Fendi's fuze collective

I wrote this a while ago, before I knew I had to go to the Netherlands on a bit of an emergency family visit. In case you are concerned all is well. So please ignore any confusion in timing.

“I went way out of my comfort zone last weekend and visited Wala Wala in Holland Village. Never been much excited about the area, I don't think there is anything worth the schlep westward however I have to admit that Wala Wala created a nice music space on the second floor.
Just the way I like it, no lounge style couches or chesterfield style chairs but a lot of bar high tables and stools. I believe that live music should have the objective to get people to the tip of their seats so there may as well be no other option! I went on a Facebook announcement by Fendi, who said he would be playing with his band Fuze Collective:

Fendi

Mohamed Noor

ET “Bad Boy” Kim

I hadn't heard Fendi sing in a long time and with some of my regular spots closed for CNY and others pricing themselves out of frequent visits, I thought why not. As I arrived on the second floor of Wala Wala it appeared they had even arranged for a pre-program there. A one-man band - singer was entertaining the still limited audience.
Clearly the one man band has changed over the years, they do not look like the goofy street musicians from way back when, with a drum on their back, a head and with bells and cymbals on their knees singing while blowing the harmonica through their nostrils with admirable circular breathing technique.

But this guy at Wala Wala looked cool. 

Apparently quite an expert at music electronics he had created an instrumentarium, I know, this word is Dutch but we are in Holland V., that looked capable of generating every imaginable sound and regenerating it in any unimaginable  way. By looping his guitar licks he created a full band sound for his interestingly rearranged pop and rock songs. 

 

I found Fendi in the audience he told me we were listening to Randolf Arriola

Although I was initially sitting with my back to the stage chatting with Fendi. Randolf continued to draw my attention with his music, and as I turned around with his pleasant demeanor. 

Fendi, by the way, is not much different on stage, visibly friendly, amazingly soulful and hugely entertaining.

 It was a nice feature for me taking pictures that except for the, always colorful, Mohamed Noor all performers were wearing black. With the stage background being a black foamy padding, the shots came out with a bit of an impression of portraits I think… a bit mysterious.  In spite of it being weeks past I thought I could not refrain from sharing this. Enjoy

 

 

 

 

Kailin Yong's Y-rless string quartet

It had been a while since I was this curious about an upcoming gig. A quote from the event description went:
“This group of string players is bringing a refreshing new sound into town”  “They are taking the tried-and-true classical string quartet model and stretching it beyond it's stylistic and sonic possibilities/comfort zone.”

Now what is more relaxing on a Friday night, after a week of being boxed in and towing the corporate line, than to be taken out of one's comfort zone. After what seemed to have been a long time, I took my camera out of the dry box and we left for Artistry to see the Y string quartet with

Christina Xinxue Zhou

Felix Phang

 

Kailin Yong

Kim Eun Hyung

Seating at these type of events at Artistry is always a theatre setup with chairs row by row. It is my impression that this kind of seating makes people feel more they are to listen rather than chat. Which in this case was extra nice, because as per Kailin’s first announcement, the performance was going to be “unplugged”.

The band played a wide range of classic tunes rearranged to suit the 3 violins 

and 1 bass 

configuration and with often Latin rhythms from songs like Sway (I can hear the sound of violins long before it begins) and Quiza Quiza Quiza.

In my opinion it was simply fantastic, a thoroughly fun discovery, from what is currently being offered in the music scene. With surprises spreading thin for anyone who goes to live music gigs on a regular basis, this is a great discovery and I hope the Y quartet will continue to explore the ranges of their 16 strings…without wires!

 

 

Johnny James' New Year State of mind

 Truth to tell it was a compromise! Due to my hand surgery and other family complications the safari and beach vacation we had planned for our anniversary that happens to coincide with the Gregorian New Year’s day, could not happen. However when I saw that Johnny James was at the Sultan for the Eve of 2014 I thought that could be a nice way to ring out 2013 in Singapore. Dr. J is always able to make it a party, no matter what the evening is for, so this should work out quite nicely as well. 

When Johnny and his all American band of 5 took the stage it looked like they had a bit more formal thing in mind than what I thought would come. 

Dressed to the gills with tuxedos and butterflies the five band members:

Eddie  Layman (Ohio)

Johnny James (Florida)

Mario Serio (New York)

Rick Smith (Mississippi)

William Gathright (New York) 

started warming up with some Jazz standards, not the Motown dance hits I was expecting for a night like this. Don’t get me wrong no one, including me was disappointed, I can and often do listen to Jazz all day, it was just a bit different from my anticipation.

Things moved a bit in that direction when Michelle Poh 

stepped behind the microphone. I hadn’t seen Michelle perform in ages. Not since one of my favorite hang outs here, Bar Stop, shut down, victim of Singapore condo culture. Michelle added quite a bit of intensity to the stage and by midnight, which fell sort of in the middle of the second set, the party was on. Johnny and Michelle drew the party to the dance floor with those Motown tunes I was talking about and the Sultan was soon too small for all to dance.

My wife and I, like everyone else I thought, had a great night. Dr. J and his band were finger snapping good.

For me it is another lesson in putting aside expectations and to go with the flow. Jazz is perfect to get into a new years state of mind!

 Or is it,

New

 York!