The seed of an idea of a jazz festival on an island was planted and conceptualized in 1996 and 8 years later was realized with the birth of the 1st Penang Island Jazz Festival in 2004.

An independent festival fully owned and organized by The Capricorn Connection, the festival began as a 2 day / 1 stage event with a number of workshops and a mini Jazz Gallery. With the intention of creating a festival experience, many other supporting activities such as Fringe Stages, “Jazz With A Heart” Charity, Island Jazz Forum, Community Drum Circle, After Hours Jazz Jam and others have been added on in subsequent years.

Held annually on the beautiful island of Penang every first weekend of December, the festival (which has been built on a “foundation of friendship” through the support of family and friends of the festival), has through the years seen many local and foreign acts from USA, UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Brazil, Hungary, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc. performing on its “Jazz By The Beach Stage”.

The Penang Island Jazz festival has grown through the years and established itself to be one of the more highly anticipated and important music festivals within the region.

1st Edition (2004)

Vital facts:

• Two (2) Day Event – 4th & 5th December 2004
• Two (2) nights of Main Stage Performances
• Six (6) Workshops in Four (4) Venues
• Two (2) Preview Performances
• Mini Poster & Photo Exhibition

Performers:
Aseana Percussion Unit, Asian Spirits, Double Take, The Idea of North, Juwita Suwito, Jazzo-Crats, Jeep Jazz Trio, Tonal Alchemy, Steve Thornton LPJ Group, YAA Quartet Featruing Atsuko Kawahara, Shelley Leong

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2nd Edition (2005)

Vital facts:

• Three (3) Day Event from 2nd to 4th December 2005
• Two (2) nights of Main Stage Performances (3rd & 4th December 2005)
• Poster, Photo & Print Art Exhibition
• Seven (7) Workshops and Two Discussion Forums in Four (4) Venues
• Jazz Study Tour
• After Hours Jazz Jam Session

Performers:
Penang Areca Jazz Ensemble Featuring Colleen Read, Ruby Rozells and Kathleen Rodrigues, Saharadja, Mr. Gambus Band Featuring Chie Hanawa, Shanon Shah, Sufiah Noor, Lazy Monday, Jaja, David Gomes Jazz Trio Featuring Junjie Delfino, Greg Lyons Nonet, Zailan Razak Project, Steve White, Randy Bernsen Group

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3rd Edition (2006)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 30th November to 3rd December 2006
• Two (2) night Main Stage Performances (2nd & 3rd December)
• Jazz Study Tour
• Nine (9) Workshops in Three (3) Venues
• Musical Instrument Display / Demonstration Booth
• Jazz Spinners’ Series
• Experimental Fringe Corner (7 Groups)
• Poster, Photo and Painting Exhibition
• Jazz Charity Dinner
• The Jimmy Boyle Young Talent Jazz Competition

Performers:
Java 5, Seo Young Do Trio, Denise Mininfield, John Kaizan Neptune, Koh & Mr. Saxman Band, Fredrik Noren Band, Idang Rasjidi Quartet Featuring Tompi, Joames Boyle & The Ragged Tigers, Roger Wang & Farid Ali, Fairuz Hussein, Jeep Latino Jazz Band, J-Sun, Bernie, Groove Doctor, Rhapsody, No Age Limit, Albert & Badar, Members from the Areca Center of Performing Arts

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4th Edition (2007)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 29th November to 2nd December 2007
• Two (2) night Main Stage Performances (1^st & 2^nd December)
• Seven (7) Workshops in Three (3) Venues
• Musical Instrument Display / Demonstration Booth
• Experimental Fringe Stage (6 Groups)
• Poster, Photo, Painting & Percussion Exhibition
• Instrument Demo / Maintenance Talks
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• The Jimmy Boyle Young Talent Jazz Competition
• Community Drum Circle

Performers:
John Goldie, Louis Soliano Quartet, Nah Youn Son, Possicobilities, Bangkok Connection, Bob Aves Jazz Group Featuring Grace Nono, Anke Helfrich Trio, Paul Ponnudorai, The Idea of North, Jose Thomas & Groove Unction, Cheong & Friends, Evening Breeze, Elvira & Friends, James Boyle & The Ragged Tigers, Areca Jazz Quartet & Quintet.

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5th Edition (2008)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 4th to 7th December 2008
• Two (2) night Main Stage Performances (6^th & 7^th December)
• Eight (8) Workshops in Three (3) Venues
• Two (2) Fringe Stages (G Stage @ G Hotel and Fringe Corner @ Bayview Beach Resort)
• Ten (10) Fringe Performing Groups
• Poster, Photo, Painting & Percussion Exhibition
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• The Jimmy Boyle Young Talent Jazz Competition
• Community Drum Circle
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers:
Pascoal Meirelles Trio, Ray Harris & The Fusion Experience, Jeon Youngse Trio, Friend ‘N Fellow, Tran Manh Tuan Band, Andy Peterson Inc., The Island Jazz Connection, Adibah Noor, Djabe Featuring Steve Hackett, Aseana Percussion Unit, Jaume Vilaseca Trio Featuring Violetta Curry, Xiong & Badar, Evening Breeze, Albert Sirimal & Russell Curtis, Dasha Logan, Areca Centre Quintet, Prema Yin, Q Jazz Collective, G Spot Band, Tonal Alchemy, Cobots

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6th Edition (2009)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 3^rd to 6th December 2009
• Two (2) night “Jazz By The Beach” Stage Performances (5^th & 6^th December)
• “An Evening with Michelle Nicolle Quartet” Performance
• Five (5) Workshops in Two (2) Venues
• One (1) Island Jazz Forum
• Three (3) Fringe Stages (G Stage @ G Hotel, Fringe Corner @ Bayview Beach Resort and Rock Stage at Hard Rock Hotel)
• Twelve (12) Fringe Performing Groups
• German Jazz Exhibition
• Jazz Photography Exhibition By William Ellis
• Festival’s Collection of Posters, Photographs, Paintings & Percussion Exhibition
• Interpretation of Music Through Art Competition
• Jazz With A Heart : Charity Gala Dinner
• The Penang Island Jazz Festival Young Talent Competition
• Community Drum Circle
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers:
Janek Gwizdala Project, In The Country, Studnitzky Trio, Sizhukong, Charlie Jung Band, Buzz Bros Band, Dainius Pulauskas Group, Paulo Bellinati & Cristina Azuma, Michelle Nicolle Quartet, Island Palm Beach Boys, Organamix, Band of Brothers, High Society, SquareCircles, Rhapsody, Ray Cheong Trio, G Spot Band, Tokyo Blue, De Leon Jazz Experience, Ocean of Fire, UNIT, WGF & Ray,  Mellowtones, Winners of the Jazz Festival Young Talent Competition

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7th Edition (2010)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 2nd to 5th December 2010
  Two (2) night “Jazz By The Beach” Stage Performances (4th & 5th December)
• “An Evening with Stouxingers” Performance
• “An Evening with Carefree” Performance
• Five (5) Workshops in Two (2) Venues
• Four (4) Fringe Stages (G Stage @ G Hotel, ORIS Stage @ Bayview Beach Resort, Rock Stage @
  Hard Rock Hotel and Javana Stage @ ParkRoyal Hotel Resort)
  Fifteen
• (15) Fringe Performing Groups
• Past Editions of The Montreux Jazz Festival Poster Exhibition
• ORIS Jazz Legends Poster Exhibition
• Jazz Photography Exhibition By William Ellis
• Festival’s Collection of Posters, Photographs, Paintings & Percussion Exhibition
• Four Big Bands performing in The “Big Band Programme”
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• Community Drum Circle
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers:
Tommy Emmanuel, Penang Philharmonic featuring Ray Rozells and James Boyle, Celso Machado), SC Yun Trio, Electric Barbarian, Stouxingers, Carefree, Roger Wang Trio, Boi Akih, Rain Sultanov Quartet, PELbO, ZHAN, Andy Peterson Independent, Rozz & Frequency, Raggy Project, Sound of Light, Florence Koh Quartet, PRIORity, Sax Organ Project, Ocean of Fire & Dasha, JazzHats, Aseana Percussion Unit, sTrAiT sAx aHeAd featuring Russell Curtis, Reza Salleh, Clair V Rozells & Allan G. Murrilon, Jonathan Tse Trio and Winner of “Get Inspired” Competition, PFS Jazz Jam Crew, Northern Jazz Ensemble, Jeep Jazz Band and UPSI Big Band from Sultan Idris University of Education Malaysia.

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8th edition (2011)

Vital facts:

• Four (4) Day Event from 1st to 4th December 2011
• Two (2) night “Jazz By The Beach” Stage Performances (3rd & 4th December)
• “An Evening with Nina Van Horn” Performance
• “An Evening with Rio Sidik Quartet” Performance
• Five (5) Workshops in Two (2) Venues
• The Island Jazz Forum
• Five (5) Fringe Stages (G Stage @ G Hotel, Bayview Corner @ Bayview Beach Resort, Rock Stage @
• Hard Rock Hotel, Javana Stage @ ParkRoyal Hotel Resort and Batu Stage @ Lone Pine Hotel)
• Fourteen (14) Fringe Performing Groups
• Jazz Poetry
• The 10 Minute Stage
• Jazz Spinners Night
• The Photography of Ziga Koritnik Exhibition
• Penang’s Popular Music of The 1940s & 1950s Exhibition
• Festival’s Collection of Posters, Photographs, Paintings & Percussion Exhibition
• Six (6) Selected Malaysian Acts Performing in The Creative Malaysia Programme
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• Community Drum Circle
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers:
Shakatak, Ulf & Eric Wakenius – Father and Son, Fred Cheah and The JazzHats, Espen Eriksen Trio, Michaela Rabitsch & Robert Pawlik Trio, Jiyoung Li Quartet, Yuri Honing Wired Paradise, Amir Yussof Acoustic Project, Eve Bjerga Haugen with EET, Rusconi, Rio Sidik Quartet, Nina Van Horn, Amelia Featuring Fiona Ong, Amirah Ali, Andy Siti Quartet, Az Samad Duo, Azmyl Yunor, Cats In Love, Jonathan Yee, Primitive Leap, Liyana Fizi, De Leon Jazz Experience, Damien Chew, Aqasha, Elixir, Bihzhu, Band On The Move, Ksatriya, Lucille Das, James Lochhead, Zoey Jones & Zephyr Blues, DJ G, DJ Ribut TAG

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9^th Edition (2012)

Vital Facts

• Four (4) Day Event from 29^th November to 2^nd December 2012
• Two (2) night “Jazz By The Beach” Stage Performances (1^st & 2^nd December)
• Seven (7) Workshops in Two (2) Venues
• The Island Jazz Forum
• Three (3) Creative Malaysia Fringe Stages (Bayview Corner @ Bayview Beach Resort, Rock Stage @ Hard Rock Hotel and Javana Stage @ ParkRoyal Hotel Resort)
• Sundown@TSG
• Twelve (12) Fringe Performing Groups
• Penang’s Popular Music of The 1940s & 1950s Exhibition
• Posters and Photographs of the Festival’s past Eight (8) Years Exhibition
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• Community Drum Circle
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers :

Martin Taylor, Madeline Bell & Hans Vroomans Trio, Butterscotch, Bittersweet, Albatrosh, Mezzotono, The Deans, TheArtOfFusion, Elvira Arul & Acoustic Souls, Francesca Han Trio, Kekko Fornarelli Trio Featuring Ruso Sala, Estudiantina Ensemble, Zalila Lee, Froya, Rafique Rashid, Caipifruta, Faridian Jazz Trio, Darrin Rozells, DUST, Funkyard, Volatile, Kien Lim, Black Lightbulb, Terms Crisis.

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10th edition (2013)

Vital Facts

• Four (4) Day Event from 5^th to 8^th December 2013
• Two (2) night “Jazz By The Beach” Stage Performances (7^th & 8^th December)
• Festival Opening Concert – “An Evening With Casey Abrams”
• Eight (8) Workshops in Two (2) Venues
• The Island Music Forums – Four Sessions (Going Beyond)
• Three (3) Creative Malaysia Fringe Stages (Bayview Corner @ Bayview Beach Resort, Rock Stage @ Hard Rock Hotel and Javana Stage @ ParkRoyal Hotel Resort)
• Sunrise@TSG
• Fifteen (15) Fringe Performing Groups
• The Photography of Ziga Koritnik Exhibition
• The Photography of William Ellis Exhibition
• Penang’s Popular Music of The 1940s to 1960s Exhibition
• Posters and Photographs of the Festival’s past Nine (9) Years Exhibition
• “Jazz With A Heart” Charity Gala Dinner
• After Hours Jam Session

Performers :

Freddy Cole Quartet, Casey Abrams, Black String, BIHZHU, Michael Schiefel & Carsten Daerr, Okan Ersan Quartet, Jazz Connection, Alison Burns & Martin Taylor, Vinalog, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, ESKA, JazzKamikaze, Liyana Fizi, Amrita Soon, Ray Rozells & Frankie Chai, The Rubberbands, Kelvyn & The Blues, FunkCoustics, FAZZ, Momain Blues, Chan Mei Xuan (Maxy), Hameer Zawawi, Viv Adram & Northern Jazz Unit, Paladin, Sixth Sense, JUNK, Faridian Jazz Trio 02