MIRI: A new artist residency programme is set to take Sarawak Jazz scene to another level and bring musicians of diverse cultural backgrounds together.
Called FAB LAB, the programme is actually an intensive six-week interactive workshop here – from May 9 to June 18 – for 30 musicians.
Two international musicians will lead the programme – saxophonist, composer and arranger from France, Chris Stalk and a bassist, DJ and performer from Switzerland, Jule Vulzor.
FAB LAB aims to empower and enliven musicians prior to Borneo Jazz festival through four workshops, namely, Music Appreciation – Listen and Make It Your Own; Methodology – How to FEEL Free Playing Music; Sound Engineering- Make It Sound Good!; and Performance Module- Let’s Play.
The Fab Lab Open Day is held on May 8 at Tegas Digital Innovation Hub Miri from 4 pm to 5.30 pm and further details will be revealed to those who sign up during the open day.
STB chief executive officer, Sharzede Salleh Askor said the programme was in line with the board’s goal to promote music tourism through iconic music festivals.
“This includes the upcoming Borneo Jazz Festival to keep building on the music tourism ecosystem in Miri to elevate the resort city as a cultural and music centre.
“By embedding a knowledge-sharing environment, we hope to create a sustainable jazz culture for our Sarawakian musicians, as well as provide an international platform to increase their musical growth,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Sharzede hoped that the music workshops and offered would instil confidence in expressions and bridge the gap between the age-old indigenous oral tradition with the contemporary and evolutionary sounds of jazz and hip-hop.
Meanwhile, artistic director of Borneo Jazz festival and founder of Black Tie, Evelyn Hii, believed in fostering Jazz ExChange to advocate cultural diplomacy, and promote sustainable growth in the arts within the local community.
Evelyn added that the Borneo Jazz Artist Residency programme would indeed cultivate the connection between the international artists with the musicians in Miri.
