By Mallika Naguran

Singapore, 18 January 2014. Jazz lovers listen up. Borneo Jazz in Miri, Sarawak will be held from the 9-10 of May 2014 and will feature the following:

Iriao, an eight-piece ethno-jazz band from Georgia. Iriao’s repertoire is based on Georgian authentic folk instrumental and polyphonic music, which has been recognized by UNESCO as being a masterpiece of oral heritage. The unique polyphonic Georgian music will have jazzy overtones. 

Vocal Sampling, an all-male a cappella musical group from Cuba with the album “Cambio de Tiempo” nominated for 3 Latin Grammy Awards.

Brassballett from Germany – the first and only show worldwide where musicians are dancers at the same time. They will perform a choreographed show on stage whilst playing their instruments,

Mario Canonge – a great virtuoso and showman playing creole jazz with West indies rhythms from Martinique/France

YK Band from Indonesia who will feature Jazz with hints of Borneo flavour

Anthony Strong – hailed as “England’s new jazz superstar" from UK. He beat Gregory Porter, Michael Bublé and Harry Connick Jr. to become No 1 on the iTunes and No 2 on the www.amazon.com jazz charts in the USA.  

From the local scene we have Diana Liu, the Sarawakian born artist who plays pop, jazz, bossa nova, gospel and funk/soul and who will represent Malaysia/USA/Taiwan. Lewis Pragasam will be on drums.

Entry tickets will be on sale starting on the last week of January 2014. For promotional offers and discounts as well as further information on the festival please log on to www.jazzborneo.com. Updates also available via STB’s Twitter account @SarawakTravel and Facebook at Sarawak Travel.

This annual event is organized by Sarawak Tourism Board, supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and Ministry of Tourism Sarawak and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia. This is in line with year of ‘double celebration’, the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014) and Visit Sarawak Year 2014.