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Jazzing it up in JB

David Gomes and Junji Delfino jazzing up a duet at
the first show of the JB Jazz Fest last night
The much anticipated inaugural JB Jazz Festival kicked off with a media preview of some of the exciting acts in the star-studded lineup for a taste of what to expect in the Jazz Fest.  Held at the Grand Ballroom of DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru, the event was graced by Her Royal Highness, YAM Tunku Aminah Sultan Ibrahim, the Royal Patron of the Johor Society for the Performing Arts (JSPA). 

In her opening address, she commended the JSPA for organising the JB Jazz Fest, the first in a series of festivals under the Johor Baru: International Festival City (JB:IFC) initiative.  She also congratulated them for bringing together a good mix of local, regional and international jazz artistes to perform in the festival.

The Royal Patron of JSPA flanked by JSPA founder Yap
Siong Cheng [2nd from Left] and Tourism Johor Director,
Dr Haji Badrul Hisham Kassim [2nd from Right] at the event
Director of Tourism Johor, Dr Haji Badrul Hisham Kassim, is proud that the JB Jazz Fest coincides with the 20th World Kite Festival held at Bukit Layang-Layang, just a 30-minute drive from the city.  He hoped that the jazz artistes who visited the Kite Fest that day had an enjoyable experience.  As more festivals are lined up for the year, he said visitors to JB can look forward to enjoy a host of attractions for family fun, urban lifestyle and heritage sites in the city.

The festivals planned for this year include the JB Classical Music Festival (May 1 – 3), the Unity Drums Festival featuring JB’s own 24 Festive Drums (June 5 – 6), the first ever JB Film Festival (June 11 – 13), the 12th JB Arts Fest with Fringe Festival (Sept 10 – Oct 9) and the JB Food and Visual Arts Festival from October to December 2015.

From US, Steve Thornton [Right] will
perform with Malaysian jazz star,
Razak Rahman, winner of Bakat TV
at the tender age of 12
“The JB:IFC perfectly complements the government’s initiative in promoting the Malaysia Year of Festivals (MYFest) 2015,” said founder of JSPA and organiser of the JB Arts Fest, Yap Siong Cheng.  “In the last 12 years, the JB Arts Fest has grown in size and stature while the city of Johor Baru, driven by Iskandar Malaysia, has also grown rapidly,” he added. 

He said JB:IFC is important because as the city expands its local and international reach, so must it continue to embrace and promote the arts as well as showcase the rich, historical culture of Johor and Malaysia to its many residents and visitors.

In the 4-day JB Jazz Fest from Feb 26 to March 1, connoisseurs of jazz in JB will have a real treat to experience the different styles presented by the artistes.  For more info and tickets, please contact Tel: 6019 – 713 9900 or email: jbartsfest@hotmail.com




The Mezzotono Show are five voices from Italy who will perform acapella
Don't miss the live performances every night from Feb 26 to 28, with a Sunday Brunch Jazz show on March 1
at DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Baru

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