Khadijah Wants A Memorable 30
Khadijah has a stellar band accompanying her.
Khadijah Ibrahim celebrates three decades of showbusiness with a concert next week, sharing the stage with some very special guests. SHARMILA BILLOT writes.
Khadijah will be performing with Ramli Sarip.
EVERGREEN songstress Khadijah Ibrahim will celebrate her 30 years in showbusiness with a two-night concert at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur.
The concerts, which will be held on Monday and Tuesday at 8.30pm, will chart her musical journey under the tagline “Pearl Anniversary Concerts”.
She will be serenading audiences with her best-known hits, including soulful classics, Broadway numbers and classical jazz.
The concerts will feature Khadijah reinterpreting some of her best-loved hits while revisiting some rarely performed musical treasures.
The songs include Ku Pendam Sebuah Duka and Ku Sangka Siang Kiranya Malam. Luck Be A Lady (from the Broadway musical, Guys and Dolls) and Don’t Rain On My Parade (from Funny Girl).
Though the spotlight will be on Khadijah, she will share the stage with some outstanding personalities from the music industry who have helped shape her career.
Two artistes who have been invited to perform are Datuk Ahmad Nawab and Ramli Sarip.
Ahmad has been Khadijah’s composer, arranger and mentor from the beginning and responsible for some of her greatest hits, while Ramli has frequently collaborated with Khadijah over the years.
Music director Mac Chew will also be joining them. He has put up a stellar band for the occasion. It comprises Jenny Chin (keyboards), Steve Thornton (percussion), Jamie Wilson (guitar), Aji (guitar), Gary Gideon (drums), Andy Peterson (bass), Jaesern (violin), Thomas Theseira (alto sax), Chee Chow Meng (trombone) and Eddie Wen (trumpet).
“What a wonderful experience it’s going to be. I can’t wait to get on stage with these great musicians,” said Khadijah.
“It’s been a big challenge to put together the right combination of songs to reflect my career. And I hope to bring freshness even to the most enduring songs.”
The concert is also a fundraising event. Proceeds will go to designated charities close to Khadijah’s heart dealing with the under-privileged and children.
In order to mark the occasion, Warner Music Malaysia is launching a new double-CD album by Khadijah titled Album Mutiara.
Building on the strong sales of the Khadijah Ibrahim: Nostalgia Abadi album launched earlier this year, the new album will feature some 30 songs in both Malay and English that represent the very best of her extensive repertoire over three decades.
The new album is also a reaffirmation of her ongoing professional relationship with Warner Music, the label that launched Khadijah’s career with Sehari Dalam Cinta in 1979.
It will incorporate new material and will be Khadijah’s “first” album in seven years.
Tickets for the concert are priced at RM120, RM100, RM80 and RM50 and are available at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas box office. For details, call 03-2051-7007.
New Straits Times