JAMES BOYLE AND THE RAGGED TIGERS AT THE GENTING INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
There are some bands that just bring a smile to your face the minute they start up. It’s the way the musicians reach out and convey a passion and a want to communicate with the audience.
At the Genting International Jazz Festival which is fixed for the 8th and 9th of June up at Genting Highlands, this is the chief criteria that the jazz bands that they bring in must have.
There are so many technically good bands out there. But to get a band that can keep the space between musician and listener sizzling – that is a rare commodity and a treasure.
The festival is featuring 10 bands over the weekend.
James Boyle is the son of Malaysia’s renowned composer and songwriter, Jimmy Boyle – think “Putera Puteri” and “Jauh Jauh”.
Carrying on the family tradition, James is pianist and composer and very much in demand in the region.
He and his band The Ragged Tigers are planning a set with some jazz standards as well as original compositions.
The Ragged Tigers number 3 in all – Elliot Koon on drums, Dennis Lau on drums and Japanese Hiroaki Maekawa on bass.
There will be some sultry modal jazz numbers mixed together with livelier funk and contemporary latin beats. Malaysian flavours are naturally part of his repertoire and this will be terrific as the Genting International Jazz Festival is all about getting different cultural aspects of jazz to their stage as well.
Tickets for a one day Adult pass is priced at RM100 while a 2-day pass is available at RM150.
They can be bought online at www.genting.com.my or call 03-2718 1118 from April onwards.
The website will also have information on packages that have been tailored for the event.
The Genting International Jazz Festival is one of a part of Genting’s series of Performing Arts and events.
For 2007 at the GIJF as it is affectionately called, we will be having bands from Cape Town, Scotland, China, the Caribbean, Wales, New York, Malaysia and Benin. A truly rojak mix of jazz genres but delicious!
