MPO Jazz Band & Friends presents ‘The Music of Stevie Wonder’

DEWAN Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) continues its 25th-anniversary celebration with a jazz concert themed The Music of Stevie Wonder. 

The tribute concert to the legendary singer will be performed by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra MPO Jazz Band & Friends. 

They will delight the audience with timeless hits by the famed American singer-songwriter who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across genres. Wonder’s critical success was at its peak in the 1970s with releases such as Superstition and Songs in the Key of Life. In the 1980s, he had groundbreaking collaborations with Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. 

One of the best-selling music artists of all time, Wonder has garnered 25 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award. He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

The MPO jazz ensemble has before presented many jazz-themed concerts over the years such as the All That Jazz concert (2013) and the MPO Happy Hour series. It has collaborated with local and international artists including Elvira Arul, Atilia, Ruth Sahanaya, Laura Fygi and Harry Connick Jr. 

The concert will be held on Saturday, September 9 at 8.30pm.

The MPO Jazz Band will perform Wonder’s signature tunes in jazz interpretations such as Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing, Send One Your Love, I Wish, Rocket Love, Part Time Lover, Contusion, Golden Lady and Sir Duke. 

The concert will be helmed by Marques Young, the MPO’s Principal Trombone and composer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from The Juilliard School, New York, and has performed with the American Brass Quintet, the Buffalo and New York Philharmonics, the Arkansas and Charleston Symphonies, and Aspen Festival Orchestra. He released his debut album, Duel Citizenship, in 2016, and was involved in Bassment Syndicate’s 25 hrs and Morning albums. 

Young is a member of the Trombone Faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Music Conservatory in Singapore and the University of Malaysia. He is an artist proudly associated with Thein Brass, Willie’s Custom Mouthpieces and MVQ. 

Joining Young on the DFP stage are powerhouse vocalist Aisha Retno and singer/songwriter Syafiq Abdilah. Aisha has released several singles since her foray into the local entertainment scene in 2018 and won third place in the programme Big Stage in 2022. Her debut English single, W.H.U.T. hit 32 million global streams, amassing her a Gold Award.

Syafiq released his debut single in 2019 which garnered 500,000 views on YouTube. He became a finalist in Big Stage in 2022 and released a single, Kekal, thereafter. Together with the MPO Jazz Band, the two young artists will enthrall the audience with their fresh jazz musicianship. 

For more information, visit the MPO website: www.mpo.com.my or its Facebook and Instagram pages: @malaysianphilharmonicorchestra.