The Thing About Jazz

Published May 2011

In a little less than a month, the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival will make it's 5th appearance in what has been acknowledged as a fun 2 days worth of music and all-round entertainment. And if you're anything like me, the beer's ice cold – extra bonus points.

Jokes aside though, this is also that time of year when friends and acquaintances discuss Jazz more than usual. This applies especially to the layperson who is normally indifferent to genre specifics, but generally appreciates a good performance – people who would give a passing nod to background Coltrane. And then you get those who genuinely don't appreciate Jazz. Fair enough, rules aren't set in stone when it comes to music. However I have to be blunt in stating that today's article is probably geared more towards those who haven't quite made their minds up about Jazz.

Now I love Jazz simply because it is one of the few things that makes me happy. Too simplistic a statement? Perhaps, but at least it's one that's as honest as I can muster. Jazz always puts me in a good mood and I have often said that I have yet to lose my temper if Jazz is playing. True story. You see, I was encouraged to be musical from a very, very young age – I suspect my parents observed my banging of toys on every surface available as a sign that I was geared towards percussion playing.

Oh sure I was made to go for piano classes (as was the norm of most youngsters at the time). I did pretty well until the piano teacher, a lovely woman named Ivy, noticed that I was simply listening, watching and copying whatever she played. I couldn't read the notes, but apparently I pulled this ruse off so well it lasted almost two months. She told my parents that I played well by ear though. I'm sure that counted for something.

With few options left my parents decided to let me learn how to play the drum with Peter Lau (who, incidentally, will be appearing with Spice of Tones, performing at this year's KK Jazz Festival) when I was 9 years old, and I only stopped playing 10 years later.

I wasn't able to read sheet music, but Peter did his best to teach me styles and techniques. My love of percussion was actively encouraged while in high school, something I am grateful for till today. The United World College of South East Asia where I attended, is one of those schools where the arts are taken seriously and I was offered the role of drummer in the school's popular Jazz Band – a coveted seat to be sure.

It was there that I was able to fully cultivate what was originally a passing interest in Jazz, into a full blown immersion, and I was fortunate. My teachers and superiors were only too happy to expose us to the different folds and sub genres of Jazz, to educate us and let us experiment. Blues, ragtime, big-band style swing, contemporary, acid. Merely some of the styles we delved into, and I loved them all. I was given carte blanche to improvise, as I still couldn't read sheet music. I've lost track of the number of Jazz Band performances where I played entirely by ear – and managed to pull it off easily and effortlessly.

In my humble opinion, I feel that he reason why this was happened boils down to the 'allowance' that Jazz gives its players. That freedom to stray a little outside the box. Sure more often than not, a tight performance is required, especially if it's an ensemble big band piece for example. But then there are those times when improvisation is king. You know the basics, you know your timings, you know how and when to come back in. Jazz is about subtlety, about understanding where the music is going and how far you can go with it.

My main musical influence growing up was my father. He who set precedent and ensured that I had the right foundations for bands to look up to, namely Creedence, The Beatles, a bit of Deep Purple. Mind you this was before I discovered Brit Pop and boy bands – good thing that phase didn't last long. Anyway, I remember asking him for his thoughts on Jazz and he said that he personally had a hard time enjoying it. He was totally for it, mind you. He was fully appreciative of the extra skillsets, improv abilities and confidence Jazz musicians had over their equally talented counterparts who preferred other genres. He just said that it simply wasn't for him.

If there's one thing I know to be true, its that very few people are indifferent to Jazz. You either like it or not, in varying degrees. Very few would shrug and give a noncommittal answers when asked for their two cents.

Jazz for me signifies being able to cut loose, without losing control. Finger clicks, sting taps and bass claps. Quietly unrestrained smoothness – could you ask for a more complex paradox? Jazz is certainly musical food for mind, body and soul.

Again, I have full respect for the fact that Jazz isn't for everyone. But should you be open to some fine tunes and a great couple of evenings out, be sure to pick up tickets to the KK Jazz Fest. At the very least, you'll be exposed to some very fine musical offerings and real talent. And I already mentioned the cold beer, right?

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The Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival will be held on 17^th & 18^th June 2011 at the covered tennis courts at Sutera Harbour Marina, Golf & Country Club. Tickets are priced at RM60 for a Single Day Pass (RM10 off for purchase before 15^th June) and are for sale at all Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlets in Kota Kinabalu. For more information visit www.kkjazzfest.com