KK Jazz Festival is an annual jazz event jointly organized by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) together with the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu (SPaRKS) with the aims and objectives of bringing popular international and local jazz artistes to perform in the city and enhance its musical environment, provide a platform for budding local artistes and raise funds for the many social projects of RCKK.
Every year a dedicated band of Rotarians and Sparks members led by long serving Chairman and Past President of RCKK Jack Ong, Co Chairman and local musician Roger Wang and Adviser and Past President Frankie Fu work hard to go through all the organizational steps to bring this festival to the music lovers of Kota Kinabalu.
First started in 2007, the Festival held its 11th edition on 21-22 July this year at the Covered Tennis Court, Sutera Harbour. Main sponsors of KK Jazz this year were Yayasan Sime Darby, State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, PacifiCity, Carlsberg and Sabah Tourism Board.
This year too featured a number of popular international and local bands – ORIGEN, the first ever authentic Spanish Flamenco ensemble to perform in Sabah, Rainbow Children a local Prince-influenced tribute band, Borneo Big Band led by Joan Jim, Sada Borneo, a popular fusion band, Gordon Chin the finger guitarist, Shun Ng and the Shunnettes, Dasha Logan, daughter of the popular Malaysian singer late Loganathan and a new local Sabah group Kangkung Belacan led by award winning pianist Alton Wong and featuring upcoming artistes – double bass player Tan Jen Wei, drummer Adriel Wong and violinist Joanna Ho.
Popular TV personality and entertainer Sabahan Daphne Iking was the emcee once agin this year for the two day event. This year KKJF also had some of the best restaurants in Kota Kinabalu serving food and beverages such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Party Play, Adelphi & Co, Alexys, Borenos, Fruto, Wine Shop, Carlsberg, and many more.
