One of the highlights for me at the recent Penang Island Jazz Festival in Malaysia was the Austrian trumpeter and vocalist, Michaela Rabitsch, and her partner, composer and guitarist, Robert Pawlik.

The jazz repertoire is pretty standard but Michaela’s approach and Robert’s distinctive playing give it a touch of funk and fusion.

You can find out more about them and their quartet at the website.

I have to confess that as a long-term expat there are few things that I miss about my past life in the UK. The first is good beer, and by that I mean real ale, and a few very particular foods such as stilton, and…errr…decent bacon. Everything else, I fear, is pure nostalgia and probably has little to do with reality. The exception is quality live music which I really do miss.

Serious music fans could be forgiven for thinking that the scene in Southeast Asia has little to offer. In the case of Thailand where I make my home, they’d be right. It is truly appalling and shows few signs of improving. Thankfully, and rather surprisingly given its somewhat conservative nature, Malaysia is just a short flight away.

Lars Tormod Jenset from the Espen Eriksen Trio

Over the last decade Malaysia has carefully cultivated a strong music scene which encompasses some exceptional artists from around the world. A prime example of how far the country’s tastes have come is the fabulous Penang Island Jazz Festival. Now in its eight year, the festival continues to grow from strength to strength and now has a well deserved reputation for showcasing great jazz talent from around the globe.

Michaela Rabitsch from Austria

I have just returned from two nights of outstanding music enjoyed in the beachfront gardens of the Bayview Beach Resort in Batu Ferringhi, just 40 minutes from Penang’s historic Georgetown. A cosmopolitan crowd at the extremely well organized event enjoyed a line-up that included the excellent Espen Eriksen Trio from Norway, the delightful Michaela Rabitsch & Robert Pawlik Trio from Austria, another extremely talented young trio, Rusconi from Switzerland, the tremendous Indonesian trumpet-led Rio Sidik Quartet, the mainstream crowd-pleaser from the UK, Shakatak, and more. There was only one person missing to make it a perfect weekend…and she knows who she is.

Norwegian vocalist, Eva Bejerga Haugen

I was surprised at musical maturity of the crowd. From late teens to those of a rare vintage, the audience sat of the grass, gave each band their full attention and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. This is unheard of in Thailand where a jazz festival is simply background music while you eat, chat with friends and photograph yourself…again.

Ito Kudhi, bass player with the Rio Sidik Quartet

Key to the success of the independent Penang Island Jazz Festival is the fact that the organizers, Capricorn Connection, and all the volunteer crew love jazz. I take my hat off to the main man, Paul Augustin, and to Brian Kwan for all their assistance and support.

In addition to the evening performances the festival almost hosts jazz workshops and performances at venues in Georgetown. There was also a jazz forum discussion, an exhibition of jazz photography by Slovenian photographer, Zigo Koritnik, old jazz posters on display, and of course, an lively after hours jazz jam in the hotel bar until the early hours. What more could a jazz fan ask for? Needless to say I am already looking forward to the 9^th Penang Island Jazz Festival!

Rio Sidik in full swing on Sunday night at the Penang Island Jazz Festival

The good news is that Penang is also going to host the Penang World Music Festival from 30th March to 1st April 2012. With this new event to add to a list that already includes the Borneo Jazz Festival in May and the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak in July, Malaysia is skillfully using live music to raise its profile on the world stage and is way ahead of neighbouring countries.

Shakatak’s George Anderson slapping out funky bass riffs

Over the next few days I’ll be posting more shots of the performers as well as some from the lovely George Town.

Last but not least, a big thank you to Tourism Malaysia.

I have just returned from a much needed long weekend in Penang, a large island off the west coast of Malaysia. The population of almost a million is predominantly Chinese with a scattering of Malay and Indians making for a vibrant and colourful mix of cultures and cuisine. Although Penang has seen a considerable amount of careless development in recent years, the old district within the capital, Georgetown, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hopefully safe for future generations to enjoy.

If this status had not been given to the area the magnificent old buildings would have undoubtedly been razed to the ground to make way for more high-rise. For a cultural traveller and self-confessed foodie such as myself, the pleasures of Penang are its heritage and its cuisine. The old colonial-era shophouses are superb – although many are in desperate need of repair – and the choice of Hainanese, Hokkien, southern Indian, and Malay food is a culinary adventure.

The visual landscape of Penang is defined by decaying period architecture, temples and shrines, and bustling food stalls, all of which offer the chance to get some lovely shots of details.

During my stay I was fortunate enough to experience the luxury of the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, and the wonderful Straits Collection at Stewart Lane, a block of carefully restored shophouses in the heart of the old town.