JOAN JIM

Joan Jim is a Malaysian, Sabah Borneo-born singer, arranger, composer and guitarist. Best known for her Latin Jazz singing style including Bossa Nova, Samba, Afro Cuban and Salsa. She’s also known for her rhythmic and melodic scat singing and always make any kind of songs in her own way, and that includes the music arrangements.

Joan picks up singing inspirations from Ella Fitzgerald, Astrud Gilberto and Flora Purim. Also, she listens to Stacey Kent, Esperanza Splading, Eliane Elise, Gretchen Parlato, Sade, Roberta Flack, Randy Crawford, Rachelle Ferrell, Laura Fygi, Ursula Dudziak and Kate Davis. Particularly loves Latin Jazz and Swing, she also lists down Post Bop as her favourite music with the likes of Joe Lovano and Kenny Garret. Other influences including Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorious, Chick Corea, Fourplay, Tania Maria and Michael Jackson.

Based in Kuala Lumpur from 2003 to 2013, Joan has been performing, writing music and is considered part of the Jazz scene in Malaysia. She's performed at the Bandung World Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2010), World Youth Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2013), World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012), World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2013), KL International Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012), Borneo Jazz Festival Preview (Malaysia, 2012), Jazz Catz Music Rendezvous Festival (Malaysia, 2014), Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (Malaysia-Borneo, 2014). Proud of her ethnicity, Joan is the first ever 'Dusun' (a native from Sabah-East Malaysia) vocalist to be featured at the World Youth Jazz Festival in Indonesia back in 2013.

Joan was featured as a vocal instructor/back up vocals in the first Maldivian Contemporary Jazz Album – Feshun (2011). In 2012, Joan was selected by Disney Malaysia to dubbed the voice of Belle in the Malaysian dub of Disney's Beauty And The Beast, one of the Disney films to be dubbed in Bahasa Malaysia for TV release. She sang the songs 'Belle', 'Belle-Reprise' and 'Something There'. That same year, Joan dubbed the voice of Belle again for Disney's Beauty And The Beast 2: The Enchanted Christmas singing the song 'Stories'.

She has worked and performed with iconic Malaysian and Indonesian musicians such as Steve Thornton, Idang Rasjidi and Lewis Pragasam.

This humble skillful lady devoted herself into music at a very young age. Started out learning the guitar and sings at the tender age of 5, she never had a real formal lesson in music before entering college. Her influences came from her own family members, practically by both of her parents and older siblings, who play instruments like the guitar and drums for self entertainment. At 12, she started performing at a local church in her hometown of Tamparuli, Sabah, singing and playing the rhythm section instruments. There she learned to play the piano, bass and drums.

She graduated at the 'Akademi Seni Kebangsaan (National Arts Academy) in Malaysia, now known as ASWARA. She majored in Music Creative (Arranging and Composition) under the guides of among Malaysia’s treasured arrangers/composers Ruslan Imam, Datuk Johari Salleh and Prof.Ooi Eow Jin. She also took a private lesson in music writing with the late Salvador Guerzo, a respected Filipino/Malaysian saxophonist and music arranger. First-majored instrument in the Modern/Jazz guitar with gurus like Khair Latiff (Nik) and Isyam Swardy Daud, she uses guitar as the platform for her in music writing and singing. Before started singing particularly in Jazz style, Joan took a foundation study in Classical singing after the encouragement by another great music guru, Ramlan Imam.

Joan experienced lounge performances and gigs, coaching children’s musical theatre (Muzikal Kanak-Kanak Sinbad 2008, Istana Budaya KL), performed with the National Symphonic Orchestra Malaysia, writing Big Band songs, music teaching, doing backup vocals for Malaysian artists on TV and did live performances singing and playing the guitar on the radio.

Joan rearranges most of her performance songs herself for she adores the art of music writing dearly. Joan is not just a typical vocalist since she has lots to offer music wise.

Languages
English (High Proficieny), Malay (High Proficiency), Dusun (Intermediate Level)

Videos









Past Shows/Clients
- Christmas Special on RTM TV1 - 25 December 2014
- Petronas Gas Berhad Event @ Karambunai Nexus Resort, Sepanggar Bay - 29 November 2014
- An Evening of Latin Jazz @ Party Play Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu - 23 November 2014
- Auchentoshan Grand Launching @ Centre for Arts & Design, Kota Kinabalu - 25 September 2014
- My Story @ Hot Rod, Kota Kinabalu - 15 July 2014
- Shamrock (The Waterfront), Kota Kinabalu - 1 July 2014
- Kota Kinabalu Jazz Fest 2014 @ Sutera Harbour, Kota Kinabalu - 13 June 2014

- Jazz Catz Music Rendezvous Festival (Malaysia, 2014)
- World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2013)
- World Youth Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2013)
- World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012)
- KL International Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012)
- Borneo Jazz Festival Preview (Malaysia, 2012)
- Bandung World Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2010)

Fee Range
RM1,000 to RM5,000