Francissca's doing jazz fine

Local songbird Francissca Peter shares
with DERRICK VINESH her passion
for jazz and her upcoming Malay album. 

FRANCISSCA Peter may not have done jazz numbers commercially, but this spirited singer has over the years harnessed her skills in this genre through various gigs in and outside Malaysia. 

The singer who is now based in Kuala Lumpur, was invited to perform at the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club in Hong Kong, in conjunction with the launch of its new The Derby jazz bar in July. 

The two-month stint saw Peter working with popular jazz musician Paul Candalaria, who had once opened for the late Sammy Davis Jr in Las Vegas in the United States. 

Francissca giving a heartfelt rendition of a classic patriotic song Bahtera Merdeka in Penang recently.

" Musically, I learnt a great deal because of such accomplished musicians like Paul Candalaria who plays beautiful bass. 

"Paul brought in a versatile Filipino pianist, Adonis V.D. Jesus, and I was able to widen my perspective and appreciation of jazz because of this special opportunity," said Peter, after performing at the Bulan Bahasa Dan Sastera Negara 2003 national launch in Penang recently.  

Describing it as one of her longest stints, Peter said she also did weekend gigs for private functions in Hong Kong, adding that the audience there had broad awareness of the music genre and were “a great listening clientele too”. 

Commenting on the jazz scene in the country, Peter said she believed that many Malaysians had not been truly introduced to the seriousness of "real jazz music". 

"Commercially, I guess, many view jazz as too niche a market, with some justification, although they enjoy the ‘cachet’ associated with this genre. 

"Locally, jazz is often the sobriquet attached to R&B music purely because here, it may be the odd solo that has a hint of jazz fusion included. 

"My personal definition of jazz would be clarity of diction, challenging notes and progressions in keeping with true jazz ethos, never singing a song the same way twice, and creativity which must coexist for truly great performances," she said. 

Peter, who had worked with local jazz greats such as Michael Veerapen and Jeremy Monteiro, Americans Chic Corea and Eric Marienthal, said among her favourite jazz singers are Sergio Mendes, Flora Purim, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn and Billie Holiday. 

Peter had appeared as a guest vocalist on the album Local Hero by American jazz saxophonist Cal Bennett in 1993 in the United States. 

During a two-year stint in the 1990s there, she had worked with various musicians including jazz-fusion pianist Brian Simpson, Sam Simms, Michael Winans of The Winans, Kirk Whalum and Scott Maio. 

On plans to go commercial with jazz numbers, Fran said: "Jazz is very personal to me and it may not be for everyone out there but I will continue to respect the jazz greats for what they have taught me. 

"I believe that if anyone wants to learn or know more about anything that they feel strongly about, they must have the hunger for it. 

"The only place where I have heard good live jazz recently and on a regular basis is at No Black Tie in KL. Once upon a time it used to be All That Jazz that satiated the local appetite for this kind of music. 

"I think it is fair comment that our local audience is still 'growing into' jazz, slowly but surely. As for me, I would rather adopt a wait-and-see approach as it would definitely have to be a fully English jazz album. 

"Right now, I am trying to finish my next Malay album which will be a strictly commercial one as in the past," she said. 

The untitled Malay album, to be produced by Julfekar would be more acoustic on the ballads with three semi-fast tracks. 

"The album will have no heavy instrumentation. Instead it will have greater emphasis on the vocals with a soul-searching and earthy feeling," said Peter, adding that she hoped it would be released after Hari Raya in November. 

On plans for a Roy & Fran reunion show with former musical partner Royston Sta Maria, Peter said it would require a good sponsor, adding that Sta Maria who now lives in Australia is still very active musically. "We are in touch via e-mail." 

On comments by critics that she was just another Malaysian struggling to carve a name in the international music scene, Peter said: "Do you know how many British or Europeans artistes there are who want to make it in the United States and still can't? 

"Our industry is enriched by those who spend time abroad and return with new ideas and skills. This applies in many industries, not just the music sector," she said. 

She noted that the local music industry should encourage more creative freedom domestically rather than bring in international groups to promote their albums which does not enrich local talent. 

"They can learn attitude or dressing from MTV, but aspiring musicians must learn and perfect their craft so that can sustain their presence in this small market through thick and thin. 

"It would also enhance cohesion in the market if more Indian and Chinese artistes record albums in Malay.  

"Strands of one type of music find their way into a myriad of other styles. And this can only nourish the creative juices of all musicians," added Peter.