KUALA LUMPUR: One of Southeast Asia’s longest running international jazz festivals, the Borneo Jazz Festival welcomes back an international mix of performers at its “Jazz in The Jungle” themed event happening from June 24-26 at Coco Cabana, Miri.
Sarawak Tourism Board assistant manager Jacqueline Voon disclosed that this year, the list of confirmed artists included Steve Thornton, performing a fusion of all things jazz with a unique sound backed with uplifting and infectious beats.
Steve, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, has played with some of the most important names in jazz, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Roy Ayers, Grover Washington Jr, Tania Maria, Herbie Hancock, Sadao Watanabe and David Sanborn.
“To add to Afro Asia’s melodious dissidence of international sounds will be Kamrul Hussin on Malay percussions along with Sesatre Bansuri on Indian and traditional flutes.
“The group’s performance will also feature Asia’s brightest jazz trio featuring pianist Eric Li, bassist Rozhan Razman and drummer John Thomas.”
Besides that, performing at the 17th edition is also the talented ‘Queen of Southeast Asian Hip-hop and Reggae’, Singaporean-Canadian rapper MASIA ONE.
“She is also an entrepreneur, songwriter, and arts educator which truly defines her ‘Queendom’. As an artist, she draws inspiration from the Caribbean where she spent a significant amount of time.
“A true international Empress, MASIA has impressive credentials having worked with a slew of great artists from Pharrell, Dr Dre, The Game, RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) and John Frusciante (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), to even Hong Kong actor and pop star Edison
Chen.”
The Borneo Jazz Festival will also be providing fun and educating fringe activities from June 24-26 such as Eco Art Project, Borneo Boat Lute Exhibition, Miri Sape Movement – ‘Evolution of the Sape’, Wellness Programme and Artisanal Craft Bazaar.
Tickets are available from the official website at jazzborneo.com or directly from official ticket resellers, Miri City Council at ptbmiri@gmail.com and Transworld Travel Services Sdn Bhd at
twtmiri@hotmail.com
For the public category, 1-Day Pass is priced at RM128 per ticket, 2-Day Pass is RM228 per ticket and 3-Day Pass is RM338 per ticket. As for students and senior citizens, 1-Day Pass is priced at RM88 per ticket, 2-Day Pass is RM128 per ticket and 3-Day Pass is RM188 per ticket.
For those who want to enjoy virtually, tickets are priced at RM25 per one-hour block. For more information, log on to official website at jazzborneo.com.
