KUCHING musician Tasneem Bolhassan picked up the sape while pursuing a music diploma in the Sarawak capital.
"I was 19 then and I was inspired by my teacher Julien Cottet. He encouraged me to learn it as it is part of the Sarawakian culture. The simple melodies from the sape are beautiful," she says, adding that Cottet is an established sape player who also owns his own sape boutique in the city.
Besides being a solo performer, Tasneen is a member of the first all-female sape band named Ilu Leto as well as being a part of the KL Sape Collective.
Ilu Leto's recent performance was in Taiwan for the 2018 World Music Festival.
"I had many opportunities to play with different bands at functions, weddings and festivals," she says.
MUSICAL ENCOUNTERS
After moving to Kuala Lumpur about three years ago to pursue a degree in contemporary music, she met her mentor, Michael Veerapen.
"Since then, I had the opportunity to work with various artistes, established musicians both local and international, in the music industry," she says.
They include Zainal Abidin, Denny Euprasert from Thailand and James Flynn from Australia, performing at notable music clubs such as No Black Tie and Alexis.
"I've also been involved in local jazz festivals," says the artiste, who is busy uploading more content onto her Instagram account (@misst_luvs) as well as performing with various artistes and musicians through livestream shows.
Tasneem with USCI alumnus — Elroy Jiek (drums), Wong Sylvia (keys) and Wong Jia Wen (saxophone) — and upcoming guitarist Zhafri Zulkifli will host jam sessions for The Gardens Theatre's first Jazz Festival come Oct 16.
"The band, Fusion Service, will showcase fusion tunes from local bands to international artistes such as Asia Beat, Mark Lettieri and BLP," she says.
The Gardens Theatre Jazz Festival 2020, presented by the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival (MJPF), will showcase 15 acts from Oct 16 to 18 and from Oct 23 to 25.
The jam sessions (on Oct 18 and 23) are free, playing from noon to 2pm.
All profits generated by the festival will go towards funding the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival (MJPF) 2021 and the Malaysian Real Book Project.
COMPILING LOCAL CLASSICS
One of the headline acts is homegrown WVC.
Says Tay Cher Siang, who also sits on the MJPF committee: "We will hold the 8th edition of MJPF in January next year. This MJPF-TGT Jazz Festival is also to raise funds for the Malaysian Real Book Project.
"We intend to compile a book of about 200 songs' leadsheets (music charts for jazz and pop musicians).
"This is history in the making as we have not had anything like this before.
We hope that with the completion of this book, musicians from generations to
come will take Malaysian classics and contemporary compositions, and come up
with their own versions... jazz them up!" he says.
The Malaysian Real Book Project, he adds, hopes to compile Malaysian music compositions that have shaped the unique identity of Malaysian music.
"Hopefully, it will help in preserving and capturing the rich heritage and diversity of Malaysian music."
Tay and WVC will be teaming up with maestro guitarist Rizal Tony.
"We will be playing Malayan classics and also original compositions by Rizal and myself.
"We will also be performing with Janet Lee. She will definitely entertain all who are there, even those who aren't there!" he says, cryptically.
He calls on music lovers to come to the festival to enjoy live music, after being cooped up at home for the duration of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO).
Other artistes include the Michael Veerapen Trio with Samantha De Lune, Fazz, Junji Delfino & David Gomes, Sophia Ng & Frozen Mugs, The Frankie Sixes and Bihzhu.
MJPF-TGT JAZZ FESTIVAL 2020
When: Oct 16-18 & Oct 23-25
Where: The Gardens Theatre, Level 6, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, KL
Visit https://my.bookmyshow.com/e/TGTMJPF1 for more details and tickets.