Jazz Orchestra Kuala Lumpur gives big-band music a fresh local spin

Jazz Orchestra Kuala Lumpur (JOKL) is a big-band music ensemble that has created a unique local spin on the genre, uniting over 20 Malaysian and international musicians in Kuala Lumpur. In 2023, founders Peter Hupperich and Edwin Wong started JOKL after struggling to find a local big band to join. The orchestra aims to provide a platform for musicians, singers, and arrangers to develop and showcase their talents, fostering community and collaboration.

Its traditional big-band lineup includes saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, while percussionists, singers, and guest musicians join depending on the performance. JOKL's repertoire spans jazz, swing, Latin, funk, soul, pop, and contemporary music, with the musicians putting their own "JOKL twist" on arrangements, such as performing "Ain't No Sunshine" with a techno groove or transforming A Alicia Keys song into a Latin number.

The orchestra collaborates with Malaysian arrangers to create music specifically for JOKL and hopes to become a recognized name for big-band music across Malaysia and the region. Their next performance, "Viva La Fiesta - A Celebration of Latin Music & Dance," will take place on September 12 at Robert's Theatre @ The Campus in Ampang, featuring Latin rhythms, dancers, and a full big-band sound with a JOKL twist.