The Unofficial Traxx.FM Jazz Selecta!

hello~
last tuesday, that is that the LAST tuesday of the year 2005, you did mention about musics or talents to listen to if one is to dive into Jazz from different music ganres. could you enlighten me again on that? web links would be cool too. by the way, the other day, a friend of mine told me about Victor Wooten. gosh, he surely knows his bass guitar. if you by any chance reading this mail while you’re on air, is it possible you guys play a piece by him? thanx…

.ace

our response (via jazzselecta.alldatjazz.com)

Hi Ace,
We’ll definetely look into Victor Wooten but what I know from him is he plays more “rockabilly” than ‘jazz’…then again there is that thin line between rock, jazz and r&b. Will do more research. Re: getting into jazz through different kinds of musical backgrounds, I’ll post that article up soon yeah? cheers!

Hello Jezza and Maya,
I have just heard your clips of interview with Mia from the alldatjazz website. Let me just say it was very entertaining and a few interesting points were made regarding support “or lack thereof” of Malaysian musicians - even more so, when comes to Jazz. More on this later but first, please allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Victor Yong. I was born in Miri, 45 yrs ago but have reside in Vancouver, Canada for close to 30 yrs now. 28 yrs to be exact. I am a professional session guitarist and being Malaysian, I am very proud of all things Malaysia. What prompted this email? Well, I’ll try my very best to make it short…

It started a few months ago when my cousin, working as a nurse in KL, started chatting online about music. She sent me website infos on many musicians back there esp. on Jazz. To say I am impressed is really an understatement but I really didn’t think there would be anyone interested in Jazz in Malaysia. To discover events like the Penang Jazz Festival, Rainforest music festival in Kuching and now the Miri International Jazz Festival, I am totally awe struck. Needless to say, I will make a trip back home next May for the event.

Mia is really quite correct about lack of support sometimes. I think this is a common attitude all over the world. I remember reading articles about British Fusion guitarists John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth, who said the same thing. The only time the people back in Britain would accept them is after their travel to the States, make it there and return, then they become superstars - so to speak. Also, when you have music that requires a little more sophisticated listening skills that is not in the Mainstream, it does seem to go unnoticed. Otherwise, Britney Spears or Janet Jackson would still be singing in bars and Sonny Rollins or Tuck Andress would be playing coliseums.

Anyhow, I just want to say I think your Jazz show is fantastic in promoting the local Jazz scene. Eugene’s alldatjazz website is really THE website to go to for anyone interested in Malaysian Jazz. That’s how I found out about your radio show and tons of other very interesting musicians.

Recently, my brother just returned from a business trip in Malaysia and I had my cousin bought me some CDs of the local musicians. Two CDs of Double Take and one of APU. I just want to say, after hearing those CDs, the music standard back there is really world class. I really hope one day our annual Vancouver International Jazz Festival will bring in bands like APU or Double Take. I wrote to APU to have them submit their CDs to our local scene but have not heard from them.

I am doing my share of “spreading the good word” of Malaysian music scene. Wished I can do more.

All the best and keep up the good work.

Regards,
Victor