A JAZZ TRIBUTE TO MALAYSIAN SONGS

The guardian of true and authentic Malaysian style, Datuk Johari Salleh is definitely one of the most notable composers, arrangers and educators in the country. In the 60s, he was the figurehead of Orchestra RTM, leading the band to unforgettable performances in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia. Datuk Johari is currently a sought-after composer for musicals and he lectures and supervises final year students at universities. This ardent jazz advocate is hopeful that the album could remobilise home crowds to appreciate the soul-penetrating combination of jazz and folk tune in big band format not heard in Malaysia for decades.

Heading Orkestra RTM since the year 1999, Dato' Mokhzani Ismail is a celebrated composer, orchestra conductor and jazz pianist in Malaysia. His musical career has taken him to countries near and far, participating in radio and TV programs, music festivals, song festivals and awards shows. For the purpose of radio and TV broadcasting, Dato' Mokhzani has composed many popular songs in the last dedaces, infusing popular elements into the otherwise rigid patriotic song category. In recording this album, he confessed to experiencing pure delight when down-to-earth folksy melody comes alive in the midst of jazzy notes.

Born in Manila, the Philippines, Salvador Guerzo grew up in a musical family, with his father being a Professor of Music, preacher and Mayor of his hometown. His tenure as a bandleader, arranger and musician started at the age of 14 when he played clarinet for brass bands in Manila. His musical journey then took him throughout Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. In the 90's, Guerzo was noted for his travels to the North Sea Jazz Festival, the ASEAN Symphonic Workshop, and being the music instructor and arranger for the Petronas Performing Arts Group orchestra.

Ruslan Imam is an acclaimed arranger, orchestra conductor and musician of countless live performances, consistently contributing delightful works of all genres. He has also produced albums by Suhaimi Meor Hassan, Uji & Hail, and contributed works for Ziana Zain dan Kris Dayanti. In the 90s, he conducted RTM orchestras participating in Asean Exchange Programmes alongside Singapore Broadcasting Orchestra, Jakarta TV Orchestra, Surabaya Pop Orchestra (East Java) and Manila Big Band. Currently lecturing and supervising final year students at ASWARA, Ruslan termed this album as an agressive effort to reshape the musical landscape from the grassroot, and he is all confident about its outcome.

M. Moner is an active player in providing pop and commercial stunts for corporate and international clients, while being an established pianist and saxophonist. In 2001, he was commissioned to compose and produce the theme song for local box- office Anak Mami The Movie. Meanwhile, with social obligations high on his personal agenda, he also composed theme songs for noble causes such as disability and childcare, championed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Affairs. His veteran status has also launched him as a widely recognized jury for many national and regional competitions, including the National Wind Orchestra Competition, Brass Band and Marching Band Competition.

At a young age of 38, Muriz Rose has accumulated 15 years’ worth of credentials in stage production and composing for musicals, dramas, bands and orchestras. His international as well as domestic music feats have given him plenty of insights not just in playing the music, but also managing it. Muriz is currently serving as the Head of Music for Petronas Performing Arts Group (PPAG). In his early days, he represented Malaysia in prestigious arts festivals such as Concarneau Folklore Festival (France, 1992) and Asean Universities Folk & Arts Festival (Indonesia, 1991). In 2006, he was appointed the Music Director and Conductor for Simfoni Tradisional, where he premiered 11 new pieces including his own composition BUMI KITAKAH INI at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.

Helen Yap is one of the pioneer women from Malaysia to study modern and jazz music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA, in the early 1980s. Her love for the big bands started in her teens. She started writing and conducting big band arrangements at the age of 20. Besides writing big band music, this international award winning composer has produced hits and composed, wrote and produced for top Malaysian and indonesian artistes such as Siti Nurhaliza, Sheila Majid, Nora, and Glen Fredly to name a few. She is well known for her catchy and upbeat songs. Helen is currently Music Director for diva Anita Sarawak and TV3's Gangstarz Season 2, 2008.

Isabella Pek is no stranger to Malaysia's music scenes. A versatile pianist, bandleader and arranger attached with Orkestra RTM, she performs in radio and TV programs, general business gigs as well as concerts by evergreens Idris Sardi, Datuk Sharifah Aini, Datuk Ahmad Jais, Jamal Abdillah, Alley Cats, Hong Kong and Taiwan artists Roman Tam, Tsai Chin, and R&B groups The Three Degrees and The Supremes and Connie Francis. Isabella has arranged extensively for National Symphony Orchestra in their popular concerts series, and written Malaysian repertoire for Penang Pro Arts Orchestra, a traditional Chinese orchestra.

Lilian Loo, a home-grown composer and arranger, is most capable of showcasing her unique music identity in international scenes. In 1998, she was selected to represent Malaysia in Asean Nature Arts held in Manila, the Philippines. Prior to joining Orkesra RTM as a trombone player, Lilian was recruited into Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra and Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra (Sabah, Malaysia). Wherever she is, she has always been entrusted with the responsibility to compose a wide range of songs catering to pop, ethnicity and patriotism. One highlight of her career took place in 2005, when her arrangement of Bahtera Merdeka was performed by the country’s top divas, Siti Nurhaliza and Aishah.

Arrangers and Composers		The guardian of true and authentic Malaysian style, Datuk Johari Salleh is definitely one of the most notable composers, arrangers and educators in the country. In the 60s, he was the figurehead of Orchestra RTM, leading the band to unforgettable performances in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia. Datuk Johari is currently a sought-after composer for musicals and he lectures and supervises final year students at universities. This ardent jazz advocate is hopeful that the album could remobilise home crowds to appreciate the soul-penetrating combination of jazz and folk tune in big band format not heard in Malaysia for decades.
		Heading Orkestra RTM since the year 1999, Dato' Mokhzani Ismail is a celebrated composer, orchestra conductor and jazz pianist in Malaysia. His musical career has taken him to countries near and far, participating in radio and TV programs, music festivals, song festivals and awards shows. For the purpose of radio and TV broadcasting, Dato' Mokhzani has composed many popular songs in the last dedaces, infusing popular elements into the otherwise rigid patriotic song category. In recording this album, he confessed to experiencing pure delight when down-to-earth folksy melody comes alive in the midst of jazzy notes.
		Born in Manila, the Philippines, Salvador Guerzo grew up in a musical family, with his father being a Professor of Music, preacher and Mayor of his hometown. His tenure as a bandleader, arranger and musician started at the age of 14 when he played clarinet for brass bands in Manila. His musical journey then took him throughout Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. In the 90's, Guerzo was noted for his travels to the North Sea Jazz Festival, the ASEAN Symphonic Workshop, and being the music instructor and arranger for the Petronas Performing Arts Group orchestra.
		Ruslan Imam is an acclaimed arranger, orchestra conductor and musician of countless live performances, consistently contributing delightful works of all genres. He has also produced albums by Suhaimi Meor Hassan, Uji & Hail, and contributed works for Ziana Zain dan Kris Dayanti. In the 90s, he conducted RTM orchestras participating in Asean Exchange Programmes alongside Singapore Broadcasting Orchestra, Jakarta TV Orchestra, Surabaya Pop Orchestra (East Java) and Manila Big Band. Currently lecturing and supervising final year students at ASWARA, Ruslan termed this album as an agressive effort to reshape the musical landscape from the grassroot, and he is all confident about its outcome.
		M. Moner is an active player in providing pop and commercial stunts for corporate and international clients, while being an established pianist and saxophonist. In 2001, he was commissioned to compose and produce the theme song for local box- office Anak Mami The Movie. Meanwhile, with social obligations high on his personal agenda, he also composed theme songs for noble causes such as disability and childcare, championed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Affairs. His veteran status has also launched him as a widely recognized jury for many national and regional competitions, including the National Wind Orchestra Competition, Brass Band and Marching Band Competition.
		At a young age of 38, Muriz Rose has accumulated 15 years’ worth of credentials in stage production and composing for musicals, dramas, bands and orchestras. His international as well as domestic music feats have given him plenty of insights not just in playing the music, but also managing it. Muriz is currently serving as the Head of Music for Petronas Performing Arts Group (PPAG). In his early days, he represented Malaysia in prestigious arts festivals such as Concarneau Folklore Festival (France, 1992) and Asean Universities Folk & Arts Festival (Indonesia, 1991). In 2006, he was appointed the Music Director and Conductor for Simfoni Tradisional, where he premiered 11 new pieces including his own composition BUMI KITAKAH INI at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
		Helen Yap is one of the pioneer women from Malaysia to study modern and jazz music at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Boston, USA, in the early 1980s. Her love for the big bands started in her teens. She started writing and conducting big band arrangements at the age of 20. Besides writing big band music, this international award winning composer has produced hits and composed, wrote and produced for top Malaysian and indonesian artistes such as Siti Nurhaliza, Sheila Majid, Nora, and Glen Fredly to name a few. She is well known for her catchy and upbeat songs. Helen is currently Music Director for diva Anita Sarawak and TV3's Gangstarz Season 2, 2008.
		Isabella Pek is no stranger to Malaysia's music scenes. A versatile pianist, bandleader and arranger attached with Orkestra RTM, she performs in radio and TV programs, general business gigs as well as concerts by evergreens Idris Sardi, Datuk Sharifah Aini, Datuk Ahmad Jais, Jamal Abdillah, Alley Cats, Hong Kong and Taiwan artists Roman Tam, Tsai Chin, and R&B groups The Three Degrees and The Supremes and Connie Francis. Isabella has arranged extensively for National Symphony Orchestra in their popular concerts series, and written Malaysian repertoire for Penang Pro Arts Orchestra, a traditional Chinese orchestra.
		Lilian Loo, a home-grown composer and arranger, is most capable of showcasing her unique music identity in international scenes. In 1998, she was selected to represent Malaysia in Asean Nature Arts held in Manila, the Philippines. Prior to joining Orkesra RTM as a trombone player, Lilian was recruited into Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra and Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra (Sabah, Malaysia). Wherever she is, she has always been entrusted with the responsibility to compose a wide range of songs catering to pop, ethnicity and patriotism. One highlight of her career took place in 2005, when her arrangement of Bahtera Merdeka was performed by the country’s top divas, Siti Nurhaliza and Aishah.