Genting International Jazz Fest 2008

Though gruvavenue won't be performing within the Genting International Jazz Festival 2008 this year, i managed to put up these talented cats (Black Machine Trio & SVS) to give their patrons a good variety of great jazz from traditional standards to future sounds. Performances starts from 12 noon to 9 PM weekly, and until 6 PM on festival dates. Selected venues include The Bakery, First World lobby, Resort Hotel Lobby and Latte@ Genting.

If you're wondering "who & who" are gonna perform "where & when", explores and walk around the cafes, bistros, and lobbies. We'll be there to perform some chill music at places least expected. Happy "treasure hunting"! Admission is free. However i strongly suggest you get a cuppa hot drink and something to munch! Warning: The food is TEMPTING!

Information of the festival in EVENING:
Date: 4th & 5th Apr 2008
Ticket: 1-day pass @ RM100 per head, 2-day pass @ RM150 per head.
Concert admission is for individuals aged 18 years and above only.
Venue: Genting International Showroom
Website: http://www.gentingjazz.com
Hotline: 03-2718 1118

Quote from Artistic Director of GIJF:
"All the bands that are slotted to play for this year are performing very different genres of jazz music. Expect to hear African jazz, blues, virtuostic Brazilian mandolin improvisations, Caribbean jazz, celtic-cuban salsa big band, Jamaican reggae-jazz and much much more."

Media Review of "The Awakening"

Electric intimacy

By : SUBHADRA DEVAN
Jan 20, 2008

THE jazz is smooth. The audience is lively. The band and the crowd are in the groove. It may be only a recording but when the album is made at a “live” session, the electric intimacy fairly sizzles.
Independent band GruvAvénue’s latest offering, The Awakening, offers urban jazz with a clean sound. It was recorded in October at the band’s concert at The Actors’ Studio in Bangsar Shopping Centre.

The concept for the album percolated through about three years, says 32-year-old Ong.

“Our first album was a studio recording.” The self-titled debut album, released in August 2005 under Black Machine Music Production, had entirely original compositions.

“Doing a live concert recording brought that concert energy home,” he says.

“It’s a lot more fun to do but technically more difficult. It was pretty tough for our engineer Vincent Lim. For us musicians, we could see each other and that made the music flow easier.”

Once known as Black Machine, GruvAvénue entered mainstream music consciousness with its inaugural performance at The Actors Studio, Plaza Putra in 2001.

They’ve kept themselves busy since, with many special appearances around the local jazz circuit. These include Avanti Italian American Ristorante in Sunway Resort & Hotel and the Sunrise Jazz & Rhythm Festival.

The Awakening ’s tracks are loaded with instrumental blocks with solid sound from pianist Tay Cher Siang and leader-bassist Vincent Ong, sax solos by Shazee Ishak and snappy drum beats by Martin Ngim.

Shazee also raps while singer Vanessa Tan weaves her take in a sometimes husky, other times throaty style.

Judging by the music sheet for the album, the band members all seem to have had a hand in writing the music or the lyrics.

Ong says his favourites on the album are Time For Change and Mountain, which music he wrote last year.

“Most of the others are also written just for the concert,” says the Petaling Jaya-born Ong who now resides in Cheras.

Time For Change , he says, was inspired by the development in front of his condominium. This is the only track on The Awakening with a message.

“There used to be a golf course but day by day the landscape changed. And I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Shazee raps it the lyrics for this save-the-earth track. Some of the lines are: “ As I rise in the morning, vision start to play, have these become rituals every day, every day…

“We take we take but we never give back... now we’re slowly dying...”

The chorus –“ we all need to possess greater love" – is sung in a nice mellow contrast by Tan.

From the start with the warm-up number Let’s Play, the album doesn’t fail to please.

Standout tracks include the lively Mamacita with a funky samba beat, snazzy One Town, the danceable Highlife and 34 seconds of the electronica-like Salty Man Can’t Come In where Ong shows his fret work.

“Three of the tracks had to be cut short because it was a live performance and we played two sets of 45 minutes each.

“The full version of those three tracks can be heard on amp.channelv.com/gruvavenue.”

“The best thing is the chemistry and the energy you’ll hear on the album,” says Ong.

Not true. The music plays hard for first place.

The Awakening is available at Tower Records. The band will perform at Alexis Bar & Bistro on March 21-22.

Please VOTE for us!

Thanks to a whole lotta people who've supported us, the GruvAvenue concert & CD project is materialised! Vince & i wouldn't have gone this far without the encouragement, help and support you all gave us. Here's our small gift to you all out there - a track which you can keep as long as you want! Do register an account there, and start to check out the music, rate, and download for free. And if you think our track is fine, please, please, pleaseeeee, VOTE for our track. Your opinion is very important to keep us growing!

GruvAvenue "The Awakening" CD is released!

For everyone who'd waited a month and wonder what the heck were we doing, fret not. The GruvAvenue "The Awakening" CDs are finally available to you! It's now selling at all major TOWER Records in the following spots:-

Kuala Lumpur Area
Suria KLCC
Lot 10

Petaling Jaya Area
Mid Valley
One Utama
Hartamas Shopping Centre

To preview:
http://amp.channelv.com/amp/gruvavenue

The Concert was SOLD OUT!

Thanks to everyone the concert was a great success. Anna did a great job on the photography. It's a tough task esp with yours truly, the rookie on lighting. I had fun playing the lighting console as it's all real-time and manual. Zaw, the theatre lighting supervisor was a great help. He gave good tips and pretty much let me exercised every fingers i have, and borrowed me his when mine were ran out! If you've missed the show, here's some pictures.

THE AWAKENING Live Concert

"THE AWAKENING" Live Concert

CHANNELING THE GROOVE INTO YOUR SYSTEM
- GruvAvénue "The Awakening" Live Concert in The Actors Studio, Bangsar-

Concert Info:-

Date: 3 October 2007

Venue: The Actors Studio @ BSC

Time: 8 PM.

Attire: Smart Casual

Ticket Info:-

Price: RM 38 nett (inclusive of ticket charges)

Box Office: The Actors Studio, Level 3,

West Wing, Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Telephone: +603 2094 0400 / 1400

Opens: Daily 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Kuala Lumpur , 1 Sept 2007 – Once in awhile in the musical incubator of the downtown club scene, a truly musically sophisticated work with broad appeal emerges as if from nowhere. The truth, of course, is that these gems are the results of years of hard work, artistic development and unique musical vision: all these crystallize the release of self-titled debut album "GruvAvénue" in 2005.

Formally known as "Black Machine", GruvAvénue exploded into the KL music scene with its inaugural performance in The Actors Studio, Plaza Putra in 2001. The band continued to make special appearances at jazz clubs such as the legendary No Black Tie, Alexis Wine Bar & Bistro, Jazz Bar @ The Orange, Bangkok Jazz, Livehouse Niche and various Jazz Festivals. Soon after, the band enjoyed heavy rotation on Australian smooth jazz station, The Breeze106.3 and constant airplay on national radio station, Traxx FM, Jazz Selekta.

Looking forward, GruvAvénue is set to wow audience again with yet another feat – the first Malaysian Jazz group to record a live album. Scheduled for October 3, 2007, at The Actor's Studio, the band will captivate audience with their full range of original compositions. The elements are delicate melodies, strong rhythmic sense, vibrant harmonic nuances and pulsating grooves!

GruvAvénue keeps a simple and yet organic instrumentation – bass, saxophone, drum, keys and vocals. As a collective, "GruvAvenue" artists come from a wide range of jazz backgrounds which sees as a binding force. These musicians embrace not only free improvisations but also appreciate tonal composition and extended musical forms and changes. Any brief moments of conventionality are trumped by eclecticism, an excellent composing transcends the established musical borders and stares down current definitions of what jazz should be. They have come together with a love for the new as well as the old…each bringing a universal quality that reaches out to varied audience.

Vincent Ong, bassist described as a friendly iconoclast, an artist who enthusiastically explores new concepts at the cutting edge of jazz. A stylistic chameleon that uses different textures and colors to create tension and augment a song's complexity.

Tay Cher Siang , pianist with flawless embrace for the keys presents the 'sweet' touch. Somewhat authoritative yet moving, he hovers somewhere between homage and prayer while slowly building and then writhing the mood.

Martin Ngim, drummer brings the groove with strong rhythmic sense and tenacity. Moving from seductive percussion works to vivacious raw grooves, he adds vigor to the group.

Shazee Ishak, saxophonist and rapper brings forth sensual harmonic nuances on his wind instrument and expands the group's spectrum of sound with intoxicating loops through modern technology.

Vanessa Tan, a gift to jazz buffs. Not just for her exuberance but her ability to articulate without resorting to imitation, synthesizes with her own estimable talent and results is eye-opening and entertaining. She can shift from one color and feel to the next deftly, moving from throaty version to swinging up-tempo.

Five amazing talents, one amazing sound. "The Awakening" Live Concert promises a dynamic group and energetic performance.

For more information:-

Log on to

Black Machine Music Production

GruvAvenue @ My Space

GruvAvenue @ AMP Channel [V]

Email to gruvavenue@gmail.com

Call Band Leader, Vincent +6012 390 9828.

Wedding Bells were ringing!

Congrats to our pianist, Cher Siang!

I overslept and missed the speeches and grand toast. My bad. Trumpeter Ed was punctual. When he called i just woke up. However Saxman Julian arrived latest. He turned up while we're happily scooping our Baskin Robbin ice cream. The caramel flavour was way too sweet. The chocs were great.

This 'grande amour' luncheon reception was held on June 3, few weeks ago. Their buffet spread was wonderful. It's one of the few times where most dishes are nice. A good mix of flavours specially chosen by the host, CS's beloved & in-laws. Definitely a feast fit for every cultures and even the most picky dieters. Green salads, Malay ulams, Chinese fried veg. Roast Meats, Butter fried prawns, Braised squid in soya sauce. Rice, Fried Noodles, Pastas, Desserts of chinese red-bean soup, western bread puddings, tartlets. and so much more than i can't recalled. The most outstanding ones i can remember was the asparagus stir-fried in belacan and baskin robbin ice-creams, cos i bet you won't get these at any typical receptions.

We attempted to get this couple drunk. On behalf of the band, here's to the charming couple, wishing them "Forever in Love".

Glam & Fab

I came across this picture while organising my photo folders. This was taken after our GruvAvenue performance for the "Exclusive Re-introduction of Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur". The gorgeous lady who sang with our band was the fabulous local artiste, Noryn Aziz. She just received the award of "Best New Female Artiste" from the "Anugerah Planet Muzik" (Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia) on June 8, 2007. Congrats to her. We also got the chance to experience the newly re-furbish Hotel Istana first hand. In a nut shell, the room is comfy, cosy and clean. Kudos to Hotel Istana!

Reaching Out!

After months of working night and day, i'm baaaaaackkkk!

Here's a tiny eye candy for those (me too!) who has short attention span - a "DEMAND IT" icon on RIGHT bar! But read on...This is something for us to reach out to you all out there. Don't worry, i won't go all the way to hunt you, stalk you, or even shoot you with a (water?) gun! So... read on... We want to bring GruvAvenue to you!

How does this works? Very Simple!

If you want GruvAvenue to play in your city, just click on 'DEMAND IT'. When the votes reach critical amount, the plan to play for you at your city could be materialise regardless of measurable distance. Like the old saying, "when there's a will, there's a way." - alright, you might say "you know a proverb? what's the big deal?". Let me show you why this is interesting to me. Before i start to make plans of where to play, you need to tell us WHERE YOU ARE. And we'll go there, walk there, drive there, fly there, ride there (name it!) to perform for you, though most probably not serenading under your window, unless you have the gears in your courtyard. But on second thought a garden gig is absolutely cool though pest control is strongly recommended. The pessimists would say i'm going crazy to "dream the impossible dream". The optimists say, "this is the people's power." Now you have the freedom to choose... and act...

Go ahead and tell your friends, families, colleagues, acquintances, and anyone you could think of to check out our music, and cast your votes. We need your supports! Like all elections, every single vote counts. So start making the difference now, and show us your demand.

You can make it happen!

Route to Bangkok... Jazz!

Whether you're familiar or not getting use to drive around KL, here's a map to give you some ideas of how to get to Bangkok Jazz Thai Bistro. There's an open-air parking lot charging per entry which is fantastic for patrons. Not to forget: our performance with Fancy Poultry is on 24th Dec 2006, this Xmas eve. 10 PM onwards!

Bangkok Jazz Thai Bistro Lot B1 & B1A, Chulan Square, 92 Jalan Raja Chulan,50200 KL. (603) 2145 8708

Sneak Peep!

So far we received a lot of questions from friends and fellow musicians about our upcoming gig this christmas eve. There's a long list of questions, and here's what they're like after categorised according to the five principle of who, where, what, when, how.

1. Who are these people?

2. Where did you find them?

3. What do they do?

4. When did you see them?

5. How did you get it?

For a sneak peep of the fancy poultry, click here.

Local Mag - FACES

Special thanks to local magazine, Faces for including our upcoming gig within their event listing section. Hopefully we'll meet some new faces and new friends this coming christmas eve. See ya!

GruvAvenue Christmas Eve Party

It's a long time since our previous open performance. So here's a little treat for all our friends, families and basically everyone on the street! Come to Bangkok Jazz Thai Bistro This christmas eve, 24th dec for a night of christmas cheers. It's really hard to find a place that DOESN"T CHARGE COVERS these days, especially for some night entertainment on Xmas Eve! So if you have to drive all the way to Chulan Square, come earlier for scrumptous dinner around the corner and hop right in Bangkok Jazz on 10 PM! Only One Night in Bangkok! in the heart of our beloved city of KL.

this is not a toy!

Yanagisawa Curved Soprano. Much smaller than the alto.

Sounds good. Looks cute. Expensive.

Fellow musician, Ben's the owner of one. Congratulations!

GruvAvénue on MySpace!

Wooohooo! Check out GruvAvénue on MySpace! and listen to their tracks. All comments are welcome. Please make use of the comment box below. It is still very available to you, the wonderful readers of this blog.

More electrical Gadgets?

According to my informats from Samsung, one of their resellers is having a warehouse sale in USJ area today Sept 29 to Oct 1, from 9 AM - 6 PM daily. Discounts are up to 70%. How true is the sales? Don't shoot me, i wasn't there this morning! Here's a little confession. We'd performed for couples of Samsung events so the news of this warehouse sale should be accurate. As far as the discounts are concern, It's up to you to check it out and be the verdict. If you find any bargains, do show off your 'victory items".

Map enclosed.

Happy Birthday

... to Vincent. It was a very peaceful and quiet celebration after his long hours of rehearsal on 18th Sept. Click here for details.

I'm here...

Not that i have nothing better to do today, but this is a lot of fun. Having a map on the blog! The thought of getting to know where you guys are physically while reading the blogs might be very intimidating at first. But don't worry, it's not satelit powered, so nobody can hunt you down or knock on your door. No street name required anyway. And seriously i began to feel that internet is really making our world shrink! So go on and PUT YOUR MARK on my small world!

KLUE Music Review - August 2006

Wooohooo! KLUE magazine had reviewed our GruvAvénue CD in this August issue. If you're wondering what do they think of our music, buy a copy or read at the indian magazine stores, book stores, or anywhere you can find them!