david foster & friends 'asia tour 2011'

It was a night of musical extravaganza. There wasn't much on the stage except the band and of course David's piano as the centerpiece.

image taken from The Star Online

It's really staggering the number of songs that are hits, songs that we hear daily, songs that we sing to, songs that we grew up with, that are touched by the magical hands of the Hitman. He is quite extraordinary. 

It was an excellent night of music and the two hours went by like a breeze.

Dreamgirls

Sunday, 24th July 2011, 3.30PM, Istana Budaya
Malaysian production of Dreamgirls
Got best tickets in the house at 50% off via Groupon. Woohoo!

On the production and performance:
Pretty impressive performance from most of the cast.

Cheryl Samad as Deena Jones was quite ok; I didn't know she could sing; but she doesn't have the stamina to carry her voice to the end of the show. By the end, it feels like she lost her voice. Also, I was looking forward to the song "Listen". Hmph! Not in the musical numbers list. What a letdown.

We had Dina Nadzir as Effie White and well, she can sing! I knew that already since she was the finalist in the first Malaysia Idol against the victor, Jaclyn Victor.


On the audience:
 I think only a third of the stalls were filled. Since this is a Malaysian production, many people are not willing to pay such a high price for tickets. I guess the production company still made a handsome profit nonetheless.
Oh, and Tun Mahathir and wife were present for this matinee show.

The Sound of Music

A really overdue review.

The theater version of The Sound of Music came to town late last month. At first I wanted to give this a miss but then I thought "Hang on a minute. This is Sound of Music; of which the movie version of it is a staple movie when I was growing up. I know every song and love the movie. How can I give this a miss?".

So with that in mind, I caved in and bought tickets. Since it's being held in KL Convention Center, it's best to buy the best seats i.e. the nearest to the stage and typically, the most expensive. Dang!
I've mentioned this before - KL Convention Center should not have been used for theater shows. It's way too big and non-personal. But then, having said that, if you want optimum profit (yes, bringing theater to Malaysia is super-expensive), then this venue will definitely provide quite a significant profit.

Program Book

Ok, several things to highlight:

1. I've never been late for a show before, be it a concert, a theater show, anything. This is the first time that I am. I had to wait outside the door until permission is granted for us, late-comers, can be allowed in. There were quite a few of us waiting there. ... Grr... I hate being late.

2. Then, after finding our seats, in front of us, was a girl who was making such a fuss, calling after her mother every so often, at the top of the voice, and coughing. Imagine having to sit for one and a half hours trying to get into the show and enjoying it, and every 10 minutes or so, this girl will make a fuss right in front of me. It was so very irritating. But after awhile, by observing the girl,  I find that she's no normal little girl. There's something wrong with her. Oh no, she's mentally disabled. Oh no! I want to be irritated and mad but knowing what I'm dealing with now, I can't, can I? That left me with a moral dilemma.

3. If you have a mentally disabled child, would you take him to a place like this i.e. to watch a theater show? Yes, you do have the right to do it but should you? You want your mentally disabled child to enjoy the show but being in his state, would he actually enjoy it? Does he know what is really going on? Bringing him along, would you be enjoying the show yourself? What about other people?
I had a little mental battle in my head thinking about it over the weekend after the show. I just cannot decide until today what the right thing to do.

4. Ok, back to the show. Right, now, the theater version of The Sound of Music is quite different from the movie version with Julie Andrews. Well, coming in, I did not know that. I did not know that the theater version came out first in 1959 before the movie version in 1965. I imagined that the movie and show would be same. I mean, it would be just a live version of the movie, wouldn't it? Well, the storyline is the same but the placement of songs is different and some songs are not even in the movie. So there were several things that just did not sit well with me. For one, I cannot imagine that the Mother Superior was singing "My Favorite Things" with Maria in the abbey. What the heck is that?! That caught me off guard and it just threw me. They sang it together after Maria was told that she is to be sent to the Von Trapp family home. Also, Uncle Max and The Baroness sang which is kind of weird. I don't mind Uncle Max but I had this vision that the Baroness was a very regal, classy lady and singing out loud would not be something she would do. The songs sung by Uncle Max and the Baroness were of course nothing I've heard before. They were pretty ok songs; just that, I did not see them coming. I thought I had the story locked down. Well, obviously not the theatrical version. Also, during the rain-and-thunder scene where the children storm into Maria's room, which in the movie, is one of the most loved scenes, Maria and the children were to sing "My Favorite Things", well, in the show, they sang "The Lonely Goatherd". Peh! What a letdown. 

5. Being so used to listening to Julie Andrews' voice, whoever was playing Maria, just did not match up. Also Captain Von Trapp's voice is not macho enough for me.

6. When Captain Von Trapp and Maria kissed after professing their love, they kissed on stage and from a far corner of the hall, a little teeny tiny near silent voice of a girl went "eeewww". The whole hall erupted into laughter. I was laughing out loud. I couldn't help it. But seriously, I applaud the actor and actress for staying in character through the laughter. It must have been difficult. They are truly professionals.

All in all, it was an enjoyable show but yeah, with some minor hiccups.

West End Stars in Concert, Istana Budaya

In the quest to inject some culture into my life, me and a girlfriend bought cheapo tickets for this concert just to be serenaded for 100 minutes. Honestly, I don't know any of them. The only one who I've heard of is Stephen-Rahman Hughes who apparently has some Malaysian roots. But even if he stepped on my toes in public, I still wouldn't know who he is. 

It must have been a challenge to carry songs from musicals when sung out of context. A lot of songs from musical theater makes sense when sung in the shows but when sang independently, it simply does not carry the same weight. Lucky I came in with some background of some of the featured musicals songs.

Of the three, I must say I was taken away by Ramin Karimloo who had the most powerful and expressive voice. His Music of the Night - WOW! - no wonder he's the Phantom. He outshone the other two unfortunately. They each have great voices but once you hear the beautiful voice of Ramin, the other two just lack the "Umph!" factor. And to put Jaclyn Victor in the mix, as Stephen said "Alamak, Nasi Lemak!". Don't get me wrong - Jaclyn has a wonderful voice but just no power when sung with theater singers.

The worse part of  the night were the dancers who were just plain horrible. The choreography was not that bad actually but the skill, timing and just overall performance of the dancers were horrible; a total distraction and embarrassment. They should have cut out the dancing part completely.

The show's review below from http://ecentral.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/18/soundnstage/8490909&sec=soundnstage

-----------------------------
Monday April 18, 2011
MUSIC OF THE NIGHT
by Sharmilla Ganesan

The West End Stars In Concert delivered on its promise to bring world-class vocal performances to Malaysians.
 

Three handsome men with thrilling voices. A chanteuse with powerhouse vocals. A selection of showstopping numbers from some of the biggest productions to hit Broadway and the West End. It sounds like the recipe for a perfect night of musical enjoyment, and West End Stars In Concert, which played last weekend at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, certainly did not disappoint.
Featuring the enviable talents of Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Ramin Karimloo and Simon Bailey, the concert was a rare chance for Malaysians to hear musical theatre hits being performed by singers who have actually graced the prestigious stages of London’s West End.

The three leading men have played an impressive array of musical theatre characters; Rahman-Hughes, 31, (who, to many Malaysians, will always be Hang Tuah) starred as Akaash in Bombay Dreams and Chino in West Side Story, while Bailey, 29, has taken on the roles of Raoul (Phantom Of The Opera), Enjolras (Les Miserables) and Galileo (We Will Rock You). The two are also members of British vocal group Teatro.

Karimloo, 31, on the other hand, is known for not only playing one of musical theatre’s most iconic characters – the Phantom – but also pioneered the same role in Phantom’s sequel, Love Never Dies, which he’s still attached to in the West End. The Iranian-born Canadian has also played Raoul, Enjolras, Chris in Miss Saigon, and the Pirate King in Pirates Of Penzance.

 

World class: (from left) Simon Bailey, Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Jaclyn Victor and Ramin Karimloo singing Bridge Over Troubled Water at West End Stars In Concert held in Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur, last weekend.


At the media preview of the show last Thursday night, the concert kicked off with an energetic rendition of Something’s Coming from West Side Story. Accompanied by sassy dancers (under choreographer Pat Ibrahim’s tutelage), Rahman-Hughes, Karimloo and Bailey strolled out in sharp suits and looked like they were having plenty of fun with the Latino-laced number.

The next number, Memory (Cats), gave the performers a chance to slow things down and showcase their velvety vocals. The performance was a lovely twist on the original (performed solo by a female), and displayed some excellent harmonising by the three singers.

One of the challenges of singing showtunes in a concert is that, without a context for the songs, the performers have to work extra hard to infuse emotion into the numbers. Fortunately, all three singers are experienced at not only delivering songs, but actually putting on a performance, which really made a difference, particularly during the solos.

Of these, Karimloo’s Music Of The Night was undoubtedly one of the most eagerly awaited, and he certainly lived up to the hype. Performing a stripped down version of the famous song from Phantom Of The Opera, Karimloo’s dramatic vocals were fantastic, bringing just the right mix of devotion and darkness to the haunting number.

For anyone who has not had the chance to catch a staging of Phantom, this truly was as close as you could get to the real thing. Karimloo later gave another amazing Phantom performance with Till I Hear You Sing from Love Never Dies.

Equally affecting was Bailey’s rendition of I Dreamed A Dream from Les Miserables, in my opinion, one of the most memorable numbers of the night. Typically known for its soaring female vocals, Bailey’s version of the song had a masculine edge that gave it a modern feel without taking away its powerful emotions.

Another favourite was Defying Gravity (from Wicked), which Rahman-Hughes performed with exuberance. Yet again, this is originally a song written for a female part, and being performed by a male singer gave it a unique quality. Rahman-Hughes’ version had a fun, energetic feel that enhanced the lively composition and uplifting lyrics.

The only flaw was the decision to incorporate dancers, as they didn’t really suit the number and distracted from Rahman-Hughes’ great performance – the man is captivating enough on his own, as he proved in his charming rendition of What I Did for Love (A Chorus Line). He further thrilled his fans when he debuted a new song, Bertemu Di Syurga, from his upcoming local album.

One of the night’s highlights was the inclusion of homegrown songstress Jaclyn Victor, who more than held her own against the talented lads. Joining the three men halfway through a performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, she performed three other numbers, including Somewhere from West Side Story and a duet with Rahman-Hughes on Di Puncak TertinggiPuteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical. from

My favourite Jac performance of the night, however, was her duet with Bailey on Phantom’s All I Ask Of You. Her smoky vocals gave the romantic number a soulful edge, and nicely balanced Bailey’s strong voice. It was a different take on a beloved stage classic, but one that worked extremely well.

As the night progressed, the calibre of the singers onstage was abundantly clear, with their performances further enhanced by a fantastic band (under the direction of Lee Sze Wan). It was a pity, then, that they were occasionally let down by the uneven sound quality. Several times, a singer’s big notes were obscured by the band’s instruments, while at other times, the volume was a little too loud, giving the music a harsh quality.

The dancers, too, could have been a little more polished and coordinated. While they did well in the opening number, the ensemble dance for the Phantom Of The Opera music piece was rather messy and uninspiring.

After the string of mostly deep and dramatic numbers, the finale was an refreshing surprise. Bailey started the ball rolling with the infectious We Will Rock You by Queen, which was featured in the hit musical of the same name. He was soon joined by Karimloo, who launched into We Are the Champions, and then, Rahman-Hughes with Bohemian Rhapsody. As the three singers came together to perform the second half of Rhapsody, complete with nonsensical chanting and falsetto interjections, it was truly a fabulous finish.

The audience, however, wouldn’t let them go so easily, and all the singers were cheered back onstage for an encore. To everyone’s delight, the three West End boys and Jac presented a rendition of local band Search’s rock classic Fantasia Bulan Madu. Karimloo and Bailey gamely sang the Malay lyrics, and drew wild applause for their efforts.

As the concert came to a close, the audience gave the singers a standing ovation, which was a fitting testament to their efforts. While the technical issues marred what could otherwise have been a near-perfect show, West End Stars In Concert certainly delivered on its promise to bring world-class vocal performances of musical theatre hits to our shores.

my F1 2011 weekend

Friday, 8th April - 10th April 2011

Sepang International Circuit (SIC)

I must admit that I'm not a huge motorsports fan but the F1 Malaysian GP is a yearly ritual for me, from the massive traffic jam, the mass of people to the heat, the humidity and in general, just the ambiance.
I look forward to it every year.

Sat. 9Apr. Qualifying

Qualifying day for me is just walking around the Mall Area going from one block of the grandstand to another. Security is pretty lax on Friday and Saturday, so you can make your way from one end to the other and just enjoy the views of the circuit track.

Sun.10Apr.Race Day

Drivers making their way back after the victory lap

The Podium Winners

I love the seats I bought - prime location for the podium. In fact, it is right in front of the podium. Definitely going for these seats again next year.

See you next year, SIC!



After race concert:
Never been to any after race concerts since I've never been a fan of any of the celebrity they invite. However, this year was Rain and well, I was persuaded to have a taste of the "Rainism" craze since it's free anyway, for grandstand ticket holders. Verdict: I don't get it!

Michael Buble Crazy Love in KL

OH MY GOD!! Still recovering from the hiiiiighhh!!
It's moments like this when I wish I'm in America so that I can catch him in concert again and again and again and again...
I am experiencing a really HUGE post-concert depression syndrome - the dreaded feeling of emptiness after such a high.
---------------------------------------------------

100 minutes of pure showmanship. What I remember most about him is his comedic antics on stage and just laughing a lot throughout the show; in general, just a cute funny dorky guy, singing old classics (and a few of his own songs).

Michael started with "Cry Me A River" – the dramatic start of the music works really well for a concert and I now understand what he meant when he said that he makes music with concert in mind.

White curtain covered the stage and when the dramatic music started, we could only see the silhouette of a man behind the curtains holding on to the mic stand. Then when the singing began, the curtains open to reveal the man himself singing with his band of 13 wind instrument players, 2 guitarists, a drummer and a pianist. Then, at the end of this first song of the night, instead of taking the audience slowly and building up the momentum of the concert, Mr Buble grabbed us by the neck, dragged us into his world, with an explosion of sparks that rained down in front of the stage!!

That set the tone to the whole concert – Party!

Then, what followed was “All of Me”.

Sometime after these songs he read out a poster by a fan in the crowd and called her forward to sign her poster which prompted other fans to rush over to him to get his signature too. He obliged for awhile and then returned to stage to sing before pointing to the crowd below and saying “I want 5 dollars for every signature I just did!”

Michael was completely comfortable and relaxed on stage and continually cracking one-liners – At This Moment ("It’s by this group Billy and The Beaters, and I’d like to do a medley of their hit") and Mack the Knife ("It’s a beautiful, beautiful old standard about a man who murders innocent people" and pretended slashing his neck at the end of the song). He also thrilled the crowd with his antics on stage, which was tilted slightly, thus allowing him to slide down and across it.

But the crowd really rallied behind him with a huge roar, when he started with “Everything”,

Actually, from the super high-definition screen on my side of the stadium, I find that he looks worn down and tired. He was of course sweating profusely, since he was constantly on the move, walking, twisting, sliding, sometimes jumping, interacting with his band and the crowd, and besides, excessive sweating is also very much expected from artists from the West since our weather’s really humid.

Anyway, his introduction to his band was hilarious. While seated on stage, he gave rather fanciful narration of each member with pictures on his swanky 5 panel display screen backdrop. At one point, he said “You all know that I don’t have favourites but please welcome … (can’t remember his name) … from CANADA!!”, and when the guy stood up, Michael looked at him proudly and softly sang the national anthem of Canada. Hilarious!!

But the best part of the band introduction was when Michael fooled us all using phrases like “He has made his way” and “I know his parents are in the crowd, your very own, please welcome so-and-so”, making us believe that this band member was really from Malaysia. His band member played along and gestured with his hands to us to cheer louder when he stood up. We roared! Michael laughed and blurted out “He’s actually from Texas”. Though feeling rather insulted, we laughed with him and he added “You know, what touched me was how welcomed you made him feel when you learnt he’s from here.” Oh my God, super-funny!

Then it was “I’ve Got The World On A String”, “Crazy Love” and Georgia On My Mind”.

During the break, Michael sat at the piano with the musical director, Alan Chang, who he has worked closely since the beginning of his career. Michael said he too can be cool singing songs like his and then broke into Disney’s Aladdin animated movie song “I can show you the world, shining shimmering splendid,…” swaying side-to-side and looking goofy. And then he said that backstage when he does voice warm-up with Alan, he sings some songs and then he breaks into “Don’t stop believing, Hold on to that Feeling, Streetlights, People…!” “People think that I’m like Sinatra, but when I was a kid, what I really wanted is to be Michael Jackson.” Then, stood up and burst into a hysterical performance of Billie Jean, singing in falsetto and dancing – quite badly – in classic Jackson fashion holding his crouch, even using the tilted stage to slide down in a ‘moonwalk’. He even had the crowd on their feet during his version of The Beatles’ “Twist And Shout” getting everyone on the their feet.

Michael then left the main stage walked from stage right to a smaller makeshift one at the other end of the stadium, while singing “All I Do Is Dream of You” and getting mugged by the audience on the floor. Reaching the makeshift stage, he turned to the people on floor saying “For you who paid the expensive tickets, you’ve been screwed! These are MY people!” to the roaring delight of those on the tiers. There, he led the stadium in a sing-along of “Home”. He made his way back to the front with “Save the Last Dance”.

"My final song of the night," he said, "is a song I wrote to give hope to single people." He then led everyone in another sing-along of the bouncy hit “Haven’t Met You Yet”, before leaving the stage. I didn’t find the appeal of this song before when hearing the recorded version, but after the concert, it is quite a fun song! I get it now.

With the crowd’s call of encore, which to me seems to be the standard modus operandi of a concert, he came back singing “Feeling Good” followed by “Me and Mrs Jones” with confetti rained into the audience below. He then took a moment to thank everyone for coming and said he’ll come back a million times if we’ll have him. “But if I’m coming back, we’ve got to make a deal, ok. Either I come back as Beyonce or we’ve got to get come air-conditioning in this place! What with the spotlight on me; I’m sweating through my suit and that sucks!” He wasn’t kidding. He really was sweating through his suit. You can actually see the sweat stains on the back of his suit. It was pretty warm in the stadium, actually, even for me.

He finally ended with “Song For You”, which he said was dedicated to his fans, singing the final verse a cappella and without a microphone, to a hushed stadium, showcasing the power of his voice. His voice reached every nook and corner of the stadium. It was a nice personal touch and I must say kind of audacious for a singer to do that since concerts in general strains the throat pretty badly but doing that, woah, brave!

This was one concert experience to remember, without a doubt. He sure is a tough act for other artistes to follow.

from March & April (concerts, birthdays and F1 2010)

******************************************************

Friday, 5th March 2010

Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds Live in KL

Plenary Hall, KLCC

I remember being obsessed with the song "Everytime I Close My Eyes". Totally obsessed; having it run on repeat for days on end.

I believe after the album with this hit song, he mellowed down to being more of the person in the background rather than the lead.

I was surprised that he was such a tiny man, as in, rather short and slim.

His voice, however, is something wonderful.

******************************************************

Saturday, 13th March 2010

Disney on Ice "

Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil

I know, I know - it's the same thing over and over, year in and year out.

But I really can't help but go to this every year.

I use it to unleash the child in me that just loves to come out every now and then.

It is always nice to see Mickey and his gang. It's about the only American thing I cannot let go of.

******************************************************

Wednesday, 24th March 2010

Hana's 2nd Birthday!

It has been two year since this little angel entered our lives. What absolute joy and jubilation having her. She is truly a gift from God. I am eternally grateful.

She's about to attack that cake! Adorable...

******************************************************

Wednesday 31 March 2010

It was my parents 37th wedding anniversary and we planned to go out for dinner with everyone but what happened instead is a true testament to the saying

"We plan but God decides".

31 March will now hold double meaning - anniversary of my parents and the birth of my first nephew, Hud Hakim Harris, born at 11.17pm, Tawakal Hospital.

******************************************************

Friday, 2 April 2010 - Sunday, 4 April 2010

2010 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix

Sepang International Circuit

This year marks the return of the legend Michael Schumacher after he left the sport some three years ago. I was never a fan of his and even less of a fan of Ferrari. There's just something about their arrogance that irks me. 

With the withdrawal of BMW from F1, I was completely lost on who to root for this year.

Malaysia now has two teams:

1. Mercedes GP (Petronas being its title sponsor), and

2. Lotus Racing (Team Principle being Tony Fernandes of AirAsia).

Well, ok, number 1 would have better prospects but who are their drivers, you ask?

Sighh...

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg (son of Keke Rosberg, an F1 champion in the 80s)

Anyway, this year's tickets are a bit different from the other years.

I love the back of the tickets. Nice!

Every year, I buy driver specific caps and well, this year was a gamble. I made my way to the merchandise booth, tried both drivers' cap, and decided, ok, I'll get Nico's!

My first non-BMW cap. It's now hung on my office wall and it's the odd one out.

The race was pretty average in terms of excitement but no matter what, every year, when I see the five red lights light up one by one and then they go off, the race start, I always get chills!! This year is no exception. I looove....

It's Nico having a tyre change but  Michael's name on the pits.

Well, Michael's car broke down early in the race but Nico managed to get 3rd and on to the podium.

 :-) Good choice on my part :-)

******************************************************

Sunday 25th April 2010

Kelly Clarkson All I Ever Wanted Tour

Live in Malaysia 2010

National Stadium, Bukit Jalil

My first time in the open-air stadium in Bukit Jalil. It's quite a nice stadium actually.

Didn't bother with coming early since concerts always start at least half hour later than the scheduled time.

Anyway, it's no wonder this girl won American Idol and is the best selling AI alum worldwide.

Her voice live is like listening to her recorded CD but better! Live is always better!

I love that she's comfortable with herself and she exudes that on stage.

 

******************************************************

Woah... pretty eventful two months!...

MPO - LOTR

Aaah.... Many many goosebump moments.

Scores from a trilogy movie that I most absolutely love.
I have all three of Peter Jackson's theatrical DVD and all three Special Edition Extended DVD. I've watched them over and over including the documentaries.
Obsessed, is putting it mildly. :-)
Not to mention soundtracks from all three movies.

I was most impressed with this little boy's talent - Andrew Sanjay George - of singing those impossibly high notes for the Fellowship of the Ring Movements 1 and 2. For such a young child to reach those precise notes at the right moment in front of hundreds of people and with a live orchestra, that's pure talent to be reckon with.

I hope he gets sanpped up by someone and made famous!

Imbauan

Woah! Where did Monday go?

Time sure flies when you’re not paying attention.

I wanted to write this yesterday about this show I went on Sunday night. But well, Monday came and went. So here I am on Tuesday.

What intended to be a take-it-easy night out with my Hunnie for this show called Imbauan at Dewan Filharmonic Petronas (DFP) turned out to be a rush-to-make-it-in-time-for-the-show with my sister. So much we can plan but God decides, eh.

Last Thursday I confirmed with Hunnie to make sure his schedule would be all clear for Saturday night for the show. Truthfully, I would not have gone to this show simply because I’m not a fan of Malay songs/music but I know that my dear Hunnie is. I’ve dragged him to one too many musicals and such that I thought, Ok, I’ll sit in something that he’d prefer. Getting his ok, called up DFP, booked and paid for two tickets priced at RM30 each. Cheap! I was wondering why it’s so cheap. I didn’t read any reviews of course. Not my style. I’d prefer to just read a little synopsis and then let the show itself surprise me, good or bad.

Dinner Friday night my Hunnie dropped the bombshell, “Can’t make it Saturday night. I have to be at the Parliament. Need to meet Mr Prime Minister.” HMPH! I hate you! I do, I do. HMPH!

Well I don’t actually and I do understand. I do understand but that does not mean that I’m happy about it. Sulk! RM60 burnt on a show we’re going to miss! SULK!

Saturday evening before he’s off to Parliament, we stopped over at the DFP Box Office to purchase another set of tickets for the only other show of Imbauan on Sunday night. The only available tickets in the Stalls are at RM10. Wow! Super-cheap! Ok, get them.

This cheaper ticket is so much prettier.

Well, surprise, surprise, Hunnie cannot make it to the Sunday’s show either. Sigh… Again, blame it on Mr Prime Minister. Apparently, it’s another meeting at Subang. “Be patient okay baby”, he said apologetically. “This is something that I have to do to secure our future. It is for us. It’s not easy but I have to do it. ” Sure, sure, I’ve heard that ten thousand and one times! God! I didn’t know I have that much patience. Having being dumped like this repeatedly, I’m beginning to be emotionless about it. Ok, I lie! Hahaha… He is so going to pay and I mean literally, pay for this. I think I need a new watch and another pair of black court shoes.

At first my sis didn’t want to go since I asked her just an hour and a half before the 8.30pm show due to “unforeseen” circumstances. She said she had other plans. Then 45 minutes before the show, her plans got canceled and thus began the mad dash to KLCC.

“What show is it?” she enquired.

“Erm, some Malay symphony thingy. Malay songs in symphony and there’s a Khadijah Ibrahim who’ll be singing some songs,” I replied.

“Not MPO?”

“Nope.”

“Well, if it sucks, we’re walking out.”

“Agreed.”

Ushered and taking our seats, not 10 seconds later, the show began.

It did not suck.

We stayed the full 95 minutes of the show.

There were some tunes that I recognized - some Malay patriotic songs I don’t know what they are called and the ones that I do know are Jauh Jauh and Tanah Pusaka which I recognized from Sean Ghazi’s album. Of course when they got to the end with a medley of English songs, I sang along. Those I know! (i.e. Cilla Black’s You’re My World and Dusty Springfield’s You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.)

Aah, suddenly it hit me. No wonder the tickets were cheap. It’s not the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). It’s the Petronas Performing Arts Group (PPAG) - totally different league all together to MPO. No wonder! I've only been to DFP for MPO shows.

Money-wise, my glass-half-full take, this show costs me not RM10 each but rather RM40 each i.e. the not-watched Saturday show of RM30 plus RM10 of the Sunday show I did get to watch. Not bad if I put it that way.

Still disappointed that Hunnie did not get to watch it. He sure would have enjoyed it.

This is what I found from The Star:

Friday July 18, 2008

Down memory lane

By AZHARIAH KAMIN

Audiences at the Imbauan concert will get to enjoy golden oldies with new arrangement.

This weekend, music lovers can check out the two-night concert entitled Imbauan, organised by Petronas Performing Arts Group (PPAG) that will be held at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), Kuala Lumpur.

With a promise to enthral the audience with a set of spellbinding performances, the concert will feature 52 musicians under the baton of conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose as musical director.

With Hartini Haji Abdullah as producer, the 90-minute Imbauan will feature versatile singer Khadijah Ibrahim who will render golden oldies with new arrangements.

(From left) Conductor-cum-musical director Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, singer Khadijah Ibrahim, producer Hartini Haji Abdullah and 52 musicians will join forces for the upcoming two-night concert entitled Imbauan at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas tomorrow and on Sunday.

Featuring songs such as Cempaka Sari, Resam Dunia, Hiburkanlah Hatiku, Mas Merah, Mohon Kasih and Salam Mesra, the concert will undoubtedly take audience on a musical journey down memory lane. The songs will be rearranged by talented arrangers of the PPAG.

According to Ahmad Muriz, the team took some time to collect and select the songs for the two shows.

“In the initial compilation we had about 50 songs but we ended up selecting 12 songs with lyrical melody. For sure we want to play songs that weren’t played too often,” said Ahmad Muriz in an interview with the media last week. Also present were Khadijah and Hartini.

“During our listening session, it was just amazing how we were totally enraptured by the fine tunes, by their simplicity and how the public reacted to them then.

“Though simple, the music has some complexity to it and for us musicians, to work around it is a whole new ball game altogether and it is extremely exciting.

“Some of the songs will be performed in symphony while others will be done in rhythm and with a modern approach. So I’m really excited about Imbauan as it is about paying homage (in music) to our forefathers.

“Actually we came up with the idea to stage Imbauan sometime last year to celebrate our country’s 50th Merdeka celebration,” explained Hartini.

She added that the concert also serves as a continuation of PPAG’s other performances at DFP such as Raja Bersiong, Semerah Padi, Mek -Mulung, Kalbu and Simfoni Tradisional.

Ahmad Muriz added that all songs would be re-orchestrated by PPAG’s Syed Sharir Gaizal Syed Hussain, Mohd Yazid Zakaria, Mohd Khair Abd Latiff, Yuzaifullah Mohd Yusof, Mohd Khairul Anuar Ramly, Mohd Husin Osman, Abd Rohni Mat Noor and Mohd Rashid Dahari.

Imbauan will also feature the soothing sounds of the flute by Mohd Yazid Zakaria, gambus by Mohd Leyzam Ali and the accordian by Haji Ismail Lazim.

Versatile singer Khadijah will render Jauh-Jauh, Cemburu, Tanah Pusaka and a medley of Lagu Membawa Berita, Polinesia Mambo and Cinta Pandang Pertama. She will also perform an English medley which includes Cilla Black’s You’re My World.

“As a singer, I’m very honoured to be part of Imbauan and it is a big challenge for me to sing these songs as some of them were recorded long before I was born,” said Khadijah.

“And yes ... I have butterflies in my stomach as I’m nervous about performing the songs in Imbauan,” said Khadijah, adding that she prepares for the concert by listening to the songs repeatedly.

“But don’t expect me to imitate the original singers as I will sing in my own style, ” she added.

According to Hartini, Khadijah was selected because of her versatility.

“For us Khadijah has her own personality and she can perform all kinds of songs very well. We worked together last year during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and it gave us a lasting impression of her substantial talent and professionalism,” added Hartini.

“We have a very good 52-piece orchestra under Ahmad Muriz and with Khadijah to render some of the songs, we promise the audience a good time,” she added.

Imbauan will be staged tomorrow and Sunday at 8.30pm. Concert tickets are priced at RM35, RM30, RM20 and RM10 and can be purchased at the box office 03-20517007 or fax 03-20517077 or email at dfpboxoffice@petronas.com.my.

Drum Slices III

Last Friday, I looked over kakiseni.com to check out anything interesting to watch/listen over the weekend.

I don’t know why but somehow, under the Music directory, the event called “Drum Slices III” caught my eye.

Hmm, apparently it is some locally produced/managed event. With the description comes a URL. Checked it out - www.hands.com.my – and was intrigued with what they have done. I was even more pushed to watch it after reading this write-up from The Star.

Friday July 4, 2008

Rhythm nation

By N. RAMA LOHAN

Putting percussion-based music on the commercial map takes some doing, but Hands Percussion has done it ... and in some style, too.

WE all march to the beat of a different drummer. Likewise the Hands Percussion ensemble,which has formed a habit of doing things its own way. It’s this intrinsic self-belief that has brought the troupe numerous successes, the most recent of which was its performance at the ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival for Young People in Adelaide, Australia in mid-May.

The event – a gathering place of the world’s practitioners of theatre for children and young people, and a key global event in youth arts – saw the troupe performing with representatives from over 40 nations. Hands Percussion’s fusion of traditional Chinese drums and traditional Malay percussion instruments – and the odd tabla or two – received critical acclaim and acceptance from the enthusiastic audience.

It's in the hands: Eric Ch'ng (left) and Bernard Goh explain that everything they do is by their own hands ... thus the monicker of the group.

“I’ll be honest with you, the response from crowds abroad are much more encouraging than it is here. That’s really the beauty about festivals overseas – while they may have a specific brief, they are performed to and celebrated by people from all walks of life,” says artistic director Bernard Goh.

“That was also the scenario at the festivals we attended in Belgium and the Netherlands where the authorities wanted the entire community to experience the event, not merely those who are into the arts or those who could afford attending them. We’ve performed at old folks homes, kindergartens ... everywhere really, which tells you how important the arts is to them,” adds administrative director Eric Ch’ng.

It’s not about making comparisons between audiences but both Goh and Ch’ng feel strongly about getting Malaysians to be just as enthusiastic.

“It’s nice to be appreciated. When audience members abroad come up to us and ask questions about what we do and how we do something, it’s obvious they like what they see and hear. You can tell they’re having a good time because they actually get up, dance to the music and participate in the festivities,” offers Ch’ng enthusiastically.

Hands Percussion’s participation at the ASSITEJ festival did not come easily, though. Gaining recognition and support from the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry seemed like a lost cause but with a few visits by the organisers to Malaysia, coupled with assistance from the Australian High Commission, the troupe finally received the endorsement it desperately sought.

Fortunately, accolades have come the troupe’s way in the guise of the Boh Cameronian Award, a three-trophy sweep last year for the categories of Best Production Value, Best Original Composition and Best Group Performance and a nomination this year for its recent Aussie excursion. The troupe won the awards for the second instalment of its Drum Slices series of performances, an event that had 200 school-going children performing at Genting’s Arena of Stars.

Letting their hair down: The Hands Percussion troupe goofing around outside the Adelaide Festival Centre in Australia.

Percussion’s humble beginnings hark back to 1997 when it was initially inspired by lion dance troupes. It wasn’t so much a case of the entertainment industry crying out for a drum troupe but more of Goh and Ch’ng allowing their hearts to rule. Goh quit his job as a graphic designer and Ch’ng did likewise from a successful career as an accountant.

”I actually got into this 20 years ago and never imagined getting this far. I was originally a school band drum major, and I guess my love for drums just continued to grow from there.

“While I was studying graphic design, I began a coaching stint at the Chung Hwa private school and I noticed a lot of talent there. The problem was, after graduating, these students had no opportunities to further their interest,” Goh confesses.

Hands Percussion has attempted to circumvent this obstacle by introducing a three-pronged system designed to address the issue by way of its Performing, Education and Outreach, and Theatre Music Production programmes. The troupe’s endeavours to introduce its art form at school level have yielded very positive results with students now being offered performance platforms at cultural and corporate events, ultimately providing the means to lead a decent life.

Hands Percussion has successfully funded its activities through corporate events but Ch’ng points out that it’s no easy task. “We have 15 full-time members to take care off and I’ll tell you that we live on a day-to-day basis.”

Temptations from foreign troupes – who are often better paid due to government intervention – is a fear both Goh and Ch’ng have to face, but the pride they instil in the troupe has paid dividends in retaining their members so far.

The troupe’s philosophy of fusing various elements of local culture is far from conventional but Goh and Ch’ng both feel it’s all rather natural to them, given their Malaysian upbringing.

“We’ve grown up in Malaysia, so how can we cast a blind eye on what’s around us? I’m not a Chinese guy from China. I’m Malaysian, and naturally, I’m influenced by my surroundings, which includes the use of traditional Malay and Indian instruments. I mean, I grew up with my family in Kuala Pilah. And as percussionists, we’re always interested in percussion instruments beyond our own culture,” Goh asserts.

Naturally, this ethnic potpourri has drawn its share of detractors, especially those who tread the cultural high ground.

“We’ve also been told off that jumping on the drums is disrespectful and such, but my sifu has always encouraged us with his open mindedness.”

“Times have changed, too, and to get the younger generation to appreciate this, you really can’t lecture them or do things the conventional way ... you have to woo them instead. Unlike school, the kids whom we train insist on coming for the sessions even when they’re ill, much to their parents’ surprise. Such is their dedication,” adds Ch’ng.

Although the troupe’s name may suggest that it plays its percussion instruments purely with its hands, sticks are used too. Also, why Hands and not Hand Percussion, then?

“Everything we do is by our own hands ... it’s all basically an in-house effort, be it the graphic designs, the costumes, our website, sourcing of funds ... everything, really,” Ch’ng proudly claims.

Hands Percussion is not sitting on its laurels and soaking in the plaudits, the troupe’s ongoing efforts in taking its brand of entertainment abroad continues with the upcoming 8th COSMOPOLIS International Arts Festival in Kavala, Greece from July 16 to 20. The event is a celebration of – apart from music and dance – the world’s folk art, foods, thoughts and creations expressed in an artistic manner.

The globetrotting troupe won’t be leaving for Europe without first conducting Drum Slices III, which begins today at KLPac and ends on Sunday. Showtime is at 8.30pm.

Hands Percussion makes no bones about its honesty to its craft and the success stories the troupe is able to narrate thus far is a testament to both Goh and Ch’ng’s undying passion for their art.

For more info on Drum Slices III, call 03-9282 4250 or visit www.hands.com.my. Tickets for the show at KLPac are priced between RM35 and RM80 (10% discount for Hands Club members). Call Tel: 03-4047 9000 or 03-2094 9400 for tickets. StarYouth is the media partner for the Hands Percussion Team.

I’ve never been to the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center (KLPac). This would be the perfect reason to go.

We recce the place on Saturday night and cool! With the lighting of the surrounding area, it looked impressive but kinda eerie actually. The old buildings look quaint and colonial with the spotlight shining on them but I dare not look too hard for fear of seeing something I don’t want to.

Of course, when we made our way on Sunday afternoon to catch the 3.00pm show, under the light of day, you see things as what they really are. The long main driveway to KLPac still looks good and the park neatly kept, but the buildings, well, not too impressive. They are in fact rather old and abandoned but honestly, I must say they all add up to the feel of the surrounding area.

We bought tickets at the KLPac box office which I think need better organization of purchase and collection of tickets. Without proper signage, it was a little confusing for several people who were unclear on which queue to follow – purchase or collection – and were only told once they reached their turn after waiting in line that “This is for collection only. Buying is this queue”, pointing to the next queue, and sighing after looking back to see the queue going back to 15 people. Not pleasant!

Oh, one more thing - parking. What is it about Malaysia and its inability to provide sufficient parking for shopping malls and theaters and stadiums when you know there will be a massive number of vehicles during an event? I just don’t get it. We ended up parking by the curb, squeezing between cars. Sheesh!

Anyway, the interior of KLPac itself is nice. Straight out, I can say I like it. I like the modern build-up of the place with the use of metal, raw bricks and glass walls. Despite the number of people around the foyer, it still felt comfortable.

Let’s get on with the show.

There were 7 parts to it – 7 different showcases from different schools or teams. The first hour was team number 1 to 3 and after a 15 minute intermission, teams 4 to 7’s turn.

Teams 1 to 3:

I was bored. I was beginning to regret coming. Too many pauses. Ayo, enough with the pantomime. Hit the drums already!... Huh? Is that it? God, here we go again with the pantomime. Good grief…Enough!

The intermission was badly needed.

Teams 4 to 7:

THAT’S more like it! Clearly this is the highlight half. Of all 4, I liked team 5 most, performing “Monkey Beats”. The team were school children with the drums some barely reaching their chests. They were adorable, absolutely adorable. Their ability to concentrate, to present their emotions and above all enjoy themselves, carrying a smile while coordinating their movements with each other, it was so pleasing to watch. I was smiling throughout.

At the end of it all, I couldn't help but think - What a wonderful avenue for kids to have; a healthy extra curriculum for students. It gives kids such a good opportunity to build their character, build their confidence and I'm sure with the level of commitment and dedication that they showed, it will propagate to their everyday lives too.