‘Pre-events can help boost promotion of Borneo Jazz Festival’

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Lee (centre) presents the prize to Banyak Bunyik Republik Band, witnessed by Hii on his left and Bateman (third left).

MIRI: Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin wants more activities to be run as a prelude to Borneo Jazz Festival, so as to spark greater interest in the annual jazz event.

According to him, the festival has proven to be sustainable having entered its 14th edition this year, but it needs to improve and grow further through some changes and injection of new things.

“I think that we may need more publicity through prelude activities such as local bands playing here, or having local jazz and deejay competitions from which the winners would perform in the festival. Organisers could also hold fringe events to support the festival.

“We also need to do more promotions via social media immediately after this year’s event, (as preparations) for next year,” said Lee when met after presenting the prizes to top contestants of Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2019 at Coco Cabana here on Sunday.

Moreover, the assistant minister pointed out that organisers had conducted music workshops in the past few years to create more interest in jazz among locals, adding that the majority of visitors to the festival had been Europeans.

Asked about his favourite performer at this year’s festival, Lee said he liked Fox Capture Plan from Japan, whom he described as a ‘young and entertaining act’.

Lee (fourth right) gives away the prize to Cyanus Band. Also seen are Hii, on his left, and Bateman (third left).

Cyanus Band and Banyak Bunyik Republik Band were crowned the joint-winners of the second edition of the competition, sharing the grand prize of RM7,000 and also earning their spots in the performing line-up for Borneo Jazz 2019.

Zajz Band was the runner-up for the ‘Band’ category, while DJ Myvax emerged winner of the ‘Best Solo Performance – DJ’ category.

Wholly owned by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Borneo Jazz Festival 2019 was organised by No Black Tie.

It kicked off on July 19 and concluded on Sunday (July 21).

Present at the prize-giving ceremony were STB acting chief executive officer Angelina Bateman and No Black Tie founder Evelyn Hii.