Introducing Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 performers | Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

This is what you will expect at one of Malaysia's most enduring jazz festivals, the Borneo Jazz Festival now entering its ninth (9th) year. The festival will be held in Miri from the 9-10 May.

Here is the line-up for 2014:

	ANTHONY STRONG (UK) Pianist and singer, Anthony  Strong was hailed as “England’s New Jazz Superstar” as his EP release reached No. 1 on the UK jazz charts in 2012. In 2013, Anthony Strong beat Gregory Porter, Michael Buble and Harry Connick Jr. to become October’s No. 1 on iTunes and No.2 on the www.amazon.com  jazz charts in the USA. Rod Steward described him as amazing.  BB King called it “real great music”. This is a once in a lifetime performance to watch.
	BRASSBALLETT (Germany)An 11 member band from Hamburg that combines  brass playing with funky dance moves. They are both aurally and visually stunning! This was the brain child of band leader Wassilij Goron who founded the band in 2011. They play jazz and funk based on pop, latin and classical themes while they dance hip hop, street style and salsa. Their show is the ultimate festival experience.
	DIANA LIU (Sarawak) Sarawak’s own jazz singer songwriter Diana Liu has established herself in the music circuit of Beijing, China, while still performing often in homeland Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and other Asian cities. She sings in Mandarin and English, works with jazz giants such as Lewis Pragasam and Idang Rasjidi. She comes to Borneo Jazz with an international ensemble of  jazz musicians – Lewis Pragasam of Malaysia, Christy Smith of USA, Tan Wee Siang of Singapore, Greg Lyons of Britain. Sweet and sultry vocals with an edge.
	IRIAO (Georgia) They fuse the famous Georgian jodling singing style of Krimanchuli with western harmonies. The songs they sing come from authentic folk and polyphonic music and they infuse it with jazz and improvisatory elements. Unusual, unique and extremely classy.
	JUNKOFUNC (Malaysia) Highly energetic rhythms with a touch of soul and lashings of funk.  This band from Kuala Lumpur was first formed for the Genting International Jazz Festival in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength, growing in number as well as repertoire. Punchy brass, powerful vocals and a pounding rhythm section.
	MARIO CANONGE (Martinique) The pianist with the flying fingers and the fiery energy of a tightly coiled spring – Mario is in great demand from big names such as Lavelle, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Nicole Croisille, Ralph Thamar, Carter Jefferson. He mixes into his performance, influences from his roots from Martinique as well as zouk, the beguine, the mazurka. He has created and performs in and with many different ensembles. This is Caribbean jazz at its best.
	VOCAL SAMPLING (Cuba) An all male a capella group that floors their audiences by the sounds and tonal techniques they can produce. Six voices can sound like an instrumental ensemble. They mix latin salsa, Cuban son and with their amazing vocal abilities, with a repertoire of songs taken from various sources. Their 2002 album “Cambio de Tiempo” was nominated for 3 Latin Grammy Award.  A stunning mind blowing show
	YK BAND (Indonesia) A quartet from Samarinda whose music is a unique blend of Indonesian Borneo tunes built into western jazz techniques and improvisation. South East Asian ethno jazz with a twist.

There is a pre-sale ticket offer now till 8th of May 2014. Click here for more ticket purchase details.

Sarawak Malaysia Borneo... where adventure lives

Borneo Jazz 2014 | Early Bird Tickets Offer | Sarawak

The early bird offer will expire 31st March 2014. In addition to the online ticket vendor, there are ticket outlets which may be nearby your location.The offer ranges from RM15 (1-day child) to RM55 (2-day Adult).

If you are living in Brunei Darussalam, the ticket outlets are MegaBorneo Tour Planner, Pan Bright Travel Service and Century Travel Center Sdn. Bhd.

For those living in Bekasi and Bali, Indonesia, the outlets are Destination Sabah Sarawak Indonesia representative office and Pan Bright Travel Service respectively.

Pan Bright Travel Service, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is the appointed festival ticket outlet.

Sarawakians can check out their nearest outlets here.

About Borneo Jazz Festival

The 2014 will be the ninth (9th) edition and it is held in Miri, Sarawak.  This year, the performers are JunkOFunc (Malaysia), Vocal Sampling (Cuba), Brassballett (Germany), Mario Canonge (Martinique), Iriao (Georgia),  YK Samarinda (Indonesia) and Diana Liu (Malaysia).

Sarawak Malaysia Borneo... where adventure lives

Sarawak Specials at MATTA Fair 2014 | Kayo- Kayo Packages

The interesting packages ranges from Sarawak Malay Heritage to Sibu Melanau Heritage tour. For the cyclists, there are the Heritage and Culture Ride and the Classic City Ride package. 

Sarawak is about adventure. Immerse in the unique Lost World Adventure experience in the Padawan Highlands or combine scuba diving with caving adventure. One package is called Oil Town Underwater World and Caving Adventure with Homestay Experience whilst another is simply called Caves, Caves and More Caves.You can purchase these and more at the Sarawak Tourism Booth from our nine (9) consortium partners. 

They are:

1. Borneo Exploration Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd, 
2. Brighton Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, 
3. Ecogreen Holidays Sdn Bhd, 
4. Gotravel Holiday Sdn Bhd, 
5. Greatown Travel Sdn Bhd, 
6. Ibanika Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd, 
7. Kuching Holidays & Car Rental Sdn Bhd, 
8. Planet Borneo Tours & Travel Services Sdn Bhd and 
9. Journey Travel Agencies Sdn Bhd

To extend the value of your purchase, you will stand a chance to win tickets to Rainforest World Music Festival, Borneo Jazz or Asia Music Festival. Naturally, this offer is only given during the fair.

Here are some samples of the Kayo-Kayo Sarawak packages.

2014 is Visit Malaysia Year campaign. Incidentally it is also Visit Sarawak Year, proclaimed to celebrate the state's 50th Anniversary of Independence with Malaysia. 'Kayo Kayo'  means 'wandering' in the Malay language. Sarawak wants to welcome you. But first wander over to see us at MATTA Fair March 2014, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Booth No. 3014 - 3018 from the 14th to 16th March 10am - 9pm

Sarawak Malaysia Borneo... where adventure lives

Asia Music Festival 2013 Line-Up | Sarawak Malaysia Borneo

Here is a musical genre brief of the thirteen (13) bands and artistes who will perform at Asia Music Festival.

The style of music is essentially fusion; combining elements of tradition into main stream.

	Anthony Dassan  Chennai, India Contemporary Tamil Folk songs and dances
	Bob Yusof Malaysia Malay Pop
	Boy Thai Band  Bangkok, Thailand  Classical Thai with modern sounds
	Fakhrul Razi Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam Indie
	Foxy Girls Jakarta Indonesia R & B Malay Pop
	Hevance Sarawak Malaysia Iban Rock
	Melissa Francis Sarawak Malaysia Iban Pop and Ballad
	Soesah Tidoer Yogyakarta Indonesia Fusion of dangdut – keroncong – rock
	The Starlets Band Sarawak Malaysia Modern, Pop, Rock and Ballad
	The Mountain Wind Band  Sarawak Malaysia Country music with Sarawak Highland roots
	Tritha Kolkata, India Hindustan trip-hop, mixing traditional and contemporary sounds
	V. Star featuring Kamal Musallam Seoul, Korea Traditional-Fusion with a K-POP twist

Here are the festival key details:

PROGRAM

Day 1 – 4 October 2013 (Friday)

4.00 pm to 5.00 pm                 -           Starlets Band (Malaysia)

5.15 pm to 6.15 pm                 -           Hevance (Malaysia)

6.15 pm to 7.15 pm                 -           Bob Yusof (Malaysia)

7.30 pm to 8.30 p.m                -           Soesah Tidoer (Indonesia)

8.45 pm to 9.45 pm                 -           Tritha (India)

10.00 pm to 11.00 pm             -           Bembol Rocker (Philippines)

11.15 p.m. to 12.15 pm          -           V. Star Band (Korea)

Day 2 – 5 October 2013 (Saturday)

4.00 pm to 5.00 pm                 -           The Mountain Wind Band (Malaysia)

5.15 pm to 6.15 pm                 -           Melissa Francis (Malaysia)

6.15 pm to 7.15 pm                 -           Starlets Band (Malaysia) 

7.30 pm to 8.30 p.m                -           Fakhrul Razi featuring the Camouflage (Brunei Darussalam)

8.45 pm to 9.45 pm                 -           Boy Thai Band (Thailand)

10.00 pm to 11.00 pm             -           Antoney Dassan Yen Party (India)

11.15 p.m. to 12.15 pm          -           Foxy Girls (Indonesia)


TICKETS
RM30 (Adults)
RM15 (Child or Student (aged 3 to 18))

Tickets are available for sale at:

Sarawak

• Sarawak Tourism Board, 5th Floor, Bangunan Yayasan,  Kuching, Sarawak
• Visitors’ Information Centre Kuching
• Visitors’ Information Centre Sibu
• Visitors’ Information Centre Miri
• Eastwood Valley Golf & Country Club

Brunei (Period of sale valid until 26^th September 2013)

• Anthony Tours & Travel Agency
• Continental Tours & Travel

Want to know more? Please visit Asia Music Festival website.

Sarawak Malaysia Borneo... where adventure lives

Harvesting edible bird's nests at Niah National Park, Miri Sarawak

The Niah National Park's caves is important for the local communities, with edible bird's nest and guano collection providing valuable employment and income. Archaeologically, it was a major centre of human settlement as early as 40,000 years ago, and features one of the world’s largest cave entrances. Palaeolithic and Neolithic burial sites, and iron-age cave paintings.

The cavernous entrance of Niah Cave at Niah National Park

Recently, a Gala TV Taiwan crew with their well-known host, Lin Chia Pei visited 'Gua Perintah' a swiftlet breeding cave located within the Niah Cave system. The trip was part of Sarawak Tourism Board's visiting journalist programme (VJP).

Lin Chia Pei, the TV host pointing the way to 'Gua Perintah'

The trail to Gua Perintah

The steep step to Gua Perintah entrance  

The trekking leads to 'gua perintah' (takes about 20 mins – 30 mins) passes through beautiful primary rainforest before moving into at the foot of the hill. The step is steep but once you reach the top, it will be worth the effort for it offers a sweeping panorama of the rainforest canopy.

'Gua Perintah' is a project managed by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation to showcase, create awareness and enhance knowledge on the importance of sustainable swiftlet conservation n Sarawak.

Edible bird's nest collecting is a skilled and dangerous work, done high up at the ceilings of the caves which abound in Niah National Park. The intrepid collector shins barefooted up bamboo scaffolding, often without harnesses, tapping his way up to make sure the bamboo is sound. He lights his way in the black caves with a torch light and uses a special bamboo tool to harvest the nests. 

How to climb a bamboo pole; explained and shown (below) - by the TV host

Wrapping a strap round both feet increases the foot grip

A unprocessed edible nest

The nests themselves are tiny translucent cups about the size of a small egg. They are made by the male swiftlet from glutinous threads of its own saliva, which it weaves into a cup that dries to become thin and translucent like fine porcelain.  Recent research has indeed shown that the nests, which taste rather like noodles, contain a water-soluble glycoprotein that may promote cell division in the immune system.

Edible bird's nest are prepared for consumption by just stewing the processed nest with water and rock sugar; preferably in a double-boiler

At the park one can also visit the Niah National Park museum where the replica of the oldest human skull in South East Asia (40,000 years old), found in the Great Cave, can be seen.

Getting To Niah National Park
Taxi
The most convenient way to get to Niah National Park is by taxi which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach from Miri city. Cost of a one-way fare is about RM150.00

Bus
Take Bus No.33A from city centre  to Pujut Corner Bus Terminal. From here, one can take any bus that goes to either Bintulu, Sibu or Kuching. Get off at the Niah Rest Stop. Bus fare is RM15.00 per person. From the here, take private taxi (about RM30 one-way) to reach Niah National Park HQ.

Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo, where adventure lives

Exciting international bands to perform at Borneo Jazz Festival 2013

One of Malaysia most prestigious Jazz festival is back.  Borneo Jazz Festival 2013 promises the exciting line up of top international bands and some of the Asia best musicians.  Go on an adventure in Sarawak as you groove to the music of Borneo Jazz 2013.  

Book your tickets now. 

More info at www.jazzborneo.com

What to expect at Borneo Jazz Festival 2013

Borneo Jazz this year is a bit of a geographical fruit trifle. 

The 2013 edition will be a blend of eastern spice, western punch, smooth northern cream and southern sunshine.The jazz festival is now in its 8th year.

The dates are 10th and 11th May. As usual, a Friday and Saturday of starlit music,  and then the Sunday to recover.

It’s going to be, as Borneo Jazz usually is, Jazz Plus Plus . Always jazz, but with tangents into the periphery relatives of perhaps funk, perhaps ethno, perhaps latin, perhaps blues. And hopefully, something quirky and unexpected.

This year, we are top heavy on Northern America. We have two bands from USA – one from the East Coast and one from the West; and one from Canada.

The Nylons – a legendary band with 7 gold and platinum recordings  was formed in Toronto in the 1970s, changed members along the way, and still going strong with their newest CD “Skin Tight” nominated as Best Jazz Vocal Album for a JUNO Award. Claude Morrison is the only original member left and he might very possibly be still the perkiest singer in the band. Think beautiful vocal harmonies, think wonderful humour, and think feel-good songs that are going to put a smile on your face.

Based in California, Scott Martin is bringing his 6 piece Latin Soul Band.  Scott spent many years playing with Poncho Sanchez where they won a Grammy in the year 2000. The list of names that he has played with is like the Who’s Who of Jazz. They have played all the major jazz festivals in the world, been featured on TV talk shows. Scott’s band is still touring furiously and they have launched 7 albums.  And who really can resist the hip swinging pull of exuberant latin jazz?

Then right across the continent, New Yorkers Hazmat Modine presents a completely different dimension with their dirty New Orleans blues, edgy vocals, pungent brass, colours of the Carribean, Africa and Klezmer cooked together, and leader Wade Schuman will knock your socks off with his jaw-dropping virtuosity on the harmonica. Their CD “Cicada” was top of the world music charts in Europe in 2011 and also won the Charles Cros Grand Prize in France.

Wade himself is an enigma – not just an incredible musician, he is also a Fine Arts lecturer, a philosopher, a painter, an ardent nature lover and an amateur zoologist.

From Asia, we have the crème de la crème of musicians from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines.

Jeremy Monteiro is a household name in Asia music industry and since his debut into the west at the Montreux Jazz Festival, he has been performing all over the world. He is Singapore’s King of Swing, Artistic Director for several jazz festivals, has a long list of accolades and achievements, and he comes to Borneo Jazz with the Asian Jazz All-Stars Power Quartet with amazing guitarist Eugene Pao, Tots Tolentino on saxophone and Chanutr Techatana-nan on drums.

Between the four of them, they have played alongside big names like James Moody, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Ernie Watts, Cassandra Wilson, Terumasa Hino, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner and many many more.

Representing Borneo is West Jazz Band founded by keyboardist Eugene Clifford and saxophonist Safri bin Mustapha. They will be playing a mix of fusion funk with vocalist Lisa Chong.

All 7 members of the band are from Sarawak where they perform often and are recognizable faces around town.

From northern Europe come two bands, both quartets, of different temperament but of similar irrepressible energy.

Mo’Blow from Germany is calling their show at Borneo Jazz the “Gimme The Boots” Release Concert. Their music is sheer hard funk. They were the winners at the 2008 Berliner Jazz & Blues Award, have an album produced by Nils Landgren, and described as the hottest club band around.

Their founder Felix Falk leads them into unconventional explorations in their music. Listen for spicy harmonies and quirky turns of phrases.

And from Sweden, Jump4Joy brings popular and vigorous energy with their dancey entertaining high octane shows. Two of the musicians, Bo Gunnar Gustafsson and Ulf Gustaf Sandstrom have been nominated for their contributions to Swedish blues by the Scandinavian Blues Association, and Gusfatsson won the Janne Rosenqvist Memorial Prize in 2008.

From Down Under comes the creative and lovely Lisa Young. She fuses and improvises with the South Indian vocal technique called konnakol.  The result is unusual and extremely appealing compositions. Lisa and her Quartet won the Bells Awards for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album and they are bringing their song cycle The Eternal Pulse to Borneo Jazz, after having premiered It to a standing ovation in 2011 at the Melbourne Jazz Festival.

So there you have it. 

Lots and lots of ingredients piled into the programme – complementing, contrasting and, I’m hoping, will pull you into a vortex of intoxicating dimensions.

Jun Lin

Artistic Director

Borneo Jazz 2013

FRIDAY 10th MAY
7.30 – 8.30 pm                  WEST JAZZ BAND (Sarawak)
8.45 – 9.45 pm                  LISA YOUNG QUARTET (Australia)
10.00 -11. 00 pm               SCOTT MARTIN LATIN SOUL BAND (West Coast USA)
11.15 – 12.15 pm              THE NYLONS  (Canada)

SATURDAY 11th MAY
7.30 – 8.30 pm                  THE ASIAN JAZZ ALLSTARS POWER QUARTET
                                         (Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan)                                                      
8.45 – 9.45 pm                  HAZMAT MODINE (East Coast USA)
10.00 -11. 00 pm               MO’BLOW – “GIMME THE BOOTS” RELEASE CONCERT
                                        (Germany)
11.15 – 12.15 pm              JUMP 4 JOY  (Sweden)

Borneo Jazz festival is held in the cosmopolitan seaside town of Miri, north-east of Sarawak; about two hour and fifteen minutes flight time from the capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

Tickets can be purchased here 

Spend a day at Lambir Hills National Park, Miri, Sarawak

Imagine yourself, an adventurer who wish to spend a day on jungle trekking, dipping in waterfalls, sighting of insects, wildlife and plants; but not having enough time to do so! How frustrated that can be, right?!  For that, Lambir Hills National Park, located in the northern region of Sarawak, is the ideal place for you - a nature lover dream-come-true experience.

Listed below are the highlights of the park:

• Walk to the longest and toughest (within LNP) trail to the top of Bukit Lambir (465 metres) with a superb view of the rainforest.
• A 22-metres high tree tower gives you a close-up view of the life of the rainforest canopy, especially its birds.
• The famous 'Latak' waterfall cascades from the Lambir Hills, forming a large pool that are pleasant to swim after a hot trek.
• There are a series of smaller waterfalls such as the Pantu and Nibong waterfall along the Pantu trail and Pancur, Tengkorong and the Dinding waterfall along the Bakam trail.
• Recognized as the world’s most ecologically diverse area where in just 52 hectares of the park’s 7.000 hectares, 1,050 different species of tree, each supporting 1,200 species of insect life were recorded.
• More than half of the park is covered with rich mixed dipterocarp forest where huge, tall dipterocarp trees such as Kapur, Meranti, Kempas and Selangan Batu can be marveled at.  Other forest types found are kerangas forest with smaller and shorter tress like rhu bukit and selunsur bukit, lower shrub, pitcher plants and orchids.
• The four primary trails are Main, Pantu, Lepoh-Ridan and Bakam trail
• The seven secondary trails are Latak, Nibong, Bukit Pantu, Pantu Waterfall, Summit, Tengkorong and Pancur Dinding

For those who are interested to stay overnight,  listed below are the types of accommodation offered at the park:

Hilltop  lodge (1 unit) – RM80. Per house, RM40 per room

2 rooms, fan  and shared bathroom and toilet

Forest lodge type 6 (2 unit) – RM 75 per house, RM50 per room

2 rooms, fan and attached bathroom

Forest lodge type 5 (2 unit) – RM 150 per house, RM 100 per room

2 rooms air-condition, shared bathrooms and toilet                                                         

New Chalet (4 unit) – RM 150 per house, RM100 per room

2 rooms, air-condition and attached bathroom

For reservation, please contact            

Lambir Hills National Park

Tel No: 085-471630

Fax No: 085-408030

Entrance fees:

Malaysian                                         Non-Malaysian

(Adult): RM10 per person                 RM20 per person

(Child): RM5 per person                   RM10 per person

How to get there?

Being only 30-km (about 30-40mins drive) away from Miri City, connected by the sealed Miri-Bintulu road, the Park is easily accessible by public transport. From Pujut Corner bus terminal, visitors can get onto the commercial bus that head for (Miri-Bintulu road).

4 units-New Chale

The existing Chalet

Public restroom

One of the many trails in the park - 4 primary and 7 secondary trails

The plank walk - Trails are clearly marked with 'red' bands painted on tree trunks

Latak waterfall

Latak waterfall - The biggest and the nearest from park headquarter

The park is a favourite weekend getaway for the locals

Sarawak... Where Adventure Lives

Authors & Photos: Yusup Labo & Mohd Amirul Bong