Swing to the beat with Rumba Calzada

IF the performance by French band Dites 34 at Laundry at the Curve on Tuesday night is anything to go by, the Miri Jazz Festival 2009 being held at the ParkCity Hotel, this weekend, is going to see a lot of musical action and wizardry.

Dites 34, headed by Pascal Siexas on double bass and kayamb, started on a sombre note and then took the near capacity hall by surprise with avante garde jazz tunes laced with a unique blend of traditional folk and energetic and funky rhythms.

True to form, the eclectic ethnicity in their music included French-Canadian cajun, Irish reels and jigs, Moroccan mysticism, some Spanish fandango and with all that going on, I swear I heard the undercurrents of a joget sweeping through, thanks to infectious rhythm work from drummer and percussionist Adrien Chennebault.

The rest of the group — soprano saxophonist Quentin Biardeua, guitarist Sebastian Janjou and accordionist Guy Giuliano — enjoyed their share of the spotlight with scintillating solos that had the Laundry crowd roaring in delight.
Club owner Andrew Reddy, an ardent supporter of Sarawak’s Rainforest World Music Festival and now the Miri jazzfest, was equally delighted with the response.

“This is what we do regularly to keep the music going at Laundry,” Reddy said, “not always just to make money, but to give our patrons a variety of classy, professional entertainment.”

The performers are Alamode (from Australia) Dites 34 (France), Bombay Baja Brass Band (Britain), Double Take (Malaysia), Steps in Time featuring shakuhachi exponent John Kaizan Neptune (Japan) and drummer Lewis Pragasam (Malaysia) with percussionists and stringmen from India, Jeff Maluleke (South Africa), Rumba Calzada (Canada) and the Thomson Big Band (Singapore).

Malaysia’s Double Take intricately blends Roger Wang’s finger-style country-jazz guitar wizardry with the rich and sultry voice of Mia Palencia, both from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Vancouver-Canadian based timbalero and bandleader Raphael Geronimo leads a hot ensemble of players through a rhythmic workout, taking the band — and audience — from one fiery rhythm to another with passion.

His Rumba Calzada blends salsa, jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythms to create a dynamic, soul moving, Caribbean musical fusion. This award-winning band was the hit of last year’s festival and has been brought back by popular demand.

The Thomson Big Band, named after the community centre in which they were formed, has performed at major jazz festivals and events in Japan, Canada, Australia, India and in Thailand, for its King. Just as comfortable with swing as they are with pieces written for them, the Thomson Big Band will put a smile on your face and a swing in your step.