Impact Of A Soul To A Soul From A Soul

Juwita Suwito, a name very new to me, but I have seen her name so many times. I finally caught her performance yesterday at Alexis Bistro. I had dinner there with a few friends and then we awaited for Juwita to start performing.

The night was filled with her beautiful voice and the sound of the harmonized band. She grooved with the crowd getting all of us to join in. She did quite a number of songs including “Only in the dark”, then some pop rock song like “complicated” and “Luka”. She was a great entertainer as she entertained the crowd with her performance. I guess I could not pass a chance now to go to such performances. I’m glad that I was there as it was a great night and if you have heard of her before, I believe you will agree with me.

The night ended up with a few chit chat session with various people including Juwita herself. The weirdest thing that happened yesterday would be a sms marathon with someone that I do not know at all. Weird and obscene I must say… so I will not put any details here, if you know what I mean. Well yesterday has been a great night and tonight… I guess I will be in Bangkok Jazz and the Bangkok Jazz Trio will be playing tonight. That reminds me I need to finish the pictures from last weeks event in Bangkok Jazz…

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I was there late and the band has already started playing. I have heard so much of this band called Cosmic Funk Express but then again I have not known them until that night when I stepped into the place full or crowd. The last time I was there, there was no one crowding the space in front of the stage, but that night I was like full and I can see they did not go there to take photographs. They were fans, hardcore fans to say the least.

This time the management even decided to barricade the area near the stage leaving very little room for me to move around least to say take pictures. As I settled down for a while I heard Alda announcing to the crowd that it will be their last performance, I don’t know much about the band then but I could sense the crowd’s disappointment. I had no disappointment at that moment but as time passed, the disappointment rises in me. How could I not know them earlier, like 3 years ago? They were fantastic… really.

The band Cosmic Funk Express comprises of 3 members which is Alda on the bass, Zack on the electric guitar and Alex on the drums. Zack was awesome on the guitar and when he plays two electric guitar at the same time, the crowd went wild. A very talented guitarist I must say. Alda on the other hand mesmerizes the crowd with his skills on the bass and his style when he plays the bass guitar, there’s only one word for it, style. Alex which plays the drums showed the crowd his skills and handiwork. They were truly amazing.

During that performance, Izwin was one of the guest which was the vocal for the band that night. She sang a few songs which I do not really recall the names but her voice reached out and brought out the songs the band was playing. Another guest I guess was Savy, and she plays the keyboard. She blended in with the band and boy does she play well too. Over all the band was electrifying and when they played some of the songs, the crowd was dancing in the front portion of the stage.

I guess Cosmic Funk Express will be a band that we are going to miss…
I miss them already…
Click here… to listen to one of their more famous piece.It’s an instrumental piece and it’s called Korean Boy…

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The Jazz festival on Saturday, 5th august 2006 was seen with 3 group of performers. They consist of Sharizan Borhan with the Swing Inc, Shelley Leong with Jazz Odyssey and then John Thomas’s Funk Mob. The night started off with Sharizan Borhan and the Swing Inc but I missed it as I arrived late. However my past experience going to his gigs tells me that it was a great performance. Sharizan’s voice coupled with the Swing Inc which includes Julian Chan on the Saxaphone, John Thomas on drums and Tok Khon on keyboards was like a perfect combination. Sharizan is know for his beautiful voice and the songs he sings from Frank Sinatra is totally mesmerizing. I managed to catch up with him just before he leaves and had a bit of a chat.

After that it was Shelley Leong and the Jazz Odyssey to take the stage. The band included Michelle on keyboards, Alda Tan on bass, Az Samad on guitar and Stephanie on drums. Shelley has got a very sweet voice and the crowd was just blown away, even me while I was snapping away. I did not catch the names of the songs as I was busy snapping pictures but whenever she sang, the crowd went wild and cheered along. I believe that there are a lot of supporters of Shelley Leong and the Jazz Odyssey and a big hand of applause to them.

After the break from Shelly Leong, then came John Thomas’s Funk Mob. The band consisted of John Thomas on the drums, Julian Chan on the saxophone, Tok Khon on keyboards, Fly on bass and Wan Zafuan on guitar. John Thomas has been labeled the best drummer in Malaysia and boy was he good. His handwork on the drums as just astonishing and the speed he was playing amused everyone in the crowd. Julian Chan played the saxophone tremendously well and it just soothes the crowd as he played some solo part and duel with John Thomas on the drums. Not forgetting is Tok Khon and his fantastic skills on the keyboards as well as Wan Zafuan playing the electric guitar. I believe at one point he did played the guitar with his tongue, super cool. One of the guests that caught the crowd during this performance was Jose Thomas, a renowned guitar player that got the crowd roaring. Jose played the guitar very well and he got the crowd to participate along. The crowd even encore and wanted more when they played the last song, one that I have not seen during my last two trips here.

I have just started my journey on live jazz and I believe the performances that I have seen so far has done enough to make me like jazz of live gigs. It’s just astounding and to see them play live is just like one of life’s luxury. I must say, Jazz has definitely made a mark in me, definitely.

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When I mention yesterday it’s actually Saturday, should have posted it on Sunday but I was, don’t remember what kept me from doing so. Yesterday was a blast… nonetheless. First we had dinner of sandwiches. Then we had the all so sinful fondue. After that was chilling out to Denise.

You know I called in a day earlier to Haagen Dazs and this chap told me that we do not need to reserve the fondue and he told me it’s like for 2 person. We had 4 person so we thought it would just be dessert so it would do even if it’s for 2 person and that is why we had dinner prior to the fondue. To my surprise and a bit to my anger, they have to check if they still got fondue and I said to myself if then don’t have then I would be like so disappointed. May be go on a rampage as well because the guy on the phone told me we don’t need to reserve or something like that. But then everything went well and yes they have fondue so it was fondue for us. Another shocking discovery is that the waitress told me the fondue could easily feed 4 to 6 person… I mean what the… the guy told me it was for 2. Seriously, either that guy was pulling my leg or I must have called the wrong number. So without further hesitation, the waitress served us water and then the ice cream fondue… Haagen Dazs style. The fondue was filled with ice cream balls, chipsmore cookies, fruits, and most of all the nuts and chocolate dip… yum yum yum.

The taste of ice cream balls covered with chocolate and nuts is just so heavenly… a combination that brings cloud 9 by your side. The sinful dessert was just heavenly to the taste and I was with a great crowd, so that made it so much more enjoyable. And thanks to you, yes both of you, I finally tasted my first marshmallow. And to top it off, it was so colourful. Thanks.

After dessert, we adjourned to one of my favourite place to chill, Alexis. This time it was Denise Mininfield and she is good. Her voice was powerful and she’s a great entertainer. Apart from that, Lewis was there to play the drums, another display of great drum works. The night was so entertaining and it was great. Chilling to live gigs may have just been introduced to me, but the interest and mark it made have just blossomed tremendously in me. The guest stars yesterday was not only Lewis, but Arvinder and Keeran. Arvinder is a Banghra vocalist and Keeran plays a special kind of drum which I do not remember the name. They were both great nonetheless. I was so thrilled yesterday and I had lot’s of fun too. I got to meet almost all of them the last 2 days. Lewis, Bruno, Chris, Arvinder, Keeran, Denise, they are just great and friendly people.

Oh and Bryan my man… it’s nice to get to know you. We will chill sometime ok… it will be so much fun to chill with you…

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