Bunga (Malaysia), Matti Klein (Germany) and Rio Sidik (Indonesia) bring their cutting-edge performances to Southeast Asia’s longest-running jazz festival.
SARAWAK, 31 May 2022 – Bringing musicians of diverse cultural backgrounds on the spectrum of Jazz music and beyond has always been the Borneo Jazz (BJ) credo. Now in its 17th year, it continues to do so but in a hybrid format of in-person and live-streaming at Coco Cabana, Miri from 24th – 26th June 2022.
This year’s theme “Jazz in The Jungle” will once again amaze with its diverse line-up, including Malaysian Hijabi rapper Noor Ayu Fatini, also known by her stage name Bunga.
Bunga first came to the limelight as the only female rapper finalist to wear a Hijab on Southeast Asia’s star-search show 16 Baris – a platform that showcases upcoming SEA hip-hop acts. It was her talent that got her to the finals, but her fortitude got her worldwide attention when the video went viral and was picked up by international media outlets like the New York Times and Vogue Arabia.
Since her breakout recognition three years ago, Bunga has since collaborated with several Malaysian stars including Malaysia’s Queen of Ethnic Pop, singer Noraniza Idris, on the track Intan Payun. The track Mereng is her latest single and was penned during the Covid-19 lockdown in the country. She is also recognised as one of the top 20 popular female artists according to 2020 Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) and in the Top 10 new breakout artists at the Anugerah Meletop Era (AME).
This upcoming star hopes to inspire many other young Muslim girls around the world to break boundaries without having to forego their Islamic identity.
Headlining Borneo Jazz 2022 is an artist that is already making a name in his home country of Germany, Berlin-born pianist and composer Matti Klein, winner of the Audience Award and the Jury Prize at the Jazz & Blues Award Berlin (2008), and the coveted Future Sound Award at the Leverkusener Jazztage (2011). Matti plays Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric piano, whose sounds have had the most profound and sustainable impact on the music heritage of funk and soul jazz.
Over the years Matti has performed more than 1000 national and international concerts, travelling to legendary jazz venues such as the Blue Note in Tokyo, Ronnie Scott’s in London, the Highline Ballroom in New York or the New Morning in Paris, as well as major festivals such as Jazz in Marciac (France), Pori Jazz Festival (Finland), the Leverkusener Jazztage (Germany), the Elbjazz Festival (Germany) and the Jazz Baltica (Germany).
Alongside Lars Zander (bass clarinet & tenor saxophone) and the tight grooves of drummer André Seidel, Matti Klein’s Wurlitzer and especially his Rhodes bass sound have constituted the essential foundation of his new Soul Trio’s sound concept since 2017, with the band’s concerts receiving the highest accolades from both critics and audiences alike.
German music journal Jazzthetik praises the “epic beauty” of the trio’s music, “which is unparalleled”, and radio broadcaster Deutschlandfunk Kultur even jubilated: “Matti Klein Soul Trio grooves tremendously (…) just like it did in the finest days of soul under the Tamla/Motown roof.”
No jazz festival would be complete without featuring a trumpeter, and hailing from Surabaya, Indonesia with a strong presence and following in Bali, is trumpet player and bandleader Rio Sidik. Said to have music as a part of his life from birth, Rio’s early musical education came from his grandfather, Daryono, a trumpeter and a big band leader. Daryono inducted him into music, built him up to be an excellent trumpeter through strict education, instilling in him a strong work ethic and commitment. Having played the trumpet since he was eight and performing since he was 14, Rio has, over the years, garnered many shiny achievements including collaborating with trumpeter Maurice Brown and the fab Incognito at the Bali Live International Jazz Festival.
With his group the Rio Sidik Quintet, the trumpeter released his second album “Sound of the Mystical Vibe” which captures the energy of the quintet performing live.
Speaking of live performance, Rio has done it all, from touring twice in South Africa, Singapore, Australia, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands and Russia. With his world music fusion band Saharadja, he participated in the inaugural Java Jazz Festival in 2005. Catch this charismatic bandleader and his joyful attitude on stage as he infuses his virtuoso trumpet solo with a soulful singing style at BJ 2022.
About Borneo Jazz festival 2022
Themed “Jazz in The Jungle”, the 17th edition will be held in a hybrid format for the first time from 24th – 26th June 2022 at Coco Cabana, Miri and will be joined by performers from countries namely Singapore, Japan, France, Switzerland, USA, Hungary and India.
Borneo Jazz will also be providing fun and educating fringe activities from 24th – 26th June 2022 open to the public such as Eco Art Project, Borneo Boat Lute Exhibition, Miri Sape Movement – ‘Evolution of the Sape’, Wellness Programme and Artisanal Craft Bazaar.
Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ starting now from the official website at jazzborneo.com or directly from our official ticket resellers, Miri City Council at [email protected] and Transworld Travel Services Sdn Bhd at [email protected].
For the public category, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM128 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM228 per ticket and 3 Day Pass is RM338 per ticket. As for students and senior citizens, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM88 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM128 per ticket and 3 Day Pass is RM188 per ticket.
For those who want to enjoy BJ virtually, tickets are priced at RM25 per viewing block – approximately an hour segmented into your favourite performers. For more information on Borneo Jazz festival 2022, log on to BJ’s official website at jazzborneo.com.
