Saturday, October 4, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Tribute To Grover Washington
The year is reaching its end with the rainy season. And the nights are cold with raindrops drizzling everywhere; turning KL into a cool misty city. The perfect setting for some smooth jazz.
The Duke is yet again, proud to present the sheer genius of Azmi, a saxophonist who has been in the local Jazz scene since the 80s. He will pay homage to one of the founding fathers of smooth jazz, the legendary Grover Washington Jr., on December 1st 2007.Together with his band Zaid on drums, Willy on keyboard, Halim on bass and Maria Angela doing the vocals, Azmi will bring you back in time to the days of Mr. Washington’s greatest hits such as Mr. Magic, Just the Two of Us, The Best is Yet to Come, Soulful Strut, Black Frost and many more. Expect his funky yet soulful brand of music to be relived atop the hills of Bukit Ledang.
With such a remarkable lineup of musicians playing an outstanding set-list, you will be mesmerized into the world of top class smooth jazz; definitely a rare scene around the neighborhood.
Azmi has been winning the hearts (and ears) of people everywhere with his astounding improvisations. Always giving his utmost passion and desire into his game, the expression of his emotions are often heard through the fluctuating high and low notes he hits with his sax. The quality in his playing has taken him everywhere; from jazz festivals in KL, Penang, Kuching and Jakarta to TV performances in Japan and Australia.
More often than not, Azmi takes along the all of his experiences touring different parts of the world on to the stage, presenting his utmost best to his legion of fans. So come one come all to the Duke, on December 1st 2007, to enjoy the soothing sounds of Grover Washington Jr. in the tune of Azmi and friends.
- Rozman
The Duke is yet again, proud to present the sheer genius of Azmi, a saxophonist who has been in the local Jazz scene since the 80s. He will pay homage to one of the founding fathers of smooth jazz, the legendary Grover Washington Jr., on December 1st 2007.Together with his band Zaid on drums, Willy on keyboard, Halim on bass and Maria Angela doing the vocals, Azmi will bring you back in time to the days of Mr. Washington’s greatest hits such as Mr. Magic, Just the Two of Us, The Best is Yet to Come, Soulful Strut, Black Frost and many more. Expect his funky yet soulful brand of music to be relived atop the hills of Bukit Ledang.
With such a remarkable lineup of musicians playing an outstanding set-list, you will be mesmerized into the world of top class smooth jazz; definitely a rare scene around the neighborhood.
Azmi has been winning the hearts (and ears) of people everywhere with his astounding improvisations. Always giving his utmost passion and desire into his game, the expression of his emotions are often heard through the fluctuating high and low notes he hits with his sax. The quality in his playing has taken him everywhere; from jazz festivals in KL, Penang, Kuching and Jakarta to TV performances in Japan and Australia.
More often than not, Azmi takes along the all of his experiences touring different parts of the world on to the stage, presenting his utmost best to his legion of fans. So come one come all to the Duke, on December 1st 2007, to enjoy the soothing sounds of Grover Washington Jr. in the tune of Azmi and friends.
- Rozman
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
JwdJazzIdea
JwdJazzIdea
Booking Jazz Festivals by eMail.
More and more bands and artists from around the world are wanting to perform at the festival. They are very choosy in whom to select and are looking for performers who are friendly and easy to work with. It is also important that acts have good name recognition, a substantial audience draw.They can t hire performers without knowing what they sound like. If you want to be considered for a gig they ll have to get a recording of your music and some promotional material. The best procedure is to send an email with description of your performance and invitation to visit your site. There should also be a promise that promotional package with CD will be send
Booking Jazz Festivals by eMail.
More and more bands and artists from around the world are wanting to perform at the festival. They are very choosy in whom to select and are looking for performers who are friendly and easy to work with. It is also important that acts have good name recognition, a substantial audience draw.They can t hire performers without knowing what they sound like. If you want to be considered for a gig they ll have to get a recording of your music and some promotional material. The best procedure is to send an email with description of your performance and invitation to visit your site. There should also be a promise that promotional package with CD will be send
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Azmi
One of the most diverse, in demand sax players in all of contemporary jazz, Azmi Hairudin finds pure joy at the heart of his increasingly fast-paced touring schedule by reminding himself, every time he gets on stage, that he’s there to do one thing: Play!
Azmi first expressed his interest in music on the drums, switching to saxophone in Jr. High School when he was "impressed" with the shininess of the sax. Azmi began playing local functions and clubs while still in high school.
Having built a steady following as a sideman in some of KL’s top jazz clubs, 1990 saw Azmi stepping out in faith and starting his own band.
KL was such a cool music town in the early ‘80s. There were so many live music venues then..everybody came through KL. I was like a sponge – just sitting there with these giants and absorbing everything they threw my way." It worked. His musical reputation as well as his local following grew. Soon Azmi became "the" opening act for jazz shows that came to Kuala Lumpur and in 1995 he caught the ear of jazz pianist Boy Katindig, who was so impressed with the young Azmi that two weeks later Azmi found himself in Manhattan with Boy Katindig.
In 1997 Azmi received a serendipitous phone call from jazz Keyboardist Idang Rasyidi (Trigonia) Idang had heard this warm, passionate sax on Sheila Majid Cd’s and traced it to its creator, Azmi. "Idang had never heard of me, didn’t know who I was or where I was, but managed to track me down in Kuala Lumpur. Next thing I know, I’m headed to Indonesia to play with him. It was during that concerts that I decided to move to Jakarta.
Over the last few years, I’ve been doing just that to the tune of almost 100 performances annually, bringing the trademark exuberance to gigs with Lewis Pragasam longtime band Asiabeat, shows across the country with The Sax Pack (featuring John Kaizan). Touring with Malaysian Philharmonic and RTM Orchestra. Appearing at Asian Jazz Festival, Singapore Arts Fez, Australia Arts Fez, Jakarta Jazz Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Penang Jazz Festival, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan Arts & Cultural Festival, Jakjaz Festival, Java Jazz Festival and many more.
" Azmi soon became an "in demand" session player. The late 80’s and early 2000’s saw Azmi recording and performing with Lewis Pragasam, Steve Thornton, Lica Cicato, Boy Katindig, Angelita Lee, Jacky, Siti Norhaliza, Ning Baizura, Anita Sarawak, Sheila Majid, Idang Rasjidi, Emmy Kulit, Shaharani, Ireng Maulana, Mus Mudjono, Tompi. Victoria Newton, Denise Minefield, Khadijah Ibrahim, Willy & Maria and countless local and International artists.
One Heart is also the definitive, one word answer that came in mind when he thought about what he truly wanted to do on his first Cd.
“I asked myself, what am I trying to say, and how do I feel? “I think I’m simply conveying that I’m beyond playing it safe and keeping the spectrum limited to one color. I don’t want to hold my breath and be so polite. I wanted more of a group vibe and to go back to just having fun. The songs cover a lot of stylistic territory, from funky pop to more classic traditional jazz. They’re all part of my new definition of Play: To be free. To engage in joyful activity. We just got in the studio and said, let’s play. Let’s really play!"
- John Li
Azmi first expressed his interest in music on the drums, switching to saxophone in Jr. High School when he was "impressed" with the shininess of the sax. Azmi began playing local functions and clubs while still in high school.
Having built a steady following as a sideman in some of KL’s top jazz clubs, 1990 saw Azmi stepping out in faith and starting his own band.
KL was such a cool music town in the early ‘80s. There were so many live music venues then..everybody came through KL. I was like a sponge – just sitting there with these giants and absorbing everything they threw my way." It worked. His musical reputation as well as his local following grew. Soon Azmi became "the" opening act for jazz shows that came to Kuala Lumpur and in 1995 he caught the ear of jazz pianist Boy Katindig, who was so impressed with the young Azmi that two weeks later Azmi found himself in Manhattan with Boy Katindig.
In 1997 Azmi received a serendipitous phone call from jazz Keyboardist Idang Rasyidi (Trigonia) Idang had heard this warm, passionate sax on Sheila Majid Cd’s and traced it to its creator, Azmi. "Idang had never heard of me, didn’t know who I was or where I was, but managed to track me down in Kuala Lumpur. Next thing I know, I’m headed to Indonesia to play with him. It was during that concerts that I decided to move to Jakarta.
Over the last few years, I’ve been doing just that to the tune of almost 100 performances annually, bringing the trademark exuberance to gigs with Lewis Pragasam longtime band Asiabeat, shows across the country with The Sax Pack (featuring John Kaizan). Touring with Malaysian Philharmonic and RTM Orchestra. Appearing at Asian Jazz Festival, Singapore Arts Fez, Australia Arts Fez, Jakarta Jazz Festival, Java Jazz Festival, Penang Jazz Festival, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan Arts & Cultural Festival, Jakjaz Festival, Java Jazz Festival and many more.
" Azmi soon became an "in demand" session player. The late 80’s and early 2000’s saw Azmi recording and performing with Lewis Pragasam, Steve Thornton, Lica Cicato, Boy Katindig, Angelita Lee, Jacky, Siti Norhaliza, Ning Baizura, Anita Sarawak, Sheila Majid, Idang Rasjidi, Emmy Kulit, Shaharani, Ireng Maulana, Mus Mudjono, Tompi. Victoria Newton, Denise Minefield, Khadijah Ibrahim, Willy & Maria and countless local and International artists.
One Heart is also the definitive, one word answer that came in mind when he thought about what he truly wanted to do on his first Cd.
“I asked myself, what am I trying to say, and how do I feel? “I think I’m simply conveying that I’m beyond playing it safe and keeping the spectrum limited to one color. I don’t want to hold my breath and be so polite. I wanted more of a group vibe and to go back to just having fun. The songs cover a lot of stylistic territory, from funky pop to more classic traditional jazz. They’re all part of my new definition of Play: To be free. To engage in joyful activity. We just got in the studio and said, let’s play. Let’s really play!"
- John Li
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