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JAMFEST FINALE
November 15, 2005, New Straits Times/Malay Mail

By ERROL DE CRUZ
Click to enlarge.

THE CURTAINS GO DOWN on Backyard Pub's Jamfest 2005 on Thursday night with 15 musicians playing in a five-hour music extravaganza they promise you won't forget.

The acts are singer-guitarist Gerard Anthony, progressive rock band Tempered Mental, fusion band Cosmic Funk Express, percussion duo Kenny Hogan and Faiser Florez and rockers Viji, Fasy and Friends.

The big attraction seems to be the collaboration between Singaporean drummer Kenny Hogan and South American percussionist Faiser Florez.

Hogan is a leading drums clinician, music educator and performer. In his late 30s, he has performed with many local and regional bands, most notably his own KonFuzion, founded in early 2003, and recently renamed the Kenny Hogan Band.

Hogan has been experimenting with ethnic fusion music and will present a special percussive set with Florez, who hails from Cartagena, Colombia, and has performed and toured all over Central America with both regional and international bands.

Among the artistes he has recorded or toured with are Grammy Award winner Nestor Torres, Cuban violinist Alfredo de salsa singer Rey Ruiz.

Most recently, he has been plying his craft in the Southeast Asian region with popular Indonesian artistes Indra Lesmana, Glenn Fredly, Bella Saphira, Sello and Rio Febrian.

Gerard Anthony plays the electronic fretless Yamaha EZ-AG2004 guitar which features sensor pick-ups, but that doesn't prevent him from coaxing some melodious tunes from this synthesised, futuristic instrument.

Gerard, inspired by his late brother Jairus Anthony, Edmund Anthony who manages the Backyard music connection and SWV's Vishnu, also loves such country acts as James Taylor, Michael Martin Murphy, Edwin McCain, and Lonestar, and "music that's easy on the ears".

Tempered Metal comprises singer-bassist Melina, drummer Jimmy and guitarist Zack. Formed in February 2002, their music is "radio-friendly progressive rock with dark overtones".

The band's debut single, Honestly, defines its sound - inventive guitar work, an intricate bass line and smooth vocal delivery.

The friends Viji and Fasy speak of are guitarist Edmund Anthony and vocalists Justin Wah and Shahril.

Viji performed solo for 15 years, and with fiery guitarist Fasy, comes across with a powerful blend of gravelly voice and scintillating guitar solos, in a repertoire that harks back to the guitar-driven days of 70s.

Fasy, who also leads Playin' December, hails from the Maldives and first came to Malaysia in 1996 as a student. He has two albums - Cruising and Fasy: A Compilation.

Cosmic Funk plays a fusion of funk, rock and jazz and comprises Zack Kim on lead guitar, Alda Tan on bass and Alex Ang on drums.

The band's most notable gigs and events were the Music Canteen-NST Truck Tour Kuantan leg, Mont Kiara JazzFest, Sun Music Festival, Art for All Carnival, World Peace Concert, Kampong Fest, Fete De La Musique 2005 and HELP'S Battle Of The Bands.

According to a Backyard Press release, the Jamfest 2005 finale kicks off at 8pm, and we hope it does, after proper sound checks.

Two weeks ago, U Buy U Sell critiqued the bands for coming in late and performing without sound checks, and that brought on some very disgruntled responses which fully disregarded the website announcement that music would begin at 8.30pm, SHARP!

This time around, it's supposed to kick off at EIGHT! Our fingers are crossed, and we hope that guests won't be needing earplugs.

Last Thursday, there was a band which didn't care that the volume they played at drove away half the crowd, and a very talented guest singer. All its singing guitarist offered was: "We play kinda loud."

Who's paying who, we kinda wonder?

The Backyard Pub is located at 28, Jln Sri Hartamas 8, Kuala Lumpur. Call 012-2016 333 or 03-6201 0318 for details and directions.

Link: Photos
© News Straits Times Press Bhd