu, dia mula memberikan tumpuan kepada muzik jazz untuk membawa karier seninya ke peringkat lebih jauh lagi. Penghujung tahun lalu, dia berjaya menghasilkan sebuah album berjudul Just Friends, yang memuatkan tiga lagu Melayu dan tiga Inggeris. Diterbitkan hasil titik peluhnya sendiri, album yang mengetengahkan muzik jazz tulen itu menjadi buah tangan paling berharga buat Rachel kerana ia memberikannya peluang untuk bekerja dengan pemuzik ternama, termasuk bapanya sendiri, Salvador Guerzo.

"Peminat sudah lama menyarankan saya merakamkan suara ke album. Namun, sebelum ini saya agak terikat dengan beberapa hal lain. Lagipun, saya tidak perlu tergesa-gesa dalam menghasilkan album ini.

"Selain memenuhi impian peminat, album ini juga membolehkan saya menunaikan hasrat bekerja dengan bapa sendiri. Di samping itu, saya turut berupaya untuk merakamkan lagu ciptaan datuk saya, Alfonso Soliano, menerusi album ini," kata Rachel ketika berkunjung ke Balai Berita, baru-baru ini.

Lebih membuatkan dirinya terharu, Just Friends memberikannya ruang untuk bekerjasama dengan pemuzik handalan termasuk pemain genderang dari Brazil, Valtinho Anastacio.
"Komuniti muzik jazz ini sebenarnya tidaklah besar sangat. Saya sendiri diperkenalkan kepada Valtinho ketika dia mengadakan persembahan di Kuala Lumpur. Dari situ, saya memaklumkan mengenai projek album terbabit dan dia bersetuju untuk menjadi sebahagian daripada projek istimewa ini," kata Rachel.

Bercerita mengenai pembabitannya dengan muzik jazz, penyanyi yang juga pemain piano kelahiran Kuala Lumpur ini memberitahu, semuanya bermula apabila pemuzik Farid Ali mencadangkan dirinya berhenti menyanyi di hotel, sebaliknya memilih satu genre muzik yang digemari, yang seterusnya mampu membawa dirinya ke peringkat lebih tinggi.

"Jika diikutkan, kepuasan yang dicapai ketika mengadakan persembahan di kelab atau hotel sebenarnya lebih tinggi. Namun, demi membawa karier saya ke peringkat lebih jauh, saya memilih untuk menghasilkan album dan memperjuangkan muzik nuasa jazz ini," katanya yang teringin untuk bekerjasama dengan lebih ramai pemuzik antarabangsa dalam projek album akan datang.

Katanya, jika album pertama mendapat sambutan membanggakan, dia merancang untuk merakamkan lebih banyak lagu Melayu klasik, yang akan disuntik dengan elemen muzik antarabangsa.

Boleh didapati di kebanyakan kedai muzik ternama, secara online, serta di No Black Tie, album berharga RM35 yang mengambil masa kira-kira setahun untuk disiapkan itu juga boleh dibeli peminat pada lokasi persembahan penyanyi ini, termasuk pada persembahannya di Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), 27 April ini.

Janjikan persembahan terbaik di DFP

SELEPAS Mia Palencia dan Noryn Aziz, kini tibalah pula giliran Rachel untuk menaiki pentas berprestij DFP menerusi siri persembahan DFP Spotlight: Jazz, bagi musim 2009/2010. Dijadualkan bermula jam 9 malam, penyanyi wanita berusia 35 tahun ini akan tampil bersama lima pemuzik.

Selain dirinya sendiri yang menyanyi dan bermain piano, persembahan yang memakan masa kira-kira satu jam 15 minit itu turut menampilkan Steve Thornton yang bermain genderang, Ruslan Imam (gitar bes), Nik Khair (gitar), Salvador Guerzo (saksofon) dan Rizal Soliano (dram). Rizal ialah bapa saudara kepada penyanyi yang sememangnya dilahirkan dalam keluarga seni ini.

Pada malam berkenaan, Rachel bukan sekadar bakal menyanyikan lagu petikan album Just Friends, seperti Jauh Jauh dan Gadis Idamanku, dia juga akan mendendangkan lagu jazz popular seperti It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, Easy To Love dan Just In Time.

"Berbeza dengan persembahan saya di beberapa kelab seperti Alexis dan No Black Tie, yang menyaksikan saya beraksi secara kuartet, kemunculan di DFP nanti akan dimeriahkan juga dengan permainan muzik gitar dan perkusi," katanya yang muncul buat julung kali di DFP.

Menurut wanita yang mula bermain piano sejak usianya lima tahun ini, sudah tentu dia akan memberikan persembahan terbaiknya pada kemunculan sulung di dewan berprestij berkenaan. Ketika yang sama, dia ingin berseronok, seterusnya meninggalkan kenangan indah buat peminat yang datang.

KLIK DI SINI : Tiket menyaksikan persembahan Rachel dijual pada harga RM40. Maklumat lanjut boleh didapati dengan menghubungi 03-20517007.

Oleh Nurulhisham Abdul Latiff Berita Harina 2010/04/16

Gambar

Zestz JAZZ remembers Jimmy Boyle

James W Boyle 1922- 1971

Penang has always boasted a long list of music greats with the likes of Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Jimmy Boyle, Joe Rozells and Larry Rodrigues. Not to miss out on the old charms of Penang, The Little Penang Street Market is proud to have the Rozells, with a tribute to the great Jimmy Boyle.

Jimmy Boyle was born in Penang in 1922. He was a well-known Malaysian Jazz musician who developed his own style.

His compositions and piano playing have been played throughout the world and won the hearts of top jazz critics like Jerry Muchigan and International jazz musicians like Charles Lloyd and Jack Teagarden.

Jimmy composed the first Malaysian Jamboree song "Kemegahan Negara Ku" which was played at midnight on the birth of Malaysia in 1963.

Among his notable compositions were: "Putera Puteri", "Ingat Ingat", "Jauh Jauh", "Rayuan Mesra", or "Melody Of Love", "Api Dan Air", "Bunga Negara", "Ke-Hulu Ke-Hilir", "Pantun Melayu", "Gemaran Bulan", "Bertugas", and "Sungai Pahang".

Jimmy Boyle had always been proud of being a Malaysian and through his music he had hoped to perpetuate the soul and spirit of his country and its people.

The late Jimmy Boyle has made a huge contribution to the music scene of Malaysia.

Website: http://www.rozells.com.my

CLICK HERE "Kemegahan Negara Ku" adopted by the Malaysian Armed Forces

IN CASE YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN:

Tue 27 April 2010, 9.00pm

Rachel Guerzo at the Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS

CLICK HERE : Tickets at RM40 each for all seats

Zestz JAZZ

The Jazz Scene in Malaysia

Since Jazz reached the shores of Malaysia more than 40 years ago, the Afro-American music commanded a steady following among a wide section of society.

The musical genre, rooted in blue notes, syncopation, swing, call and response, polyrhythms and improvisation, has brought together people from diverse backgrounds and age groups.

Take for example, the 56-year-old retired academician Datuk Dr Sabree Salleh who teams up with the 63-year-old Sulaiman Hashim a.k.a Tik, formerly an RTM Orchestra musician, to perform jazz.

THE BIG NAMES IN LOCAL JAZZ SCENE

According to the doyen of jazz radio programmes in Malaysia, Alan Zechariah (on the guitar), the local jazz scene had evolved over the years.

"It is a genre well loved by the young and old alike," he said in an interview broadcast live over Traxxfm 90.3 from Bangkok Jazz, a jazz hangout in Kuala Lumpur, during the re-launch of the Jazz Selecta radio programme.

The new Jazz Selecta launched by the Traxxfm 90.3, hosted by deejays Jezza and Maya, goes on air every Tuesday night from 10pm to 1am.

As one of the pioneers to introduce jazz on radio back in the early sixties, Zechariah recalled names like the late Jimmy Boyle a.k.a. Penang Boy who used to be a pianist and composer with RTM; Datuk Ahmad Merican, the radio-turned-TV producer who played jazz guitar; Datuk Johari Salleh, who helmed the RTM Orchestra; Syed Alwi, a well-known playwrightsongwriter in the 60s; and local musicians Alfonso Soliano and his brother Tony Soliano who later married singer Julie Sudiro.

A music reviewer in 1959 had described Jimmy Boyle as the "Malayan musician in a class by himself". His jazz technique was described as excellent and his musical integrity was 100 percent.

"Jazz has been in the repertoire of RTM Orchestra since Johari's time," Zechariah said, referring to the nation's foremost music conductor. "Datuk Dol Ramli, the former director-general of the Broadcasting Department, was also the driving force behind jazz in RTM Orchestra."

PRESENT NAMES IN JAZZ

Today, young people like Shelley Leong and Leonard Tan are fast emerging in the local jazz scene. Tan literally crossed over to jazz from jingles, while Leong is taking jazz seriously by pursuing her studies in jazz vocals and songwriting at Berklee College of Music in the United States.

"I've always wanted to pursue further ever since I fell in love with jazz in Australia eight years ago. I love the interpretation and improvisational elements in jazz. To me jazz is an art form, both reckless and thoughtful at the same time," Leong enthused.

To her, the obvious choice was Berklee, the home for jazz education that boasts of alumni such as Diana Krall, Pat Metheny and Arif Mardin. "My mentor, Lisa Thorson, who is a leading jazz vocalist in Boston, continues to push me towards a higher standard in the vocal department.

"From a songwriting perspective, jazz gives me extra colour to work with - it's harmony and rhythm."

Of late, even Francissca Peter is returning to the jazz scene with her "Fran & Friends" brand of "swinging and sultry jazz grooves" performed at The Cotton Club Jazzaurant, also in Kuala Lumpur.

MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE

According to Sabree, the former dean of Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara's (UiTM) Faculty of Sports Science, music exposure was greater these days.

There are now music departments in Universiti Putra Malaysia, UiTM, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and local private colleges like ICOM, Yamaha and UCSI School of Music.

"However, more needs to be done to develop music in Malaysia," lamented Sulaiman who has spent a considerable period of his career with the RTM Orchestra (17 years), before moving to DBKL Orchestra (eight years) and the MBSA Orchestra (13 years).

"Music is not taught as a subject in schools like in the west. By the time they finish high school, they would have picked up classical music.

"The government should make music a subject in schools," he said.

It was sad, he added, that child prodigy Razak Rahman's jazz album was not selling well due to the lack of appreciation in the local music scene.

"Unless the Ministry of Education introduces music as a subject in schools, people in Malaysia will not appreciate music from young."

IF ANYTHING, JAZZ IS UNIVERSAL

Jazz, though an Afro-American genre is universal music. In the local scene, jazz aficionados look beyond race and culture when they "jam" together.

"No matter what race or background, people can appreciate music. It is universal," said Sulaiman.

"Look, three of the musicians in my band 'The Shades of Gray' are Chinese, I am a Malay and my singer, Daphne Equio Dayot, is a Filipino.

"We practise once a week every Thursday night and learn at least two to three new songs. In fact, many of the jazz artistes today are Malays," he added.

Vincent Seetho, 64, a former RTM technical crew now playing saxophone and clarinet on Alan Zechariah's Z Band, said: "In China, the Shanghai Jazz group is trying to incorporate jazz into old Chinese songs. It doesn't matter what race you are, it is all about pouring out feelings into jazz."

Traxxfm and Jazz Selecta host, DJ Jezza, who is a Malaysian Indian, is a big fan of jazz. "I've told my fans that when I retire one day, I want go back to my hometown Seremban and start my jazz mamak stall," he said.

So long live Jazz!

By Stephen Ng, UCSI E-Weekly, Issue No. 8, 2006

Zestz JAZZ presents Rachel Guerzo

Tue 27 April 2010, 9.00pm Rachel Guerzo will make a special appearance at the prestigious Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS as part of its Spotlight: Jazz series.

Malaysian Filipino pianist and singer Rachel has emerged as one of most exciting and innovative jazz musicians in her own right.

Rachel promises you an exquisite jazz experience infusing the elegance of the traditional with the dynamism of the new.

Malay classics, bossa nova, swing and standards are brought to life by this outstanding entertainer alongside Malaysia’s top musicians performing songs from her début album such as Just Friends, Jauh Jauh and Gadis Idamanku as well as popular jazz hits like It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, Easy To Love and Just In Time.

CLICK HERE: Tickets at RM40 each for all seats

Photo: Making of her debut album ‘Just Friends’

Zestz JAZZ presents Prema Yin

Prema Yin is no stranger to the music industry in Malaysia. Having launched her EP, “Eyo Eyo” in August 2009, she has thus received great reviews from the local media. The press has dubbed her as the upcoming “Rock Princess” of Malaysia.

She was the winner for NTV7’s Malaysian Topstar in 2004. The singer/songwriter has performed in big festivals like Sunburst Festival, Sunrise Jazz Festival, Sarawak Rainforest Festival as well as overseas (China for the Zhu Jia Jia Water Village Festival, Singapore Arts Festival). Prema Yin was interviewed on BFM 89.9 yesterday.

CLICK HERE for “Eyo Eyo” on youtube

Composer: Prema Yin; Lyricist: TINTA

“This song was written because I loved latin music, and what could be better than combining latin and rock together, two of my favorite style of music? Plus, have fun doing it! ;) I must say, I am satisfied with the outcome, and thanks to TINTA’s lovely lyrics, it gave the song the edge it needed. It has the attitude and fun all merged in one. Something that I can definitely relate too! YEAH!”

Zestz JAZZ presents Sharizan Borhan

Sharizan Borhan

Sharizan, the voice, the crooner.

You’ve heard him on 105.7FM Sunday night Swing Time dropping some clues onto his voice talent.

For the followers of jazz and swing, Sharizan is a saviour of the genre. He is hot property on the live club circuit, a platinum-selling and award-winning recording artiste, and a crooner from the school of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.

CLICK HERE to listen to Sharizan’s bubbly ‘Come Fly With Me’

Photo: http://star-ecentral.com

Zestz JAZZ

Tan Soo Suan is the resident soprano of Dama Orchestra. She was awarded the title of national grand champion of classical singing in Malaysia in 1998 after winning the competition for three consecutive years.

Her debut solo concert series The Songs in Me with Dama Orchestra in 2000-2001 were sold out throughout the country. Since then, she has been invited to perform in Hongkong, China, Taiwan and Canada.

Tan's stage performances with Dama includes Liu Yun: Portrait of a Songstress, In the Imperial Garden, Fragrance of the Night, Spring Kisses Lover's Tears, A Musical Sojourn, Unforgettable, Love without End, Memories and Le Cabaret Shanghai

CLICK HERE to listen to her rendition of 欢乐今宵 Enjoy the Night (LE CABARET SHANGHAI ) with the Dama Orchestra.

She had studied with well-known Malaysian soprano Madam Tung and later with soprano Rosemary Barnes in Auckland, New Zealand. Besides performing, Tan gives vocal lessons.

A recipient of the 2004 Boh Cameronian Arts Award for Best Solo Performance (Voice), she has two recordings to her credit - Memories DVD and Fragrance of the Night CD.

Photo: http://www.sun2surf.com

Zestz JAZZ

Ela e Carioca

Rachel Guerzo Quartet at No Black Tie - July 2007

Rizal Soliano on drums, Valentino Soliano on bass and Salvador Guerzo on tenor

CLICK HERE to play

You can also catch Rachel

LIVE at DEWAN FILHARMONIK PETRONAS

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 at 9.00 p.m.

Purchase your tickets here

Photo credit: http://www.glaringnotebook.com

Zestz JAZZ

Mimpiku Semalam - Rachel Guerzo Trio with Finn Martin

Instrumental piece composed by the late Alfonso Soliano. 'Live' at No Black Tie, Dec 2007 - Rachel Guerzo on piano, Halim on bass, Rizal Soliano on drums and Finn Martin on soprano sax.
CLICK HERE to play

You can also catch Rachel

LIVE at DEWAN FILHARMONIK PETRONAS

Tuesday, 27 April 2010 at 9.00 p.m.

Click here to purchase your tickets.

Photo credit: www.alexis.com.my