This year’s Borneo Jazz Festival surely got feets groovin’ all night long!
Wow! What a weekend just went by before us! While the Good Vibes Fest was going down in Genting, one of the leading Jazz festivals in Malaysia, the Borneo Jazz Festival, took place in Coco Cabana, Miri!
Over the years, the jazz fest has had more than 8,000 people attending the Miri-bound festival. This year’s festival definitely was off the charts, bringing in a spectacular lineup of local and international artists, musicians, bands, DJs and even a Jazz and Comedy number!
Scroll on down and get jazzin’ to these 5 highlights of 2019’s Borneo Jazz Festival:
1. Only the best performers made the cut!
Prior to the festival, The Borneo Jazz Talent Search sieved through a host of talents based on their style and musicality, all to find the one who will make the cut and give a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the festival!
This year will mark the festival’s 14th edition, and we’re certainly loving the fresh vibes and excitement!
Cyanus Band and Banyak Bunyik Republik band took home The Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2019 crown.
2. Kuala Lumpur’s renowned Jazz Club curates this International Jazz Festival
No Black Tie (NBT), a name linked to unique and the finest sounds to both prestigious and emerging local and international musicians, did the honour of making this years’ Borneo Jazz Festival a reality.
Being a melting pot of musical talents, NBT has been pivotal in curating genius collaborations between local and international artists, making them perfect for the role.
3. Connect with the Sarawakian culture and heritage through music
What better way to understand the Sarawakian culture deeper than to do it through music! The Borneo Jazz Festival definitely did a fantastic job bringing the Sarawakian culture into the spotlight.
This time around, Clinton Jerome, the well-loved songbird who hails from Miri, shared the stage with fellow Borneon vocal giants – Pete Kallang, also known as the vocal Prince of Sarawak, Ashraf Hardy, Benzooloo, a hip Hop Artist from Sabah, and Bruneian rapper Zed Peace.
Arabyrd wrapped up the festival on a high note together with DJ Maestro and brought everyone up on their feet!
4. Over 100 International Jazz Stellars has jazzed on this world-class stage
International Jazz Stars like Jasmine Chen, Chinese Jazz singer and songwriter, whose 6 songs appeared in Jon Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians movie, Chanda Rule, the soul and jazzed-powered sweetheart from the USA and many more also took on the stage at the soulful jazz fest!
There were a total of 30 acts inspired by a broad mix of cultures lined-up at the fest, showcasing over 15 jazz bands from all over the world who left the audience grooving all night long with the whole string of mesmerizing performances!
5. The fest that dives into all your senses!
Apart from the striking performances, Art Exhibitions such as ‘The Story Teller’ by Alena Murang, ‘Jungle Fever’ by Marie Dargent, and Pua Kumbu rainforest Craft of Sarawak by Dr Welyne Jehom communicated a visually captivating piece of the Sarawakian culture into the hearts of the audience.
Other activities like music and drum talks, masterclasses and workshops, Yoga and Sape sessions kept festival-goers pumped and sweating!
That’s a wrap for Borneo Jazz Festival 2019! Who’s coming next year? Let us know in the comments below!
Header image credits: Borneo Jazz Official | Clinton Jerome Chua
