We were delighted to be invited to play at this yearʼs Miri International Jazz Festival and we were more than delighted to have Tama Goh offer to play drums for us!

The Festival was held over the weekend at the ParkCity Everly Hotel which was also where we stayed. We arrived late Friday evening and flew back Sunday night. Saturday morning was filled with sound check, a press conference, essential administration and interviews. Then a lazy hot afternoon. Some of us walked about the town, taking in the sights. We discovered that certain feline beers slake your thirst in Miri just as efficiently as they do here in Singapore. Some things never change...

The Festival was less of a concert and more like a carnival. There were tents put up in the hotel grounds housing stalls selling food from all around the world. There were stalls selling handicraft, souvenirs and even a softly lit tent with diaphanous, floating curtains where you could retreat for a massage amidst the merrymaking. The bands all played in a pavilion that was to one side of the proceedings. However, there were huge screens dotted about the site showing the performances so you did not miss a single musical moment no matter where you were. There was no sitting on the lawn - everywhere, there were tables and chairs laid out in comfortable distances from each other so that you never felt crowded in although there were 6,000 people there. They were of all ages from tiny tots to grandparents happily mingling with raucous teenagers. There was for something for everyone to enjoy. The younger members of the crowd kept 3 clowns very busy making balloon sculptures.

We were the final item on the programme and so had time to wander around the festival and enjoy the music of the other bands. They came from all over the world - Alamode from Australia, Bombay Baja Brass Band from England, Dites34 from France, Double Take from Malaysia, Steps In Time from Japan, Jeff Maluleke from Africa, Rumba Calzada from Canada and of course us from Singapore.

The crowd in the Pavilion was good-natured, hugely appreciative of all the acts and wildly enthusiastic about everything.

The Finale was an exciting free for all, with each band taking turns to come onto the stage and improvising for a crowd which seemed unhappy to see anyone leaving. But eventually, it did all come to an end. The Artistic Director Randy Raine-Reusch came up to the band and said how much heʼd enjoyed our performance. The Festival was well organised and a fantastic time was had by all. We would like to thank the Sarawak Tourism Board for inviting us to play, to the ParkCity Everly Hotel for wonderful accommodation and the people of Miri for their warm hospitality.