Speaking with FMT Lifestyle, festival director and co-founder Rodin J S Kumar promises a stellar lineup of performers this year, despite a downscaling of the size of the show because of the pandemic.
The bright side, he pointed out, was that this would allow for more “personal-feeling” performances. “The KL International Jazz & Arts Festival is an intimate affair, which offers closer connections with the audience,” he said.
The event will also be unique in that it combines both visual and performing arts. “They complement each other very well. Audiences can admire works from about 30 artists during breaks and before the start of shows. It’s very aesthetic,” Rodin added.
Now in its 10th edition following its maiden outing in 2012, KLJAC features some of the biggest names in jazz from Malaysia and all around the world, with some 22 musicians expected to perform.
The festival is a celebration of the genre and more, with sub-categories including modern jazz, blues, classic rock and neo all given their time in the spotlight.
The two-day affair will kick off on Saturday with homegrown heroes Stalemate Factor, led by Martin Vengadesan, followed by performances from the Maria Angela Quintet, the Damon Brown trio, and the Rodin Quartet.
The next day sees Jingwen Wang of Universiti Malaya take the stage for a solo piano performance, followed by local group CIEL, the James Ryan Quartet, blues guitarist Julian Mokhtar, and Mojo Hand.
The night will conclude in smashing fashion with classic rock group Power Trio, featuring VJ Thison, Md Noor Hendrix and Rodin, as well as special guests Al Terry and Kyle.
This year’s KLJAC will also see Rodin releasing his debut album, “Compromise”, which features a host of talented musicians such as Damon Brown (trumpet), James Ryan (flute and tenor sax), and Thison (drums).
On the arts front, collectors and connoisseurs can admire masterpieces from local artists including Taufik Abdullah, Jamil Zakaria, Yong Look Lam, Meriam Omar, Shahril Nawawi, and Sue A Rashid. The exhibition is curated by festival co-founder Maizon Omar, with all displayed works on sale.
“We hope KLJAC will leave a lasting impact on your appreciation for music and the arts,” Rodin concluded. “It’s a great way to support the local music and art scenes, and for you to immerse yourself in cultural richness.”
KL International Jazz and Arts Festival 2023
When:
Dec 9 & 10 (Saturday & Sunday), 7pm-11.45pm
Where:
Kind A Blue @ The KL Jazz & Arts Centre
1, Lorong Kapar,
Off Jalan Syed Putra,
58000 Kuala Lumpur
Tickets, priced at RM125 (RM150 at the door), can be purchased via WhatsApp at 012-571 7759 or online by clicking here.
Also visit Kind A Blue’s website and find out more about the KL Jazz & Arts Centre.