Blues in Singapore?, was Re: Blues in Asia

[Raj Komaran]

John wrote ..." Speaking of the blues in Asia, I'm getting a great deal of
enjoyment out of a cd called "Get On The Blues Train," by four very talented
musicians (I believe that at least one member is also a zeller) called the
Universal Blues Band out of Singapore. These guys are truly smokin' on this
record...tremendous punch and timing so perfect you'd swear they're reading
each other's minds. .."

That would be R Segar whom I have yet the pleasure to meet. Me? Oh, I am
just lurking as usual, but it surprises me mucho to learn there is an
indigenous blues band in my backyard!

Cheers!

Raj "heavydutylurker" Komaran

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[John Irving]

Hi Raj,

The bandmembers are listed as:

Trevor Jalla - lead voc. and guit.
Danny Loong - Hammond C3, piano, guit., harm. and voc.
Philip Arena - bass guit., voc.
Joe Whittle - drums

Prod. by Peter Loong and Danny Loong

Recorded in Perth, Australia

Jalla is Malaysian and Loong is from Singapore, while Arena and Whittle are from
Australia.

Evidently the theme behind the cd, "Get On The Blues Train," revolves around a
15 minute film put together by Loong documenting the racism he experienced while
studying at a university in Western Australia in 1996.

Their extremely well conceived web site tells a lot more about the band at
ublues.com as well as a music festival that they put on in April with the motto:
"in the spirit of unity through music"

I've only had a chance to listen to the first half of the cd, but I liked it
right away...especially "Marnie Lee" and "Cookin' With Gas."

Thanks,

John

[Segar]

Raj Komaran wrote..

"That would be R Segar whom I have yet the pleasure to meet. Me?
Oh, I am just lurking as usual, but it surprises me mucho to learn there
is an indigenous blues band in my backyard!"

Thanks for your kind post Raj, but I am not on that cd. As mentioned
by John Irving in his post, its actually Danny Loong from Singapore who
recorded it in Perth with the Universal Blues Band.

Danny dropped by the 'Sultan of Swing' a couple of weeks ago, (where
I host the Monday Jam Sessions), and played some real tasteful guitar.
He also mentioned that the Bridgetown Blues Festival in Western Australia
has decided to use 'Universal Blues' as their theme for this year's event.
I guess this could be start of more good things to come for the Singapore
scene.

Cheers,
R. Segar

[R. L. Eagle]

There has been some other blues activity in Singapore that Raj Komaran and
R. Segar may not know about.

During 1985, New Orleans' own Quentin Batiste worked for six months at the
Holiday Inn, Singapore with a band led by Trevor Williams.

From mid-June 1994, ex-Peacock singer Mildred Jones commenced a 7-month
residency at the Hilton Hotel, Orchard Road, Singapore.

In 1994, Mildred was represented by MJ And MJ Productions, and managed by
Mares J. Wright of 21 Angullia Park, The Parisian #05-02, Singapore 0923 -
telephone (+65) 732 0594. They also represented Mildred's sister Carolyn,
although Carolyn was still back in Houston, Texas.

I first saw Mildred Jones earlier in 1994, when she appeared at the Pendopo
Lounge, Borobudur Inter-Continental Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia, mainly
performing jazz standards. She has a deep voice and, frankly, covers of
Dinah Washington's jazz period did not really work. However, when I asked
her about the Don Robey days, she performed a great version of Percy
Mayfield's blues, I'M A BUSINESS WOMAN (Peacock unissued), which she said
Percy wrote for her.

She is probably best-known for the salacious song, MR. THRILL (Peacock
#1638), recorded with the excellent Pluma Davis band.

She had a nice trio of Asian musicians backing her in Asia, and they played
the blues well. If I recall correctly, the guitarist was Filipino.

Bob

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