Energetic, vibrant and groovy, the Asian Youth Jazz Orchestra brought us an enigmatic performance showcasing jazz in its best form. I was thrilled at the opportunity to spend the night with them last week at Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, KLCC, the last stop of their tour before they parted ways in preparation for their Japan tour next year.
Made up of 28 outstanding young musicians from all across the region hailing from Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, these talented youngsters bring to the table a refreshing take on jazz beyond their years. Their passion, enthusiasm and their cheekiness were felt throughout the show, giving us a performance not only beyond music but also an expression of who they were as an ensemble. I especially enjoyed how fun and interactive they were with the audience – something I didn’t expect to see at an orchestra.
Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur.
The idea of jazz music is easy for most to associate it with an old man, his cigar and a glass of whiskey on the rocks, but the truth is I was shown a new complex and technical side to jazz when I came here; there is nothing like watching a band of professional, energetic group of youths play to discover a new found appreciation for the art.
While the ensemble presented us with a creative medley of Duke Ellington’s classics, some of my favourite pieces were composed by saxophonist Takumi Nakayama from Japan. His fluidity and profound understanding for jazz was astounding for someone his age – a mastermind and crazy genius as the troop would say. They even managed to slip in a brief line of “Rasa Sayang” into one of their pieces, paying homage to their performance ground.
Stunning percussion performance by Malaysian Abdul Karim and Filipino Jacques Dufourt. Photo courtesy of Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur.
The closing piece by conductor Osamu Matsumoto trailed us like a cat and a string – it kept us wanting for more when we thought it was going to end but surprised us over and over again with the musicians returning to the stage. Standing ovations were generously given – twice, if I may add – for their flawless performance and genuine passion. When the show finally came to an end, each musician got a chance to showcase their individual instrument for us to understand its tonal ranges – I would never have been able to grasp the true sound of a baritone saxophone if not for that.
The show left me feeling inspired and intrigued about the progressiveness of jazz and how such a big part of the genre relied on a musician’s intuition and deep technical knowledge in music. I was not only inspired by their discipline and hard work to be a part of an orchestra (that timing, though!) but also by how well they captured the essence of jazz – an evergreen genre transcending time.
