Since its start in May 2006, the Borneo Jazz (BJ) festival has been wowing music fans with its impressive line-up of artists and array of fringe activities.
This year is exceptional as it will be held in a hybrid format. From June 24th to June 26th, 2022, festival-goers can enjoy it in person at Coco Cabana, Miri, or live-stream it from anywhere in the world.
Fusion Jazz Music at Borneo Jazz 2022
Borneo Jazz’s cutting-edge vibes aim to entice the younger generation to immerse themselves in nu-jazz with our friends from the Land of the Rising Sun, Gecko and Tokage Parade from Japan.
Composer and pianist Wataru leads this new-generation instrumental jazz band, aka Gecko, which has the motto “pursuit of new-generation sound.”

With Gecko at the helm, this quartet mixes pop, classical piano melodies, post-rock and fusion-like guitar that crosses minimal, jazz and experimental sounds that will surely appeal to the next generation.
BJ 2022 also welcomes Alemay Fernandez of Singapore and Richard Jackson from the United States. With Alemay’s bluesy tone and Richard’s smooth baritone voice, they add their brand of soul to jazz.
Alemay’s phenomenal voice has landed her on stage with music greats like The Count Basie Orchestra, David Foster, and Laura Fygi. She is also a songwriter and is widely considered Singapore’s foremost jazz singer, along with her impressive resume.
Richard, her partner in rhyme at BJ 2022, is a seasoned performer, having opened for legendary acts such as The Stylistics, Regina Bell, Tuck & Patti, Peabo Bryson, and Incognito, to name a few.
He has also performed with jazz legends Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Kenny Drew Jr., Al Di Meola, and Ricky Lawson. Originally from Cincinnati, USA, Richard is currently based in Singapore, making him a festival favourite in the region.
Alemay and Richard bring jazz to new heights with their unmistakable chemistry and uniquely refreshing style.
Expect an eclectic mix of groovy originals and jazz/soul covers, with a top-notch band featuring Euntaek Kim on keys (played with Dennis Chambers), Jase Sng on bass (played with Incognito) & Erik Hargrove on drums (played with James Broen and Bootsy Collins).
Set to wow the audience during BJ 2022, extraordinary Italian pianist Nikko Ielasi fuses jazz, gospel, pop and rock elements in one power-packed set with his headlining band NIKKOLLECTIVE.

Joined by fellow superstars Italian Adriano Matkovich on bass and Malaysia’s Arthur Kam on Drums, NIKKOLLECTIVE will surely not disappoint.
A versatile drummer who lays down grooves and beats that drive the music to another dimension, Arthur Kam is a Malaysian child prodigy who has been hitting big stages with various artists locally and internationally since the age of 7.
A Berklee College of Music graduate, the New York-based drummer currently sessions for singer-songwriters, artists and bands from different genres in New York, Boston, China and Malaysia.

Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch, well known for his work with Indian legend and Grammy and Oscar award winner AR Rahman, produces, composes, arranges, and records horns for Bollywood films and independent music artists from all over the world.
In the summer of 2019, Nikko became suddenly and irreversibly deaf on the right side with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL).
Through adversity, Nikko has continued to persevere by blessing the world with his music as a leader and musical director for others.

About Borneo Jazz Festival 2022
The 17th edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022, themed “Jazz in the Jungle,” will be held in a hybrid format for the first time from 24th to 26th June 2022 at Coco Cabana, Miri. Performers from Singapore, Japan, France, Switzerland, the USA, Hungary, and India will join.
Borneo Jazz will also provide fun and educational fringe activities open to the public from 24th—26th June 2022, such as the Eco-Art Project, Borneo Boat Lute Exhibition, Miri Sape Movement—’ Evolution of the Sape’, Wellness Programme, and Artisanal Craft Bazaar.
Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ starting now from the official website at jazzborneo.com or directly from our authorised ticket resellers, Miri City Council at ptbmiri@gmail.com and Transworld Travel Services Sdn Bhd at twtmiri@hotmail.com.
For the public category, a One-Day Pass costs RM128 per ticket, a Two-Day Pass costs RM228 per ticket, and a Three-Day Pass costs RM338 per ticket. For students and senior citizens, a One-Day Pass costs RM88 per ticket, a Two-Day Pass costs RM128 per ticket, and a Three-Day Pass costs RM188 per ticket.
For those who want to enjoy BJ virtually, tickets are priced at RM25 per viewing block—approximately an hour segmented into your favourite performers. For more information on the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022, log on to BJ’s official website at jazzborneo.com or read this article on all you need to know about the Borneo Jazz Festival.