Venetian Carnival 2012 is a three-day non-stop music, food and wine festival set outside the main lobby around the Campanile Tower of the Venetian Macao.
Details of the event :
Date : 25 to 27 May 2012
Venue : Campanile Tower, just outside the main lobby of the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel
Opening hours :
Fri 25 May: 6 pm to 12 am
Sat 26 May: 4 pm to 12 am
Sun 27 May: 4 pm to 12 am
Entertainment :
Each Night, Parade through Venetian Macao
26 May (evening), Charity Ball
27 May (10 pm) Jazz and Blues Competition winner announcement
The Venetian Macao’s International Jazz & Blues
The 12 finalists are out!! 12 of the world’s best Jazz and Blues musicians will battle for HK$500,000 in prize money @ The Venetian Carnival 25 -27 May. The 12 bands have been chosen from nearly 100 entries, from countries including China, Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea and some as far as the US, Brazil and France.
Here is the list of finalists :
Red Groove (Shanghai, PRC)
The Red Groove Project is simply the hottest jazz/funk outfit in China. Originally founded in Beijing by American–‐Chinese guitarist/composer Lawrence Ku, the band is currently based in Shanghai. With musicians hailing from China, the United States, Australia, Norway, and Brazil, the band and music reflect the dynamism and intensity of this fascinating city.
The CompanY (The Philippines)
The CompanY is a vocal quintet from Manila, Philippines. (2 men and 3 women). The group is now 27 years old this year. Formed in 1985. The group has already released 22 studio albums and garnered 39 Philippine music awards. The CompanY delves into all types of music genre that applies vocal harmony – Jazz, A Cappella, Pop, Latin, etc. The CompanY has performed with The Manhattan Transfer 3 times already (1992, 1996 and 2006). The group members are also personal friends of the Manhattan transfer and have been also introduced to the New York Voices (via M.T.) last March 2011 in Singapore.
Theo Croker Collective (Shanghai, PRC)
The Theo Croker Collective has been together for nearly two years performing five nights a week at the renowned Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China. The band is comprised of the city’s finest jazz musicians, with members hailing from the US and Australia. They perform a mix of originals and standards in a modern jazz style. The collective is excited at the opportunity to enter the Venetian Carnival Competition and bring their signature style to Macao.
The Main Squeeze (Indiana, USA)
The Main Squeeze is a raging funk experience born within the thriving live music scene of Bloomington, Indiana. Since coming together in late 2009 The Squeeze have managed to establish a unique sound and identity in a short period of time. Their first studio offering entitled “First Drops,” is a seven song EP released in early 2011 which showcases the broad range of styles and influences that each member brings to the table; from jazz to rock, funk to R&B, and hip-hop to blues.
Fantastica (Hong Kong)
Anna Fan and leader of FANtastica is a young and in demand performer arranger, bandleader and educator, drummer/Percussionist Anna is active both in HK and in the US since her graduation from Berklee College of Music. Performing with her are Ruby Biloskirka-Conley, Jessi Lee, Jonathan Greenstein, Clevenland Jones, and Keisuke Higashino.
Spoke (NY, USA)
Since 2005, SPOKE has been the creative meeting point for four of New York City’s hottest rising jazz stars. SPOKE is Distinguished by its truly collective concept and operating philosophy. The ensemble functions as a genuine working band like the jazz ensembles of the 1960s, which through years of collaboration achieved a sound even greater than the sum of their individual virtuosity.
Greice Ive (Brazil)
Greice Ive, singer, composer, started singing with her father at age 5 and professionally at 13 in Brasilia. She is best known in Brazil for her hits such as
“Sem Moldura” & ” Ate voce passar” featured as the soundtrack for the Brazilian soap “Passione” & “Malhacao”. The Song co–‐composed with Dudu Falcao e Marco Brito ” Ate voce passar” came to the liking of the public, after included at the soundtrack of the soap ” Passione” and also “Sem Olhar”, theme song of the main character couple of another teen soap “Malhacao”.
Ginda and the White Flowers (Indonesia)
It all started when a friend requested band member Ginda to perform in a school event. He then formed a trio, which ended up being one of the bands in demand. After their last performance in Jakarta International Blues Festival 2011, Ginda And The White Flowers (GTWF) entered the recording studio to record their first album, called “Let Me Try” Collaborating with Indonesian blues ‘Maestro’, Gugun from Gugun Blues Shelter, in their first single “Let Me Try” (also the album title), GTWF tries to provide music fans with something new and fresh.
Mok Kyung Kim (Korea)
Listen to this man and you’d know he means business. Kim Mok Kyung is a singing blues guitarist from South Korea that has the music style as the result of the blend of traditional blues, rock and country. Over two decades of career has shaped Kyung as a fully experienced musician. Along his journey he has collaborated with many international superstars like ZZ Top, Clarance Gatemouth Brown, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Steve Winwood, Sheryl Crow and Bob Margolin.
Macau Jazz Experience (Macao)
Local Macao jazz enthusiasts.
Tinho Pereira (Brazil)
A Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Tinho Pereira has the versatility and creativity of a virtuoso. He works with musicians from all over the world playing Latin Jazz as well as other styles and genre’s.
Roland Tchakounte (France)
Roland Tchakounte is one of the most important personalities on the current African blues scene ! Born in Africa, the continent of the breath of the feast, in the heart of suffering feelings, he’s a wandering souls artist who stamina knows how to transcend musical diktats and rules by creating a perfect merging between Mississippi blues and the deep African song ,greatly enhanced by the Bamiléké’s harmonies,his mother tongue.
The competition itself will be the highlight of the carnival & some big name judges will be there to judge the final competition. This include Matt Coyte (Editor of Rolling Stone Australia magazine), Vonzell Solomon (American Idol finalist) and Michael Wong (HK actor-singer). That being said, the show will be AWESOME!
Venetian Carnival
Of course, that’s not it. The Venetian Carnival will be having a 10 time Grammy Award nominee and jazz & blues legend, George Benson to open the event on Friday May 25 at 7PM.
Those who would want to get more of his performance will need to catch his concert at the Venetian Theatre starting at 8PM on the same date. For more information on the ticketing – CLICK HERE
The Venetian Carnival Charity Ball
Alongside all the action and entertainment at The Venetian Carnival, there will be Mardi Gras Charity Ball on Sat May 26. The entertainment lineup includes The Nevilles, the Michael Foster Brass Band and The Pine Leaf Boys. For more info, CLICK HERE.
Can’t wait to be there myself to catch all the fun activities going on from 25-27 May 2012. See you if you’re going!!
*I was invited by Venetian Macao to participate in Venetian Macao’s 3-day Carnival. The flight, hotel and meals were sponsored by the Venetian Macao.
Don’t miss it, be there at 澳門威尼斯人嘉年华 Venetian Carnival 2012!!
Related Links :
The Venetian Carnival
The Jazz & Blues Band semi-finalists
The Venetian Macao Facebook page
The Venetian Macao Youtube page
The Venetian Carnival Charity Ball
