Five Minutes with Michael Simon
If you were not raised in a musical-talented family (father guitarist and singer, brothers are pianist and a drummer), do you think you would have still picked up a musical instrument? Oh yes. For sure. Music is inside me. It has been inside me since I was born. It’s believed that even babies make music....
Five Minutes with Rani Singam
Your first album was produced by Jeremy Monteiro, how did that came about? Jeremy first heard a recording of me while he was at a gig. It was during a break. It was my demo CD. Andrew Lim played with me on the recording and it was him that put the CD on. Jeremy was...
Five Minutes with Yuri Honing
You’ve collaborated with many musicians. Which of all these collaborations challenged you the most and why? Well they all challenged me in a different. I’ve had the honor to play with very good musicians with different specialties. Pat Matheny, Paul Bley, Paul Motian, Charlie Haden and also great musicians from the European classical scene like...
Five Minutes with Isaac Entry
Live at No Black Tie has been out a couple of months. With it being your debut album, can you briefly describe how it came about? Why ‘live’ compared to a studio album? It was completely unplanned. Ev suggested that we take a listen to recordings of my Monday night gigs and see if we...
Five Minutes with Corinne Gibbons
Tell us briefly how you got into music. I got into music when my Dad purchased a guitar for me when I was 13 years of age, I was so excited I joined a rock band after I’d only been playing for a few weeks, luckily a lot of rock songs only have three chords!!...
Five Minutes with Jeremy Monteiro
Why No Black Tie? I love this place. The acoustics are wonderful. The piano is old but still sounds great. For a pianist, the piano is very important. I love NBT’s piano. Your achievements are extensive, from winning multiple awards, recording with top jazz artists and holding various positions in musical institutions. Is there anything...
Five Minutes with Richard Jackson
Why No Black Tie? Well it’s one of the most happening clubs in Malaysia. This is my forth time here. Every time I come here, it’s a blast. Beautiful sound & beautiful people. I always enjoy the company of No Black Tie. What brought you to Asia? I came here actually in 2008. Harry’s Bar...
Five Minutes with Steve Thornton
Why No Black Tie? The acoustics of this room, number one, to me, is one of the best for music especially Jazz. Even though we have a small space here, Evelyn, she’s a musician and a musician lover and I’ve noticed how much passion she’s put into this place for music that she likes, i.e....
Five Minutes with Irene Soliano
Does everyone in the Soliano family play music/sings? Yes, everyone in the family sings and plays the instruments individually. What has change in the Jazz industry compared when the Soliano family first started 30 years ago? Actually jazz music hasn’t change at all. It’s just that we have to educate the young ones to keep...
Five Minutes With Dasha Logan
Why No Black Tie? It’s “No Black Tie”! It’s the “Ronnie Scotts” of Malaysia! NBT has been around for 13 years. What are your comments/views? It takes more than just an amazing boss to make something last this long. Like a relationship, it takes hard work, commitment, trust love, and most importantly (I think) music!...
Five Minutes with Yudi (Shanghai Jazz)
Why No Black Tie? NBT was the place where I began venturing into Jazz music with talented and excellent musicians like Tay Cher Siang, Salvador Guerzo, Vincent Ong and Rizal Soliano. The place provided us musicians to perform in an intimate environment with spontaneous interactions between ourselves and the audience. NBT has been around for...
Five Minutes with Tay Cher Siang
Why No Black Tie? No Black Tie is one of the most important live music venue in the region without a doubt. From my experience of traveling and performing in many places, I have yet to come across a venue in other part of the world that could make me feel so at home. NBT...