Monday
Jan012018
Tuesday
Jul212015
Az & Kirsten
;)
Guitarist-Composer-Educator Az Samad has been performing internationally for the past 19 years, across the United States, Europe and Asia. Blending his classical guitar training with his harmonic sensibility from his jazz pedigree, Az’s jazz guitar renditions are both sophisticated to experienced jazzers and accessible to the general audience. His compositions have been described as “at times playful and irreverent, and at other times lyrical and soulful, but always inventive, tastefully crafted and beautifully nuanced — an absolute pleasure to listen to.”
;)
In addition to his extensive performance credentials, Az has 17 years of teaching experience. This has been shaped by his musical training which includes 4 degrees in music. He received degrees from University of Westminster, UK; Jazz Composition and Guitar Performance - Summa Cum Laude Honors from Berklee College of Music, USA; and Masters in Music (Jazz Studies) from San Jose State University.
;)
Classically trained on the piano since the age of five, Kirsten Long graduated with First Class Honours from University of Malaya with a Bachelors Degree in Performing Arts (Music), majoring in Jazz Piano. She currently teaches classical and contemporary (jazz and pop) piano as well as vocals (jazz, broadway, pop). Kirsten has a strong passion in writing and performing her own compositions and is delving deeper into this with the duo.
In this project, Az & Kirsten explore different songs in the spirit of jazz duos like Tuck and Patti, Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass with a Malaysian twist. Together they have been sharing their art with audiences in Kuala Lumpur at No Black Tie, Page 2, Mezze Lounge, The Bee, Good Friends Cafe, Barlai and Art In The Park. Recently, they were invited by Macau Jazz Promotion Association and the Macau government for their international debut at the Amphitheater of the Taipa Houses-Museum in Macau.
Az & Kirsten are available for corporate functions, private events, product launches & more. Please contact us at http://www.azsamad.com/contact for more information.
Thursday
Nov282013
Squirrels In Space
Debut Squirrels In Space EP
Track Listing:
1. Latah Setinggan
2. Senja Mula Menangis
3. Echoes of Bangsar
4. Berjalan Bersamamu
5. Antartika
6. Penyair
Recorded in Grand Studio, Clitheroe, United Kingdom
Mixed & Mastered by Vince Go, VGo Productions, San Franscisco, California, USA
Artwork by A. Samad Said
Squirrels In Space:
Az Samad - Acoustic Guitar
Richard Moss - Mandolin & Bouzouki
Buy The Album Now:
Buy on Bandcamp:
Or Buy on CDBaby.com
Past Squirrels In Space Events:
[Malaysia/Singapore Tour 2014]
March 2, Sun | Musica Workshop, Villa Angsana, Kuala Lumpur | Musica Workshop 3.0 with Az Samad & Richard Moss | 10:30am-5:30pm | Buy Tickets
March 4, Tues | Squirrels In Space at Merdekarya | Squirrels In Space | 7:30pm
March 7, Fri | Mosaic Music Festival 2014, Singapore | Squirrels In Space | 6:15pm AND 7:15pm
March 8, Sat | Esplanade, Singapore | Mosaic Music Makers 2014 Guitar Zero - Guitar Workshop for Absolute Beginners by Az Samad | 2pm & 4pm | Buy Tickets
March 9, Sun | Esplanade, Singapore | Mosaic Music Makers 2014 Ukulele Adventure! A Parent - Child Workshop | 2pm & 4pm by Az Samad | Buy Tickets
[About Squirrels In Space]
When Malaysian fingerstyle guitarist Az Samad and Blackburn, UK based multi-instrumentalist Richard Moss collaborate, a musical meteor shower of East meets West fills the space. The duo blend their influences from Malaysian pop music to Jazz, folk, Celtic and rock into an acoustic guitar, mandolin and bouzouki extravaganza. Az Samad’s fingerpicked guitar melodies meet a counterpoint of fiery mandolin lines launched by Richard Moss. Together, they are Squirrels In Space!
Their name is a play on their musical playfulness and the spirit of musical adventure as they unleash their songs into the stratosphere.
Richard Moss brings his years of experience playing high energy Irish traditional music with the band Drop the Floor into this intimate musical adventure with Az. Az draws from his musical training, having studied jazz composition and improvisation at Berklee College of Music and later on stints performing Tex Mex, Cumbia and gypsy jazz with various groups in California. This rich blend translates into an acoustic music experience that has delighted audiences they’ve played for.
On one song, “Latah Setinggan” he used his Fylde bouzouki to power-up the funk grooves that Az plays on his Lowden acoustic guitar. There is a concentration of different moods as this duo surprises the listener with their interwoven textures. If you listen closely enough, you can hear how their friendship translates directly into a rich tapestry of musical chemistry. The way they their melodies dance together recalls the energy of Chris Thile’s progressive bluegrass project The Punch Brothers albeit in just two instruments playing as one.
In “Penyair”, their harmonized melody lines set the reflective mood of the poem that inspired it. With every phrase, Richard’s mandolin strings echo Az’s guitar lines almost telepathically before extending the melodic storytelling with his sparse mandolin solo. Within the folk-like simplicity of the binary song form, they explore a landscape of sound that launches your imagination away. As the song ends, the last few notes, in rhythm as the last harmonic fades into the distance.
Catch Squirrels In Space as they chart their course into the next musical galaxy. This is East meets West and then out into the stars!
____
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Friday
Dec072012
Cheryl Tan & Az Samad
"Stunned by @azsamad and Cheryl Tan from The Malaysian Music Project that showcases 'buatan Malaysia' music. This last was 'Hijau'. #TEDxKL" - The Star R.A.G.E [permalink]
VIDEOS:
PAST PERFORMANCES:
Photo by Ramesh Chitty
Join us for a night of Malaysian Music!
Catch vocalist Cheryl Tan with guitarist Az Samad performing Malaysian music!
From classic songs from Sheila Majid, Sudirman, to modern favorites by OAG, Yuna & Mia Palencia!
And here are some sneak peeks of the songs:
Who?
Cheryl Tan - Vocals
Az Samad - Guitar
Where?
The Venue
Lot C4.06.02,
Connection Level 4,
Pavilion KL,
168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
When?
Dec 19, 2012 | 9:30PM
Cover Charge: RM40 (inclusive of first drink)
Cheryl Tan - Vocals
Az Samad - Guitar
Where?
The Venue
Lot C4.06.02,
Connection Level 4,
Pavilion KL,
168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
When?
Dec 19, 2012 | 9:30PM
Cover Charge: RM40 (inclusive of first drink)
Official FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/494847250538426
[About Cheryl Tan]
Based in Brooklyn, Cheryl has performed in Singapore and New York as well as her native Malaysia. Most recently she has been heard with the hip hop group Blue Belts, the Sam Friedman Quartet and with companies OperaOggiNY and Festival of Fools. In Kuala Lumpur, she sang with the Young KL Singers and was seen in the original Broadway Parodies Lah and An Enemy of the People.
Cheryl Tan - Vocals
Az Samad - Guitar
The Malaysian Music Project with Az Samad & Cheryl Tan
Dec 19, 2012 | 9:30PM
The Venue
Lot C4.06.02,
Connection Level 4,
Pavilion KL,
168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Cover Charge: RM40 (inclusive of first drink)
[About Cheryl Tan]
Based in Brooklyn, Cheryl has performed in Singapore and New York as well as her native Malaysia. Most recently she has been heard with the hip hop group Blue Belts, the Sam Friedman Quartet and with companies OperaOggiNY and Festival of Fools. In Kuala Lumpur, she sang with the Young KL Singers and was seen in the original Broadway Parodies Lah and An Enemy of the People.
Cheryl Tan - Vocals
Az Samad - Guitar
The Malaysian Music Project with Az Samad & Cheryl Tan
Dec 19, 2012 | 9:30PM
The Venue
Lot C4.06.02,
Connection Level 4,
Pavilion KL,
168, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Cover Charge: RM40 (inclusive of first drink)
Official FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/494847250538426
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