Day 1–Rainforest World Music Festival 2011, “Rhythm of Borneo” (Part 3)

TGIF!! Thank God it’s Friday! The very first ‘virgin’ day of Rainforest World Music Festival night concert started on Friday, 8th July with a bang! I was expecting smaller crowds but no……I was very wrong about it. Even other media/photojournalists thought so too! In a nutshell, I had a great time enjoying while taking photos during the first night concert. Let’s start with the recap of the performances.

1. Masters of Sape (Sarawak, MALAYSIA)

Mastering Sape wasn’t an easy task for anyone, although it may look similar to the modern built of a guitar. Long traditions of the Sape music, mastered by the elders of the Sarawakian musicians of the highlands of Sarawak. Beautiful, and hypnotising music from the trio Sape Masters; Asang Lawai, Tegit Asat and of course, the man you see on every posters of this year’s RWMF, Matthew Ngau Jau. Mr Matthew is no stranger to many Sape enthusiasts out there, and their very first debut for RWMF, presenting various pieces of Sape music composed by Asang Lawai, they were hynoptical, enchanting and soothing.

  

Matthew Ngau Jau (left photo), Asang Lawai (right photo)

Asang Lawai and Tegit Asat displaying their skill to play sape.

2. AgungBeat (Sabah, MALAYSIA)

Who would ever expect, a traditional Malay gamelan make it to the centre stage of an international festival like this?! The gamelan-fusion-contemporary group of performers consisting of undergraduate students performing for the first time in the RWMF. Playing several pieces of traditional gamelan music of Terengganu, with a taste of Sabahan and local twist in it. The ensemble creates a different perspective of a traditional Malay-ethnic music; from a slow, soothing gamelan tunes to an upbeat rainforest Sabahan contemporary pieces. Simply, music geniuses and great composition from the founder and composer, Roslee Haji Wahid, who is also currently the music lecturer of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). I have to say, they are also the pride of Malaysia. Not forgetting, the ensemble is accompanied by Dayang Norainee, the vocalist of the group with her powerful and soulful voice during the performance. Superb!

Gamelan ensemble, giving me chills while listening to it!

Dancing to the Sumazau (Sabahan ethnic dance).

Dayang Norainee, vocalist of Agungbeat at her best dress and soulful vocals!

3. Ishkew (Canada)

They may dress and look like Indians from Canada, but they are in fact the Aboriginal women of Canada. Their voices filled up the whole arena with the sound of the nature, pure and modest. I shared the same experience with other journalists as well, it was so pure and enchanting listening and ‘feel’ the music with our hearts, not ears. These three women gave a simple, yet beautiful combinations of their traditional instruments and not to forget, they were showing all festival-goers and all first timers, the very ancient and more than a thousand year-old pieces of traditional North American aboriginal music.

Showing their love for Mother Earth!

 

       

The three wonders and gems of the North American aboriginal music.

4. Kamerunga (Australia)

Next up, was Kamerunga! Hailing from Down Under, and yes, I’ve been to Australia before, and I must tell you, if you were with me that night, you would definitely join me to dance with their beats! Performing with a mixture of traditional Celtic and also outback music of Australia combining some folk, rock and classical music gave me a whole different view of their music. Not forgetting some influence of jazz music too! It was a whole different yet enjoyable performance from Kamerunga!

Trios of Kamerunga!

 

           

Great ensemble of mandolin, saxophone and violin.

View of the whole Stage 1 during Kamerunga’s performance.

5. Victor Valdez Trio (Mexico-Australia)

Areeeba! Areeba!! Here comes the Mexican music that shook the whole arena to the dust, literally. The Victor Valdez Trio was one of the most awaited group to perform during the first night of RWMF. The trio did perform with Joaqin Diaz of Dominican Republic during the preview and opening night, and here we go, they gave a full blast of their show that night. I had a chance to do a short Merengue (traditional Mexican dance) with few of my friends and of course some fellow ladies from France as well when they performed their pieces. Besame Mucho slowed the night with some love for the crowd when the whole arena sang the song together with Victor and his group. It’s amazing though, to see the traditional Mexican music and what amazed me the most was how Victor fiddled his way with the Mexican harp!

   

 

6. Kamafei (Italy)

Kamafei is a south Italian music group from Salento, performing for the first time in Malaysia. Playing the traditional pizzica music  and combination of modern dance music, Kamafei rocked the house that night! Their unique combination of modern and traditional music from Italy and making use of technology, their performance was filled with energy and of course, huge, huge blast of bass from the speakers! It was seriously like a live rave party that night when Kamafei rocked the house. I’d love to see this group again next time!

    

 

Unfortunately, I had to leave early during the first night and missed out the Blue Canyon Boys (USA) and Frigg (Finland). I was way too tired and had to leave the concert and drove back home to Kuching. And, that’s a wrap for the first day report for Rainforest World Music Festival 2011 Day 1! Second day of RWMF will be up soon!