Apologies

- NOTICE -

Hi everyone,

First and foremost, I would like to express my sincerest apologies to those who might have tried to attend our Saturday show at the Top Room, and only to find the place closed. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our show had to be cancelled on that day! I hope this won't happen again! My apologies for the inconvenience caused, and thank you for your understanding.

- Julian

Gig updates:

I've managed to get two more dates confirmed for the next several weeks. One will be the end of this month, 29th November. We'll be playing at La Bodega, Pavillion, but with a slightly different set-up due to scheduling difficulties with some of the members of the band.

And there's Rick's Cafe Casablanca early December.

So do stay tuned and I'll be posting more updates soon!

See ya.

Updates - November 07

Hi all,

It's been a while since I managed to update this blog for the band, and my sincerest apologies for that. I've been so swamped with a variety of things, and also some personal issues that I've had to try to settle over the past few months. It's also been a while since the band last played. So, here we are back again, after a 4-month plus hiatus since our last gig at Chill Wine Bar in July.

We've been confirmed for four dates so far, two of them are in a weekend in November at Top Room, and the other two are at this new live jazz joint called Rick's Cafe Casablanca, for its live jazz on Thursdays. It's located at one of the shophouses on One Bangsar, Jalan Ara, a pretty cool spot to be at, too! This new joint serves some really nice Mediterranean food and some fusion. As for the live jazz bands, that credit falls on my trumpet player Eddie Wen, as he's consulting for the owners of Rick's Cafe, where the live jazz entertainment is concerned (kudos Eds!). It's quite a nice cozy joint, and so far admission is free for the live jazz on Thursdays.

Anyway, it should be a blast, so here are the dates:

8 Nov (Thursday) - Rick's Cafe Casablanca, One Bangsar.

16, 17 Nov (Friday and Saturday) - The Top Room @ Top Hat Restaurant.

6 Dec (Thursday) - Rick's Cafe Casablanca, One Bangsar.

Anyway, check out this cool new poster I made using Pages on iWork on my Mac (I love this program.. easier to use than Photoshop!). It was my first time using Pages, and I had to stretch my head for several hours trying to do this. I hope it's nice!

Venues:

The Top Room @ Top Hat Restaurant
7 Jln Kia Peng, KL
Reservations: 03-21428611

Rick's Cafe Casablanca
One Bangsar
63C Jalan Ara
Bangsar Baru KL
Reservations: 03-22871618

Cancellation..

Hi everyone,

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, our performance at Top Room on the 3rd and 4th August has been cancelled.

For updates on what will be happening there, please visit the Top Room page.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Speechless...

What do you say when you know you've got one of the BEST jazz bands in town?


.... NOTHING!!....


Because there's nothing than can be said that can describe how I feel about my band members! If anything, I can say that I'm a very, VERY blessed musician... to have the opportunity to work with 4 of the most amazing musicians, and to have them in my band... OUR band!! It goes to show for me, that a successful (and potentially kick-a$$) band does not need all-star players for it work!

I've learned so much playing with this band for only these 7+ months. I'm also grateful, that we also got a lot more opportunities to play a lot at these various jazz venues in town, making us play a whole lot more over the past 7-8 months... Top Room (DG+JD *wink* thanks!), Chill Wine Bar, Bangkok Jazz, Groove Junction, and some others..

Anyway, just to write a short account of our last gig at Chill Wine Bar the last two nights..

The band was smokin' on Friday night! We had Junji Delfino singing the two nights with us... so having Junji on board is always a pleasure, it's always plain fun, and also musically fulfilling! What can we say when we have basically the best female jazz vocalist playing with us?? For some strange reason, I felt like I was on overdrive these two nights. Of course, being so at home with these guys, playing was like riding a magic carpet!! One of the more interesting things on Friday night, was when we started playing, the usually-non-attentive-EH-LAKS-SIS-type crowd also sat in attention and started to listen and see what we were doing. We commanded attention.. and it was something I've always intended to do when we play! And I'm glad we did!

Last night was also good! However, on Saturday night, we had Justin, Daniel and Wee Jon replacing the original cats for two sets, on piano, bass, and drums, respectively. Those cats played exceptionally well doing Boplicity material, but without rehearsals! When the original cats came over the the wine bar, we played the last set with the original line-up.. and I think we basically smoked the house down! We played really crazy the last set, and I think it was evident, that the chemistry of our working relationship as a musical unit really stood out! We only did three songs in the last set - Bluesanova, Love You Long Time, and June Bug. In the first tune, we really stretched the tune much more than we usually did... and everyone really did take it to the fifth dimension and back, even Eddie kicked butt on it!!! Cher Siang played a killer solo on Love You Long Time (and the other songs, too!), going in-and-out of the harmony, with the right amount of tension-and-release, it was crazy enough to send chills up my spine! I was relating to him after the set, that I probably had multiple-mental-orgasms just listening to the whole band play their butts off! With the last tune, we had Kevin Choo (my sax brutha!!) jam with us on that nice funky blues.. and we three horns traded solos like an ongoing mamak conversation!! We ended the set with Junji doing a beautiful encore ballad, a duet with Cher Siang on piano! Man.. what a crazy two-nighter it turned out to be!

I'm so blessed with having these cats as band members... and as best friends, too! Thank you...

.. Thank you so much!

Well, the band will be taking a three week hiatus from the clubs, due to some scheduling. But this is a great opportunity for us, as we're working on some new material before the our next show in Top Room on the first weekend of August. So do stay tuned and hope to catch you then!

Jazz Association of Malaysia (JAM) - Inaugural Meeting

Hi everyone,

Here's an important piece of news, I'd like to share. We're having the inaugural meeting of the Jazz Association of Malaysia on Sunday, 8th July 2007, from 3pm - 5.30pm. But I'll just let this little picture do da talkin'...

If you have a passion for jazz and want to see that it is nurtured...

If you enjoy the freedom in jazz and want to make sure that it is heard...

If you believe that jazz has the power to bring people together in a common bond...

or

If you have something to share in the interest of building up the Malaysian jazz movement...

...then come on the 8th of July and join JAM. Together let's stand up for jazz!

For more information, ring 016 225 4868 or 016 322 9383.

By the way, after all that talking a lot about the music, you can actually fete your ears with some REAL music.. the regular Top Room Sunday Jazz Jam starts at 6pm!! I'll definitely be there as well, giving my support, and also to play!! After all, the music comes first! So I hope to see you there..

Show your support for the music.. and show your support for the jazz scene in KL!

Check out http://jazzmalaysia.blogspot.com, the official blog-site for J.A.M!

CONTEST

Hey all.. here's a gig update..

Boplicity is playing the Top Room again this weekend! So do come by and check it out!

*trust Junji to come up with something interesting to write on the Top Room blog each time!! Thanks Junji! ;)*

What caption would you create for this photo of Julian Chan?

A contest? That means got prize also right? What prize? Umm... how about a chance to blow on Julian's horn ... err ... using your own mouthpiece, of course. Aiyak! Somehow that didn't come out right. Ok, forget that one... how about free keropok all night at Top Room? [Eh, dey, Jazzmamak! ... keropok IS free at Top Room lah].

Erm... oookay... how about... a free photo op with the band for posting on The Top Room site and Julian Chan's site and Boplicity's site?? Ha! I think I'm well connected enough even to be able to swing a copy autographed by the five band members just for you! How about that?

But that would mean that you have to be at Top Room this Friday and Saturday when Boplicity swings along. And that would also mean that you would have to actually send your caption in before Thursday, 14th June, so that our panel of judges [that is... I, me & myself :)] can go through the entries and pick the most inventive/creative caption of all! And should it be a tight contest, rest assured that the one that reduces Julian Chan to peals of unstoppable laughter will be declared the winner. So don't forget...

Boplicity is back at The Top Room this Friday & Saturday. First set starts at 10:30 p.m. Cover charge is RM20nett. Ring 03-21428611 for reservations. See you at The Top!

--

http://www.thetoproom.blogspot.com

Boplicity @ Chill Wine Bar

Hey everyone,

We're back playing again this week, but this time at a more chill-out place at Chill Wine Bar, Plaza Damas. Since it's a chill-out place, we're gonna be playing at a more chilled out pace. Expect some usual tunes from our repertoire and some more jazz standards to enjoy your wine and dine. Join the band - Julian Chan on saxophones, Eddie Wen on trumpet/flugelhorn, Cher Siang on piano, Vincent Ong on double bass, and Martin Ngim on drums - for three swinging, boppin' sets for two nights on Friday and Saturday.

Also, we'll have special guest on vocals, Junji Delfino, to sing a few songs with us in our three-set show both nights. Expect some sultry, powerful, soulful jazz from one of three only jazz singers in KL, and probably one of the best ones, at that!

In addition we're also gonna have young, upcoming pianist, Wei Li sitting in for Cher Siang on Saturday night (as Cher Siang would be preparing for his wedding reception on Sunday). Wei Li's a new cat on the scene, still studying in music college, but give him a couple of years, and he'll be one of the more hip up-and-coming pianist in town!

So do come by and hang out and listen to the band this weekend!

SUPPORT LIVE JAZZ IN KL!!!

BOPLICITY @ Chill Wine Bar

Venue: Chill Wine Bar, Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas (just before the Starbucks)
Date and Time: 1 and 2 June 2007 (Friday and Saturday), from 9.30pm
Admission: Free

QUINTUPLICITY

No, it's not the title of a brand new Quentin Tarantino movie. Neither is it Izlyn Ramli's 5th album release. No, no. It's for them bopping band of five we fondly know as BOPLICITY!

Back at The Top this weekend, let Julian Chan, Cher Siang Tay, Eddie Wen, Vincent Ong & Martin Ngim stir up your senses once again with those classic bop tunes by the giants that roamed our great jazz planet. Bop to The Top this Friday and Saturday and kick start your merry month o' May with Boplicity!



The first set usually gets started at 10:30 p.m. [or whenever the first signs of human life begin to turn up]. Top Room operates until 2 a.m. but these dudes have been known to play well past the tolling of the bells. In fact, these boys are usually pumping adrenaline by the time the last note is played and they most likely will grab some grub in our favourite haunt opposite General Hospital for the now infamous "heart attack mee hoon". Well, can you think of a better place to have a heart attack then right across a hospital?? So, enjoy the soul food dished out by these dudes then join them for supper afterwards... Either way, I guarantee it'll prove to be a pleasant experience.

Cover charge is RM20 nett.

See you at The Top!
--
http://www.thetoproom.blogspot.com

(Courtesy of The Top Room)

New dates!

Hey boppers and jazzers!

I've just included more dates for the band, and if you've missed some of our previous shows, don't forget to catch some upcoming ones!

Here are the dates:

4, 5 May 2007 (Fri and Sat) - The Top Room @ Top Hat

1, 2 June 2007 (Fri and Sat) - Chill (new place), Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas.

15, 16 June 2007 (Fri and Sat) - The Top Room @ Top Hat

29, 30 June 2007 (Fri and Sat) - Groove Junction, Sri Hartamas

5, 6 July 2007 (Fri and Sat) - Chill, Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas.

Anyway, this will probably be my only dates with the band, before I leave for New York.. I hope I can arrange some more gigs before then too! But I'll also be pretty occupied with some other gigs along the way, but I hope to do be able to do a big show with the band. Farewell show perhaps? LOL!

Will keep y'all posted.

Anyway, please do come by for the stated shows, and don't forget to say Hi to the band guys, we'd love to hang out and chat with y'all.

Till the next time.

Boplicity show @ Top Room!

Hey everyone,

The show at Top Room last night was quite a bomb, we reckon. The music was just happening, and the band was really kickin' it good! We played some of the usual music from our repertoire, from Cannonball to Art Blakey, and more. We've also had a special guest violinist, Fung Chern Hwei, to play with us on the special second set. We played mostly his compositions, and it turned out pretty good, I think! His music was pretty intense, some of the bordering of free, improvised music. I would think this would be one of those rare times, you'd get to see some really crazy, far out, jazz music! It's what I'd call a taste of New York... ahahha..

I think Chern Hwei's gonna be an interesting composer, and improviser... and being soaked in the endless wave of interesting music, including jazz, there's no place better than to really get a whole load of inspiration and ideas. Look out for him...

If you wanna have a taste of New York... come by tonight to the Top Room, music starts from 10:30pm.

**UPDATE**

The second night's show last night was pretty good as well... and there was also a fair crowd, and an enthusiastic one as well!

The band, started off on a rather relaxed tone (probably still tired from the previous night's show!), but the dynamic slowly built up and everyone started kickin' in hard!! When we got Chern Hwei up on stage again, he also kicked in hard eventually. The band was even more tighter this time, compared to Friday, when it came to his music. And of course, Chern Hwei just tore up some of the tunes that he played on as well!

I think we had two good nights in a row, and although we didn't really expect it, it was well appreciated. I have to say, it's not easy sitting through three sets of instrumental jazz... but the audience have been nothing short of amazing! There's still hope for a growing jazz audience in Malaysia. I'm crossing my fingers!!

Till the next gig...

**UPDATE 2**

Read Chern Hwei's account about the Boplicity show last week. He definitely had a ball of a time, and we had one ourselves having him on the show. **Warning: Article contains expletives**

Special update..

Just a little update..

This March 9 and 10 show at the Top Room, we've got a special guest joining us for both the evenings. He's back from New York for Chinese New Year holidays, and he plays a mean violin. His name is Fung Chern Hwei.. and he's probably one of the best Malaysian violin players in town. I think we're gonna do some interesting stuff.. so do come by to the gig on March 9 and 10. Check out the upcoming gigs column on your right for details...

Later.

Happy Chinese New Year! GONG XI FA CAI!!

On behalf of the band, BOPLICITY wishes all of you a healthy and peaceful Chinese New Year!!

GONG XI! GONG XI!
XIN NIAN KUAI LE!! SHEN TI JIAN KANG!!

Some plans for 2007!

Hey everyone!

Just to let you know, we've got some interesting stuff lined up for the first half of the year!!

As promised, I'm working on lining up some interesting gigs for the next couple of months, and some of them might happen too. There'll definitely some shows at the Top Room (a weekend in March is confirmed), but there's a possibility of playing centerstage in an upcoming jazz festival, too. So I'm crossing my fingers for that, and I hope you will too!! There's also something in the works for a big show sometime before June. More information will be posted, once we've worked things out. But whatever it is, I do hope you will come over to watch us, and support us, and support the jazz scene in general. I speak not just on behalf of the band, but for all jazz musicians in KL, that your support for the music and the arts is crucial, and very much appreciated! There's much potential for jazz and the arts to flourish in Malaysia. And when the scene flourishes and get richer, we'd really have a kick-butt scene!!

On a side note...

As most of you will know, I'm already planning to leave for NYC in the middle of the year, so it seems that I also will have to leave this band for a couple of years. But I'm quite sure I'll be leaving it in good hands. I know... I just formed this band late last year, and I'm leaving this year. Well, I've got my reasons. But I just know it had to be formed, and also to play some kick-butt music for all of ya!

Till then.. stay tuned.

Happy New Year 2007!!!

On behalf of the band, I'd like to wish ALL of you a Happy New Year 2007! I hope the new year started off with a bang for you, and I pray that you'll have a good 2007, and all your endeavours come to fruition!

I'm trying to work a lot more on the band this year, so pray for us, that we'll be getting quite a few gigs in and around town! You'll be seeing us a lot more (at least for the first half of the year), I hope.

Till then... Have a good New Year 2007!!