The Chamber Wind Project, Live At KLPAC!

Dear music lovers,

klpac and Birdian Saxophone Quartet present The Chamber Wind Project. Sit
back and enjoy this unique and wonderful musical journey by our local
wind ensembles, as they bring you a feast of wind music from Baroque to
Contemporary, music that is sure to fascinate you!

Featuring High Winds Ensemble, Zephyr Flute Ensemble, Trio D’Anches Kuala Lumpur.

Presenter: klpac & Birdian Saxophone Quartet
Genre: Concert
Date/Time: 30th & 31st May 2012 (Wednesday & Thursday)
Venue: Pentas 2, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: Price: RM 45 (adult), RM 35 ( TAS Cardholders, Students, Disabled)

For more information, please visit http://www.klpac.org/?p=6586

Call / Walk in:
klpac @ Sentul Park (03-4047 9000)
TAS @ Lot 10 (03-2142 2009 / 2143 2009)

Walk in only:
Ilasso Tickets (03-7957 6088)
A606 Block A,
Phileo Damansara II, PJ

Please support Our Local Ensembles!

This is a service anouncement only.

Doing The Double Take!

Double Take's re-union concert, held last Saturday, at the Bentley Auditorium was titled 1 Voice, 6 Strings, 12 Years. I was wondering how am I gonna keep my self interested for 90 minutes on a stage with just Mia Palencia and Roger Wang's guitar only?

It turns out I needn't worry at all. It was a highly entertaining concert. Mia had great stage presence and could carry her voice with a level of confidence that's rare in Asian show biz. And like any finely aged scotch, her voice has a naturally deep, yet transparent tone. Roger Wang's guitar style needs no further introduction, and when they perform as the Double Take duo, there's a certain undeniable chemistry that exist between them.

For me, the most enjoyable part was the Micheal Jackson medley act, which had Roger starting on various MJ tunes with his guitar and Mia has to sing it out impromptu! Needless to say, well rehearsed or otherwise, it was one mighty fun act.

The 90 minutes passed really fast and before we know it, Mia was already telling us that it's the second last song, and if we in audience wished to clap, sing along or let our hair down, now's the time! By the time the last song ended, Mia and Roger entertained us with one last encore!

I'll leave you with some pictures of the night.

The Bentley Auditorium at night.

Pop Pop Music is the Premier Chinese Jazz Movement.

Double Take CD sales were brisk that night.

Pop Pop Man, Leslie reminding the audience about observing concert etiquette.

Mia & Roger starting the concert, note the BOSE speaker system in between the two of them, which was rather odd, but it sounds good nevertheless.

Mia sings!

While Roger plays.

Roger proclaims "after 12 years, they finally decide to give me a mic!"

More Mia in action.

It was worth a night's out. My other half says we should do this more often!

Doing The Double Take, Do Join Us!

I've got their CDs, I am a huge fan of Roger Wang, and I love Mia Palencia's voice. I am doing the Double Take gig, I am brimming with excitement actually. Please note the time, date and venue of the reunion concert on the poster above!



Picture taken during their KK gig last Friday!

Got your tickets? Hifi Maverick told me that as of today, there are still limited seats left. So if you've been deliberating, here's your last chance to grab those tickets.

Tickets are available from all Victoria Music and Rock Corner outlets, or buy online at www.airasiaredtix.com.

See ya all this Saturday!

Launch Event: When Liu Jia Chang Meets Lee Zong Sheng.

Pop Pop Music is puling all stops to make sure the concert of, When Liu Jia Chang Meets Lee Zong Sheng, the final part of their Chinese Oldies Revival trilogy a wild success. I was invited to the launch party just 2 days ago and was impressed by the enthusiastic Chinese press response, unlike before. This round, lead vocal Winnie Ho and highly accomplished music director Tey Cher Siang, will be joined by Ah Fei(Jeffrey Lim, part of 2V1G fame) and Worm Lee, the latest artist to join Pop Pop Music umbrella.

Leslie(ML, a.k.a. big boss of Pop Pop Music) believes the new mix and match of talents will bring new sensation to the up and coming concert, due to be held at the Bentley Music Auditorium, Mutiara Damansara, from 8pm - 10pm, on the 10th of March 2012.

Each artist were given a chance to express their new take on the classics by Liu Jia Chang & Lee Zong Sheng, once considered the godfathers of Chinese pop music, to be re-freshed with a twist of Jazz, Bossa and perhaps other Latin inspired improvisations even?

The core members of the team, from left, music director Tey Cher Siang, anchor vocal Winnie Ho, Worm Lee and Pop Pop Music boss Leslie.

Concerts are now a succesful revenue generating model for Pop Pop Music and the other local industry players are watching closely. Leslie expects new competition to follow suit, but he's confident about his "daring" business concept and superior talent pool under his management.

Regardless if one has experienced any of the previous Pop Pop Music concert series before or not, one thing is for sure, audiophiles(and music loving Malaysians in general!) need to attend more "live" concerts to enjoy music. I am sure we will all be better audiophiles and music lovers with more concert experiences. Remember the time 8pm, date 10th March 2012, and the place at Bentley Music Audiotorium.

It's less than 2 weeks away and I've been told that ticket sales are brisk. So act fast for a new concert sensation. See ya all!

Amendment 27th Febuary 2012: Kindly note that the above concert has been postponed! Please refer to Pop Pop Music blog link on the right panel for further info.

Calling All Danny Chan Fans!

Bonnie Lam "Remembering Danny Chan" album (click play to sample)



Tribute to Danny Chan【追忆陈百强】音乐会 @ No Black Tie 9th November 2011 & 16th November 2011

Venue: No Black Tie [google map]
Date: 9th November 2011 (Wednesday) and 16th November 2011 (Wednesday)
Time: 9:30pm – 11:30pm
Singers: Winnie Ho, Worm Lee, Z Yan, Lydia Chew, Jeffery (Ah Fei)
Band: Tay Cher Siang's WVC Trio
Cover Charge: RM40 [Does not include drinks]

Booking: (after 5pm) 03-21423737

Back For a Second Show

"The Jazzy Sounds of Teresa Teng" is quite possibly this country's first audiophile-grade and audiophile-inspired showcase (outside DFP) : great acoustics, great sound, great music and great ambience.

They are back for a second show, this time a charity fund-raising drive.

Go if wanna find out what's the fuss about!

Date: 14th October 2011 (Friday)

Showtime: 08.30pm -10.30 pm

Venue: Bentley Music Auditorium, Mutiara Damansara, PJ

Admission Pass: RM150 | RM110

Booking and Enquiry: 6012-208 3790
Online Booking: http://www.airasiaredtix.com
Ticketing Outlets: All Rock Corner (except Bangsar Village) and Victoria Music outlets.

Take It To The World! The Jazzy Sound Of Teresa Teng Concert.

The Hifi-Unlimited team was out in full force to support ML's latest concert series, The Jazzy Sound Of Teresa Teng. Hifi Maverick, Odiosleuth and Moi(Big E) was among the many familiar faces of the hifi circle. The concert, held in the 400 seat Bentley Auditorium was packed, and the crowd energy was overwhelming in the atmosphere.

The music and performance is first rate, and this time, Winnie Ho can truly held her head up high as she worked the crowd with her heartfelt renditions of the Teresa Teng classics. The music arrangement was anything but classic, which is not surprising, with Maestro Tay Cher Siang reworking all the tunes brilliantly. It was still purely Teresa Teng in spirit, but yet the presentation of the tunes is nothing like you've heard from the great Terasa herself. I know, because I was listening to all my Teresa Teng classic CDs in the week leading up to the concert! For the concert, the Maestro has made it jazzy with a twist.

I won't spoil the fun for the next batch of people attending the 2nd showcase on the 14th October 2011(tickets still available, if you're still thinking about it, better hurry!) and spill the beans in detail, but suffice to say, the concert is definitely worth spending your time and money to attend.

Here are some pictorials for the night!

From left: Pop Pop Man, Leslie Loh a.k.a. ML, Rocky and Missus.

Moi and Roger Wang!

Bentley Auditorium has reasonably good acoustics and is well suited for events like this concert.

Winnie was going thru wardrobe changes the whole night.

Winnie doing sexy yet flirtatious flings with the audience! One could see that as she sung, she was going thru an emotional roller coaster ride herself, taking us along with her. She laughed, she cried, and she felt like a winner!

Winnie and Roger, doing the strip down girl, guitar thing.

Three divas! From left: Guest artist Lynn Li Yun Ling, Winnie and Z Yan in red!

Ready For The World

Being the busy bodies that we are, we went to watch the final rehearsal of Pop Pop Music's showcase "The Jazzy Sounds of Teresa Teng" (sold out 2 weeks ago!) today at the Brown, Black and Blue studio in Desa Sri Hartamas in early part of the afternoon and later in Bentley Music Auditorium.

My Goodness. Mr. Tay Cher Siang's (From JZ8) mastery in arrangement is simply amazing. He manages to breathe new life into many well-sung Teresa Teng classics. There's plenty of grooves and rhythms in some of the songs, allowing vocalist Winnie Ho (of 2V1G) rooms to improvise, scat and ad-lib. Even veteran guest singer from Taiwan, Lynn Lee Yun Ling was nodding in full agreement. This is Teresa Teng at its most creative form. We think Chris Bibada, who recently produced Lily Chen "Teresa Teng Live" audiophile album would love to listen to Tay Cher Siang's arrangement and learn a trick or two!

Later in Bentley Music Auditorium, it was Roger Wang's turn to practice. His solo acoustic version of "The Moon Speaks For My Heart" is worth a million dollars. Sensitive, sparse, romantic and touching, again, with Lynn clapping in admiration. She said to us: "Very few Chinese pop guitarists can do what Roger Wang does. He came from a fresh angle. Totally unaffected by how BIG the song is. This is marvelous rendition!"

A big supporter and famous blogger Malaysia Finance Blogger told us before he left the rehearsal: "They are ready for the world". Somehow, we agree.

Myself, Big E, Odiosleuth are gonna witness tonight how Tay Cher Siang, Winnie Ho and Roger Wang are going to show the capacity crowd what Malaysian musicians are capable of!

A Jazzy Teresa Teng!

Another interesting concert in the local music scene!

Fancy a jazzy Teresa Teng? Look no further than Pop Pop Music's (PPM) latest musical showcase "A Jazzy sound of Teresa Teng" on the 6th of August 2011, to be held at Bentley Music Auditorium.

It is too simplistic to look at PPM as just a niche audiophile music label. Fact is, they have penetrated widely into the mainstream consciousness with a large legion of non-audiophile supporters, 7 good-selling albums, a series of full-house concerts, increasing corporate exposures (the same way as how Dama Orchestra builds its portfolio and foundation) and a wide media coverage. Its latest glory includes having 4 albums listed in Hong Kong's Audiophile (Fatt Siew Yum Heong) "CD Bible" and Taiwan's Audio Art (Yin Xiang Lun Tan) magazine, and a 3-page coverage in The Edge financial daily. Like it or not, it is by far the most unconventional and exciting music label in Malaysia, in a time when all music labels are suffering from bad business and seeking survival.

According to Leslie Loh, the head honcho of PPM, in a recent interview, "A Jazzy Sound of Teresa Teng" aims to change how traditional music lovers perceive Teresa Teng music. He doesn't want a "traditional" and "predictable" interpretation of Teresa Teng. If anything, this man is anything but traditional or predictable.

His cast of musicians have now become the De Facto "Chinese Jazz standards" team in Malaysian. Led by Pianist and musical director Tay Cher Siang, aided by famed Sabahan guitarist Roger Wang, with vocals from the petite-yet-impressive Winnie Ho from 2V1G. Tay, in particular, has now become a household name in the local Jazz scene. He is widely recognized as the most talented jazz pianist in the scene and the leader of the most active jazz trio in Malaysia, having toured 25 countries in just a short span of 2 years. Leslie Loh relies heavily on this man, as you can tell from his recent productions. He has proven time and again that he has a knack in picking and grooming the best of the local talents.

Our team of writers at Hi-Fi Unlimited have all been invited to this grand event and we look forward with bated breath!

Local Hi-Fi dealer, CMY Audio and Visual, is the major sponsor for this concert.

For ticketing info, please visit poppopmusic.

2V1G and JZ8 in Double-Bill Concert

Date: 21st August 2010 (Saturday)
Venue: Bentley Music Auditorium, Mutiara Damansara
Time: 8pm – 10pm
Ticket Price: RM90
Booking: Ms Lim Su Li (017-6586513)



Are you going? I know quite a few audiophiles and Hi-Fi Dealers (CMY, A&L, Audio Note, Audio Art etc etc)would be attending.

A few of us heard the 2V1G's latest album in a Hi-Fi Dealer's place yesterday. It sounds incredible, recording-wise as well as performance wise. Singing is almost perfect. The recording is also the best from Maggie's label.

Maggie told me the 2V1G CDs would be sold on the venue on the concert day.

For those who will be going, see you!

I Have A Date With Acoustic Heaven

Long time no blog!

Sorry, guys, I have been so busy with work that I only got to resume my paparazzi role lately when I heard that the Pop Pop man is up to something exciting with his line-up of pretty singers, guitarists and pianists and .... AKG microphones....

Two years ago, they had a breath-taking and tear-jerking (I really mean it. I saw many ladies weeping after the concert) mini-concert at Evelyn Hii's famous No Black Tie, the only bona-fide jazz club in Malaysia. Ever since, a string of unfortunate events have made them unable to continue their momentum for a while.

Recently reformed, they are now even better and are ready to take on the world again. I was told they aim for DFP (Dewan Philharmonik Petronas), then Esplanade then Star Hall in HK. Ambitious people, indeed.

I am, of course, talking about the 2 Virgins and 1 Gay.... opps... I mean, 2 Voices and 1 Guitar, the local trio featuring the petite Winnie Ho, the Astro Champ, our own guitar maestro, Roger Wang, and the mysterious new "V", reputed to be the best Vocalist in Malaysia.

Currently recording their sophomore album, slated to be out before the KLIAV in July 24th, 2V1G is calling a mini-concert together with their label mate and highly-anticipated jazz duo, JZ8.

The long-awaited JZ8, featuring jazz painist Tay Cher Siang and Vocalist Lydia Chew, is also going to release their debut album next month. I have heard the demo and I can tell you that, it is gonna break the record in sales and bring fame to Malaysia!

According to the Pop Pop man, the double-bill mini concert is going to be "a night of exquisite, soul-soothing and heartfelt acoustic music, played in the most intimate setting". Hmm... you can trust him on that.

Here's the details:

Date: 17th July 2010 (Saturday)
Venue: Bentley Music Auditorium (Mutiara Damansara)
Time: 9pm-11pm
Ticket Price: RM60-Rm80 (not fixed yet)
Capacity: 400 pax (free seating, first come first served)
Reservation: poppopmusic@yahoo.com or sms 012-2083790

I am going to treat all my staff in my company to this rare opportunity to watch the two fantastic acts competing with each other!

I was also told Roger Wang will be using the custom made Stage III Concepts guitar cable that Luis Fuente (the boss of Stage III) made specially for him.... can imagine how gorgeous the guitar tone will be!

I guess after the intensity of World Cup in June, what better way to relax and chill with this intimate and heartwarming double-bill mini-concert.