By CHIN JIAN WEI
On July 14, 2024, the first-ever full-day jazz festival was held at the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre. From 10 am to 10 pm, visitors enjoyed the soulful melodies and groovy tracks performed by 17 performers back-to-back. Some of the artists include Tay Cher Siang, Janet Lee, Junji Delfino, David Gomes, The Frankie Sixes, FAZZ, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble and many more.
This writer’s favourite performance was by Junji Delfino, accompanied by the WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble. Delfino’s dulcet tones serenaded the audience, her distinct voice infusing the songs with character and personality. Her banter with the crowd also kept everyone entertained. Jiu Shi Yi (JSY) also turned in a standout performance, their closing track carrying incredible energy.
As befitting the time-honoured tradition of jazz, each musician that made up a jazz ensemble had the opportunity to shine and showcase their skills. The solos turned in by some of the drummers, guitarists, brass and woodwind players were electrifying, exhibiting their free-flowing prowess at their chosen instrument.
Of course, it would not be a festival if it did not have an assortment of food trucks selling a variety of delicious food. Fragrant scents wafted in the air alongside the music, and near the food trucks, there was a sitting area where festival-goers could eat while watching the performance at the visitor centre foyer stage. Next to the food trucks were vendors selling vinyl records and other interesting merchandise for the music enthusiast.
The choice to set the jazz festival within the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre was an interesting one, as it provided a unique location to enjoy the music. This is especially true for the performances set in the Factory section, where the industrial background made for a cool backdrop to the music, bringing to mind alternative music videos. Festival-goers also had the opportunity to explore some parts of the visitor centre and see the attractions, such as a few of the museum exhibits and the many pewter creations Royal Selangor has made over the years.
Suffice it to say, festival-goers will definitely be looking forward to future incarnations of the jazz festival. Here’s hoping that if there are more jazz festivals in the years to come, they will be as entertaining and exciting as this year’s.
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