吉他之神 [guitar god]

no wonder our roger wang says tommy emmanuel is his idol.

jz8 开案了! [jz8 kicks off!]

it has taken us close to 2 months to convene our first official meeting, even then tay cher siang (our pianist) couldn't make it tonight.

the meeting took place at oldtown kopitiam, south city plaza, all the way in seri kembangan. i have never traveled so far for a meeting!

the three of us - chow, lydia, myself - spoke about jz8's repertoire, the kind of music we want to play, recording schedule and many other issues. chief of it is we would like to launch the debut album in july 2009 (to coincide with the hifi show at j.w.marriot), so we have to work backwards.

since we haven't even started work on renovating our recording studio in nzx mall, we decided to start asking cher siang to rearrange 6 songs in the repertoire so that lydia could practise. we would like to get the overall "feel" of cher siang's piano playing and arrangement style. we are condifent that our pianist is versatile enough to play any "style" that we want provided we give him enough feeeback. as i have said repeatedly, arrangement is key in doing cover versions. it makes and breaks the song. but one thing for sure, jz8 is gonna be "jazzier" than 2v1g!

i also told lydia that i would be featuring jz8 in our magazine, MTX, which will be launched after CNY. so the duo has to attend a photography session as well as an interview session with our writer. i would like to promote jz8 well ahead of its debut so that people would know them early.

tentatively, we expect the recording to start in mid/late-march. it is going to be more challenging as we would be recording piano, which is a difficult instrument to record due to its wide dynamic range.

since lydia is a versatile vocalist who can sing in different tones, we would like her to sing in a lazy, more laidback, husky tone that is suitable for jz8's music. in any case, we are confident both lydia and cher siang would partner well since both of them are so experienced.

so, do monitor this blog closely if you want to follow the blow-by-blow account of the jz8's exciting journey in the next 6 months!

诞生 [jz8 is born!]

ladies and gentlemen, introducing jz8........ (drum roll)

jz8 is tay cher siang on piano and lydia chew (chooi ling) on vocals. together they will bring you modern chinese pop classics with a cool jazz flavour.

jz8's debut album is slated to be out in july 2009!

a brief intro on them:

[tay cher siang]

Tay Cher Siang started his piano lessons just like most people, learning classical music. He took up an interest in Jazz during his teenage years and began to pursue his musical journey as a jazz pianist.

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from West Virginia University and continued to get his Masters Degree in Jazz Pedagogy, studying under Dr. James Miltenberger and Professor Paul Scea.

His achievements include winning the WVU Young Artist Competition in 2004, recipient of the HERF Top-Off Award and the Valerie Canady Award. He was the Graduate Assistant for the Jazz Department in WVU where he got the chance to direct the college’s Jazz Big Band and various Small Group Ensembles.

Throughout the years in America, Mr. Tay performed regularly as a soloist, as well as with ensembles such as the WVU Big Band, the Mon River Big Band, the Jenny Menna Trio, the Washington Street Jazz Band, and the WVU Wind Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Tay was awarded Young Artist Competition Winner and performed with WVU Symphony Orchestra performing Gershwin Piano Concerto in F. He also gave concerts as classical and jazz pianist, with various groups. Other than performing, Mr. Tay composes, and arranges for big band and small groups.

Mr. Tay is currently teaching at UCSI and University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur. Since his return to Malaysia, he has been active in the Kuala Lumpur music scene. He has performed with Greg Lyons group, The Boplicity, Gruvavenue, Rizal Soliano Band, Louis Soliano Quartet and also played for vocalists from various musical genres: Khadijah Ibrahim, Junji Delfino, Ida Mariana, and Gina Panizales. He has performed in a variety of music festivals: Malacca Straits Jazz Festival in Riau, June 2007, Penang Jazz Festival in Penang, November 2007, and Mosaic Music Festival in Singapore, March 2008. His recent accomplishments include Musical “Inner Voices-Let’s Go Mamak” in KLPac as a composer and pianist (August 2008), and Choir concert presenting the Young KL Singers: Breakin’ It Down Jazz Concert in Oct 2008 as arranger and jazz advisor. He just completed a series of concerts and seminars tour in Malaysia with his trio WV Connection in September 2008, and much acclaimed Unit Asia’s Southeast Asia Tour in Oct 2008.

[lydia chew]

lydia started her singing career in the early 90s so she is a veteran of more than 15 years in the industry. today she is the most sought-after back-up vocalist in malaysia, and even that is an understatement. lydia performs regularly with top malaysian artistes such as sheila majid and top HK cantopop artistes such as jenny tseng, justin lo and many others.

the committee is going to have its first official meeting this sunday. please bookmark this blog if you are interested to follow the progress of this exciting project.

it is going to be another new chapter in the music industry in malaysia!

翻唱的秘诀 [how to do a winning cover]

since we do many cover versions, we have to be good at it. btw, chinese music industry treat cover versions with disdain because they don't understand that many good singers can give a new lease of life to covers. on the other hand, western singers get credits for reviving oldies and doing good covers. examples are diana krall, michael buble, jamie callum and many others.

we are not ready to do an album with 100% original compositions yet. our standards are very highs; if we don't have good compositions to showcase, we rather sing other people's songs and sing them well.

there are 3 major things to bear in mind when doing covers:

[1] if you can't compete on singing (e.g. if the original version is already definitive and can't be surpassed), then re-arrange the song innovatively. when the arrangement is creatively different, people tend not to compare that harshly. a prime example is when singing cai qin's (chinese audiophile queen) songs - never never compete with her on singing because she is way way up there!

[2] inject personality into the song as if you are the original singer. when you sing as if you own the song, critics will shut up.

[3] if you can't compete on technique (against the original singer), enhance on the emotional delivery and vice versa. most singers are good in either technique or emotional delivery, seldom both at the same time.

now, some excellent videos on how to do a fabulous cover version...

[1] video #1 is a cover version by aska yang. this chap pours so much emotions into the song that everyone who hears the song for the first time (me inclusive) has wet eyes throughout. of course, some critics say aska is overbearing and too pretentious. but i personally think he is great and this is a definitive way of doing a cover version. btw, the judges gave aska full marks, 25/25!

[2] video #2 is by the real mccoy, stefanie sun. stefanie has a great tone and her rendition is beautiful, perhaps a bit understated in terms of emotional delivery, but very touching no less. stef is natural, without the overpouring of emotions of aska. i like this original version very much.



JZ8 and 2V1G projects are starting soon and i have to keep reminding myself and my arranger(s) to excel in doing covers. it is a daunting task to emulate the original version but if you can do it, the results are immensely satisfying!

被遗忘的时光 [oblivious time]

my vote for the most deliciously arranged and sung song in the gig.

金亮的话 [chow says]

自知的魅力---给2V1G

从事演艺、创意和领导的人们，首要事件是：自知。

从来没有一个不懂自知之明的人，可以在大事业上得以达到大成就。

一个真正名留千古的名字，在世时，是永远和忍辱负重、卧薪尝胆相依为命的。

因为自知，所以自信，因为自信，所以坚强，因为坚强，所以勇敢，因为勇敢，所以无惧，因为无惧，所以能为人之不能为，成人之不能成，完人之不能完。

2V1G的小成就到底还是小成就，不需激昂如斯，两个晚上的喧哗也只不过是两百人的宣泄，当然，这一棵投入湖中的小石子，肯定会有涟漪，但能否掀起汹涌波涛还得看后续的力量。

既然身为2V1G一员、我们必与之息息相关，一切给予2V1G的荣耀都是我们的荣耀、所有降临到2V1G身上的耻辱都是我们的耻辱，因此2V1G是我们的幸福，也会是我们的痛苦。

Leslie写了那么一篇文字，基本上是正面的，但要如何消化这篇文字，需要智慧和胸怀。不应该有任何人会因为这一篇文字而感到被伤害或膨胀。

芸妮的付出和努力是我从事这一个行业以来所见的一个最杰出的例子，她对自己的要求和期许都让人感到欣慰；而丽津一路走来的尽责和忍辱，是她的风格，因为性格上的差异，导致芸妮和丽津在舞台上的角色可以显示各尽其责的搭配，芸妮的理性主动、丽津的感性迎向相互争映，都为2V1G冠上漂亮的花环，二者缺一则色彩尽失。

NBT两晚的演出之最扣人心弦的地方，皆来自对比：歌曲的选择、芸妮和丽津钢柔并济、Roger的吉他和人声的相互冲击，再加上环境和歌手历年来在舞台上的磨练等等，这一切的一切，绝对不是偶然，而是必然，既然是必然，那就更不应该过于陶醉其中。同志们，请记住，成功的路还有很长，大家尚待努力。

自知本来就是人的一生中最难掌握的智慧。当你有了自知，你就会是那个不为一切外来因素所掌控的可怜的被动者；当你有了自知，你的骄傲将会是你最具魅力的风采。

没有人可以打败你，除非你自己放弃。

[金亮 chow kam leong]

热忱不死 [it is passion that never dies]

终于圆满的结束了 2V1G 的第一次两晚的售票演出，忽然有一点点的惆怅......

是不舍？是心情的激动？只知道一早醒来，脑里还回荡着你们给予的掌声、喝彩，甚至陪我们落下的眼泪。

观赏过演出的朋友纷纷给金亮老师和Leslie 留言，谢谢 2V1G 给了他们一个难忘的夜晚，我们亦然，深深感激你们成全了 2V1G 第一回的演出。若有不足的地方请你们见谅，我们一定会求进。

很快的， 2V1G 就要投入第二张的专辑制作了，我们幕前幕后的班底无时无刻期待给你们更好的音乐和表演。

谢谢云妮，Thank You Roger ，让我感受到音乐无私的分享和投入。

It is PASSION that never dies :) ...

2V1G 有一种默契在滋长着, 我期许世界会慢慢的听到...

[regine tai]

芸妮的话 [winnie says]

[unforgettable moments- regine delivering tempting hearts, with winnie tearing up]







[many thanks to horng yih and see fei for the amazing shots!]

一直以来，都是以观众的身份拜访 No Black Tie。这一次，却要站在舞台上唱歌。那种兴奋和雀跃，我大概没办法具体的形容。

紧张吗？是的，紧张。比起迎接室外大型的表演还要紧张。可是，当音乐响起的那一刻，我只记得，我要唱歌给大家听。

到场的人，是全心全意来观赏我们的表演的。台下是何等的安静。每一个人，都在专心聆听我们的每一颗音符。仿佛随时都会随着歌者的情绪，高涨与坠落。谢谢大家如此的尊重我们的音乐。

有许多做音乐的朋友也到场了。让我们一起加油吧！但愿不久的将来，你们也能站在梦想的舞台，呈现属于自己的乐章。

我是如此的幸福啊。有那么多的人在聆听和祝福我的音乐。

[芸妮 winnie]

太美好了! [oh, what a night!]

the ambience in NBT at the end of the 2nd gig at 12:30am this morning, before we said goodbye to this magnificent stage, was one of unreal peace and serenity. it was a great contrast to the electrifying atmosphere just 2 hours ago. when the lights are switched off and curtain drawn, what is left is fond memories of a great performance that one would cherish forever.

2v1g gave a stellar show on the 2nd night. the first night was great too but it was filled with a bit of tension and nerves, and there were mistakes throughout. but the 2nd night, the 2nd night, oh my god, was absolutely fabulous, a near-perfect performance by the 2v1g trio. they were so natural on stage; the chemistry between regine and winnie was so good, as if they have been singing together for ages. i don't have to say much about roger wang because he is god, a guitar god. there were many young guitar players among the audience and they were all speechless after seeing the way roger played his guitar.

my clients who were there on the 2nd night, were all enthralled by such a superlative performance. one actually ushered me to one corner and tell me "i want them to do my show next year".

there were some defining moments on the 2nd night. time stood still and many people cried (yes, they told me) when regine belted out her tear-jerking "tempting hearts", even winnie shed some tears. and when it was winnie's turn to sing "coming home", the last song before the encore, she packed the song with such emotional intensity that the entire audience was totally absorbed and went completely silent. the silence from the crowd during these two songs were deafening - everyone is so engrossed in their performance. and when she ended her last note, the audience was already spent emotionally. such is the power of ballads.

there were so many definite winners in the repertoire. regine's "i have a date with spring" was tailor-made for her. winnie's "lover's tears" & "what a difference a day made" were so good that it won't embarrass the original singers. roger's arrangements and guitar solos in "oblivious time" (cai qin's classic), "getaran jiwa" and "lover's tears" were sublime; it gives me goose bumps everytime i listen to his arrangements. very likely, i will include these few songs in the 2nd album.

there are so many things that amazed me. the girls and even roger were only "good" during the practice but when they went on stage, they were totally transformed and sang like there's no tomorrow. they love the stage and they belong there. roger's focus and concentration are truly amazing; he played a near-perfect performance on the 2nd night. even he admitted that the chemistry within the trio is so rapidly build-up that they already feel like good friends having fun on stage. worthy of mention is how well the girls rendered english numbers; they harmonize beautifully on "you needed me" and "always on my mind". vocal training sessions with mia palencia have certainly paid off handsomely for the girls.

24 hours later, the euphoria of having watched 2 superb performances by 2v1g has somewhat died down and i am back to "normal" life again.

i wouldn't say it was once-in-a-lifetime but it was close to me because they are my babies. i was nervous on the first night because i am afraid that my first-born would screw-up. but after witnessing how they commanded the stage on the second night, i can say that they are ready for the world.

i am so proud of you, 2v1g!

劲爆! [ what a blast!]

some famous blogger beats me to writing a review on 2v1g's gig last night.

check it out here!