{
  "id": 14622775,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Infinite Beats: Hands Percussion unites five nations in epic Sunway drum spectacle",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/showbiz-infinite-beats-hands-percussion-unites-five-nations-in-epic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T05:43:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/10/1556017/showbiz-infinite-beats-hands-percussion-unites-five-nations-epic"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Infinite Beats: Hands Percussion united artists from Malaysia, Japan, Venezuela, Cuba, and the United States for an eight-day drum spectacle at the new Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre in Bandar Sunway. The festival featured workshops, drum circles, and an international symposium, culminating in an impressive showcase of diverse musical traditions. The event opened with a performance by a 24 Festive Drums troupe, showcasing Kwang Hua Private High School, Chung Hua High School Seremban, SJK(C) Bukit Tinggi Bentong, and Yuebeatz.\n\nThree new compositions made their world debuts during the festival: Tan Zhe Hao's \"Infinite\" performed by Hands 1, Tee Leong Hoe's \"The Flow,\" and Khoo Nii Hing and Lim Wei Ying's \"Taboo,\" both performed by Hands 2. Tan's piece aimed to create a fantastical world unexplored before, while Lim sought to capture the journey of self-discovery. Khoo explored the boundaries he encountered in his upbringing, presenting them not as restrictions but as personal choices.\n\nThe Pulse Quartet from The Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia delivered a captivating performance, blending classical Indian rhythms with spontaneous improvisation. Each member of the ensemble brought a unique voice to the stage, with Darmen Krishnan driving the deep bass and complex syncopations of the mridangam, Prakash Kandasamy playing rapid notes on the tabla, Bharat Sai adding sharp accents on the kanjeera frame drum, and Raja Segaran Ramasamy weaving hypnotic metallic textures on the morsing.\n\nNew York-based percussionist Steve Thornton featured prominently on the festival's stage, blending jazz, Afro-Cuban, Latin, and pop into his collaborative performances. Thornton, a seasoned musician with a career spanning over five decades, has collaborated with legendary artists such as Miles Davis, Mongo Santamaria, and Michael Jackson. At the festival, he paid homage to Miles Davis with a contemporary twist on his composition \"Milestones,\" and co-wrote \"My Life Again\" with Colombian saxophonist Justo Almario.",
  "summary": "THE word kaleidoscope conjures images of a colourful, magical world — one that captivates visitors and leaves them with unforgettable memories of pure entertainment.",
  "key_points": [
    "Five nations collaborate in Sunway drum spectacle",
    "Three new compositions premiere at festival",
    "Steve Thornton performs jazz fusion"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}