USM, PENANG, 18 May 2016 - The USM Jazz Band recently had its 10-piece band, dubbed the USM Mini Big Band, performing at the internationally-acclaimed Borneo Jazz Festival held at Park City Everly Hotel in Miri, Sarawak.

The event, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and which was held on the 13^th and the 14^th of May 2016 saw a crowd of over 6,000 people in attendance, luring in jazz enthusiasts, expats and tourists alike.

According to a member of the Band, Maurice Ian Wee, this rare opportunity also saw the USM Mini Big Band performing alongside international and local bands from around the world including Japan, Belgium, Ivory Coast, Spain, USA, Cuba, Germany and India on both days, as part of the Youth Programme for the event.

“The USM Mini Big Band were lucky to be selected as the opening act on both days of the festival, performing jazz standards and local compositions to the audience on the main stage,” he said.

Meanwhile, besides performing onstage, a senior lecturer at the School of the Arts, USM, Associate Professor Razif Mohd, was also invited to conduct a workshop on ‘Jazz and Pop Patterns on the Keyboard’ which was attended by a number of music teachers, pianists and jazz enthusiasts mainly from Brunei and the state of Sarawak.

“This event is a great exposure for USM and the students, to be able go out of their usual lecture halls to be part of a real-life experience and to gain knowledge as university students,” Razif said.

The band comprised of USM students and staff from various academic schools and departments, with all having the passion for making music, the single element that ties them together.

Founded in 1998, the USM Jazz Band was established by Associate Professor Razif Mohd @ Jeep, a music lecturer at the university and a passionate Jazz musician. Ever since its inception, the band has been actively performing both within and outside of the university and the USM Jazz Band annually organises its mega concert since 1998 and has grown exponentially from then on.

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah