It seems like ages since the first seed of an idea to record my own album first grew in my mind…

This was mostly triggered by years of listening to the beautiful inspiring music of Michael Manring, Pat Metheny, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Jamiroquai, Jan Garbarek, Dave Weckl, Mike Stern and many more. Not only did their music lift me up in my darkest moments, it also helped me celebrate my happiest times.

Finding an outlet for the musical ideas spinning in my head, I began writing new compositions on the bass, keyboards, iPhone and anything else that I could get my hands on to help me express what I heard in my mind. Some songs focused on the bass as the main instrument, whilst others focused on the song and relegated the bass to a support role. Coming from years of classical piano background, I was always hearing harmony and melody in songs, and this opened up my approach towards composition as well as playing techniques immeasurably.

My endeavors finally culminated in a solo EP which I recorded Between Here And Then (physical copies are sold out, but digital downloads are available at for purchase) back in 2008. Recorded, mixed and mastered completely in my home studio set-up, by yours truly, it was one of the most exciting  projects I have ever taken up. On hindsight today, the recording signals could have been cleaner, the sound module for my string arrangements could have been better, I could use a proper mastering studio, and the list continues.

The most important fact however was that I had put my original compositions to bed.

This was despite all odds of a zero budget, recording all parts from bass to keyboards on my own, and the biggest challenge of all, was for me to learn about setting up my own digital audio workstation (DAW) and using a music software/plugins I had no knowledge of, ON TOP of making sure I practise the bass enough to deliver on my recordings.

The time has come once again for me to throw down the gauntlet and record a full-length album. This project has been pending for a long time now due to a mind-boggling period I went through juggling heavy workload, studies and tight performance/rehearsal schedules. Many of you have inquired on it and I am sorry it has taken this long. However, I have reached a point in my life where it is possibly the best time for me start this anew.

As I embark on this exciting journey to record my album, this post will be my first in a series to come, detailing my recording processes, the good people involved in the production, and the ups & downs of my creative pursuits.

Most of all, I hope that the music which ends up on my album will be one that can inspire others to strive for something better within, just like how the albums I had listened to affected me profoundly and thought me about the lessons music offers in life.

3 members of progressive jazz band Tessera performs an intoxicating blend of jazz, funk, swing and originals by Sharon Nunis and Yamaha endorsee Wendy Phua at the Yamaha Combo Fair Gig today. See you there!

PERFORMERS: Wendy (bs), Sharon (pn) & Audrey (dm)
DATE: 1 Oct 2011
TIME: 5pm-5.45pm
VENUE: Yamaha, Plaza Singapura

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Tessera is managed by WA! Music Management
For bookings please email to wamusicmgt@gmail.com

Date: 17 Sep 2011
Time: 9pm-11pm
Venue: Old Brown Shoe
Add: 619F Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269726
Tel: +65 6468 4626

In a somewhat stripped down version of my 5-piece jazz band Tessera, Audrey Tang (drums) and I took to the stage at Esplanade Concourse on 30 July 2011 to perform my compositions and jazz standards. With primarily just Audrey and myself, we had to get REALLY creative about the way we performed the songs…

Audrey brought a full array of percussions and  I threw down the gauntlet with my 6-string Yamaha TRB and 5-string BBNE basses, plugged into a long chain of pedals: Boss GT6B > Soundblox Envelope Filter > Ashdown James LoMenzo Hyperdrive > Boss RC-50. Unfortunately there were no photos taken of this set-up, but I promise to do so in the next show

From chordal comping on the bass, to playing harmonics, percussive playing, tapping and soloing, I was also looping live on the RC-50 in order to layer up the music for a richer tone. Audrey backed me up playing grooves and ambient percussions, as well as singing to jazz standards where we were joined by Alvin Ang who proved to be an astute saxophonist with wonderful improvisations and solos.

I was glad to see the entire Concourse packed from end to end with a very appreciative audience, despite the fact that most of the show was just bass and drums! We were also fortunate to have a very patient and intuitive sound engineer who heeded our technical requirements (especially my set up which was quite massive for a bass player) and gave us a great mix both on our monitors (all 5 of em’) and FOH speakers.

Thank you to those who made it down to watch us and for those who missed the show, I will be putting up videos real soon! Watch out in this space. 

DATE: 26 AUG 2011, FRI
TIME: 9.30pm (1hr, no intermission)
VENUE: Esplanade Recital Studio
PRICE: $25
Tickets availible at www.sistic.com.sg
TICKETS SOLD OUT!! 

Barossa Late Nite specials*
Present your Late Nite ticket stubs to enjoy 1-for-1 for all bevarages and 10% off total bill at Barossa, #01-11 Esplanade Mall *Terms & conditions apply

NOTE

Tessera is Singapore’s newest and freshest all-female modern jazz ensemble. Comprising four unique and talented musicians, the band exhibits a sound that is a synergy of each band member’s musical and life journeys. The result is an approach to jazz that is refreshing and revitalising.

Brought together to perform as a band for the Singapore Wine & Jazz Festival 2010, the four experienced musicians discovered a mutual musical chemistry and spirit of adventure that energised their improvisational jams. Bolstered by a rousing reception and stamp of approval from jazz aficionados and veteran jazz musicians at the festival, the four musicians saw their success as a band as an affirmation of their shared musical destiny as Tessera.

Since then, Sharon Nunis (piano), Wendy Phua (bass), Yap Shu Mei (violin), and Audrey Tang (drums) have jammed with jazz greats such as Makoto Ozone and Christian McBride, as well as reggae rap superstar Shaggy, and Riki Hendrix, the cousin of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix.

Now, Tessera forges ahead in their progressive jazz journey with their first ever performance at Late Nite, showcasing an eclectic collaboration of their musical minds and artistic visions.

Tessera is managed by WA! Music Management
For bookings, email wamusicmgt@gmail.com

I’ll be sessioning for jazz pianist Rachma Lim at Esplanade Concourse 21 June and 22 June (7pm and 8pm), debuting on the double bass. Hope to see you there!

Venue: Old Brown Shoe
619F Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269726
Tel: +65 6468 4626

Time: 9pm-11pm

Featuring Michelle Chua on vocals, Sharon Nunis on piano, and Boey Yinghao on drums.

2ND ENDORSEMENT DEAL WITH YAMAHA!

I am very privileged  and truly honoured to announce that I have signed a new endorsement deal with Yamaha for the second time running, since my previous endorsement of the Yamaha BBNE-II two years back.
I am now endorsing Yamaha’s top-of-the line bass, the phenomenal Yamaha TRB JP2 John Patitucci Signature 6-string bass.
Built with multiple layers of alder, ash and figured maple,  the TRB JP2 delivers a sonic combination perfectly suited for solid, low-end comping and clear, concise solos. The body’s sculpted cutaways hug the 26-fret neck and allow easy access to its upper reaches. Mother-of-pearl and abalone inlays adorn the ebony fingerboard, and the custom designed pearl and gold tuners offer precise tuning and visual elegance. Electronics include a pair of Alnico V humbuckers and an active 3-band EQ.

To demonstrate the beauty and flexibility of the TRB JP2 bass, I have released a video talking about this bass.

Montage video of The Fusion Project playing the Singapore leg of their The Undercover Tour 2010 at Tab, with Wendy Phua sessioning on bass.

Drums: Mel Gaynor “Simple Minds”
Keyboards: Stephane Deriau-Reine
Session Bass: Wendy Phua

Click on photo to view more pics

Tessera is

Drums: Audrey Tang
Keyboards: Sharon Nunis
Violin: Shumei Yap
Bass: Wendy Phua

For booking inquiries, email wamusicmgt[at]gmail.com

© WA! Music Management. 2010