GOODBYE TOP ROOM, HELLO 2008

The curtains drew to a close at Top Room last Sunday and David & I would just like to say a million thanks to all of you who came in support of our efforts over the last 21 months as well as those of the talented musicians who came and added their own shades to our jazz palette.

With 2007 barely over, we look forward with anticipation at what 2008 holds in store for the Malaysian jazz community. We can only hope that the spirit lives on for this new year and the many more that will follow.

For now, I shall kick off my shoes & drink a toast, both to the enriching experiences gained thus far as well as what's to come. I wish one and all a blessed year ahead!

Love, joy & peace!

Jazzmamma

Last Call...

The year is about to end and a one about to unfold. What does it hold? No one knows for sure. However, here at The Top Room, one thing is for sure. Twenty-one months of some of the best nights of music ever heard in downtown KL and we are now ready to take our final curtain call this weekend. Some folks say it was a heroic attempt. Some say foolish. Some say just downright stupid. But for the jazz die-hards who have stepped in and partaken of the wonderful jazz spirit the stage had to offer they know they never had it so good.

And to all of them we say a big thank you!

To the many friends we've made along the way, we wish you well and we look forward to many more years of jazz wherever the spirit leads us... whenever.

To the musicians who have graced the stage with generosity of heart & talent... we'll see you at the next gig... wherever... whenever.

To the ever-growing and new generation of jazz lovers, keep on enjoying the music and keep it going for generations to come.

As a gesture of appreciation, we are dedicating our final Sunday Jazz Jam to all of you. We will invite as many of the performers who have graced our stage in the past 21 months to come for the TR send-off and it would be grand if you made it there too!

Jamming starts at 6 pm. Unless the first few customers turn up at 7.

Oh, and by the way... Fancy Poultry performs this Friday and Saturday. Join Nicole & Vivian as they tackle some jazz standards, a bit of Motown and soul and a smattering of Christmas carols along the way... Cover: RM 20nett

And since this is my last post... ever.... let me be the first to wish you A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Jazzmamma

p.s. this blog is designed to self-destruct in 2008.

NOVEMBER 23 & 24, 2007

Bop me Babeh!!!

Some of you may be wondering where the blinkers this boplicious band went. Some may even have thought that Julian Chan, the brains behind the formation of the band, might've already left for New York, New York. Yet some of you gig groupies may be confused at the schizophrenic state of the present live band scene.... you see them in different bands with different names all the time!

It's really pretty simple. In the music world we call them session musicians. That's what they all do. They work around the marketplace with as many different people, in as many different formats and genres as much as they can. Ever wonder why they call 'em jazz cats and not jazz ducks? If you still don't get it, come to the club next weekend and I'll explain it to you.

As I was saying, before short-term memory loss got the better of me (again)... BOPLICITY is BAAACK and they'll be doing The Room next weekend. Oooh... the innuendo is unintended but fun! Yes, Friday the 16th & Saturday the 17th are two boplicious reasons to swing around to No. 7, Jalan Kia Peng!

And if my pharynx has recovered by then, I may get up to no-good and fool around on stage a bit with these boys. Musically. No innuendoes.


For reservations, please ring 03-21428611 or email [email protected].

Cover charge is RM20nett. Showtime starts at 10:30 (or whenever the first signs of human life begin to appear).

See u @ The Top!!!

Didn't make it this weekend? Oh well...

Here I am, all hoarse, harried but happy from last night's the last two nights' TR gig with Mike Vee and his trio. Always a rip-roaring adventure for me working with this man and this weekend's gig was made even more delightful with Joe on bass & Charles on drums. (Saturday night saw the special appearance of Greg Lyons, literally straight off the bus from his 5-turned-into-8-hour ride from Singapore. Guess we'll all read about it in tomorrow's newspapers.)

Now with one more night to go and tomorrow's jam session, all of my fingers and toes are crossed that my voice will hold up. A sore throat & a lacerated pharynx do not a vocalist's night make. Oh well, the show must go on...

Anyway, The Room was s..s..s..s..s..smokin' on both nights! And the lacerations on my pharynx had no chance in hell of silencing me. My voice held till the last note of Bluesette (Hallelujah!) but now, post-gig, I'm as hoarse as a non-halal animal at the slaughterhouse! Is no matter. My heart is full and brimming with soul food. It'll keep me craving-free till the next gig.

Thanks Charles, Joe & Mike! Thanks Greg & June! Thanks to The Star newspaper for running the gig in their weekender! And thanks to all you lovely, lovely people who turned up.

It was pure magic...

p.s. Don't forget tomorrow's jam session from 6 to 9 pm!