Gamelan Shiok-maker

The suite chic was present on both nights of Gamelan Shokbreaker, reveling in the loungy sounds of the Sundanese ensemble mixed with electronica beats, western flute and the trumpet.

The highlight of both evenings were the virtuostic drumming displays, as well as the effortless vocals and dancing by Euris. And not forgetting, the refreshing gong solo on the second night of the performance. One feels however, that the electronica was overdoing it a bit...after a while, all those bass beats lull you to sleep. But no one's complaining...however, could someone tell the suite chic what the trumpet was doing?! There didn't seem like there was any clear melodic direction, almost as if he was wiffling his way through. Argh. Help.

Oh well, Gamelan Shokbreaker was still a shiok-maker for this suite chic. Just next time, do her a favour..no trumpets-that-don't-make-no-sound please.

What's Happening: The Suite Chic's Picks

Get your breaks on:

Come Nov 24 and 25, experience the great sounds of gamelan (by SambaSunda) and contemporary jazz and electronica from Norway (Patrick Shaw Iversen, Arve Henriksen, Peter Baden, and DJ Strangefruit) in Gamelan Shokbreaker.

The Suite Chic highly recommends you to attend this. Be prepared to be dazzled by the sounds produced and see for yourself firsthand how the traditional music of the gamelan fuses perfectly with the contemporary sounds of jazz!

Gamelan Shokbreaker is on at Esplanade's Recital Studio on the 24th and 25th November, 8pm. Tickets at $30 (concession: $25)

All That Jazz...and more

Yes, George Benson is coming! This is a one-night only concert so get your tix now! Guitar extraordinaire and the vocalist with the soul, immerse yourself in smooth jazz and RnB. Mmmm, the only other thing to complete the experience? Chocolate, loads of it. Oh yes.

George Benson plays 6th Dec at Esplanade's Concert Hall, 7.30pm.


In the mood for more jazz? You're in for another treat. Catch Hiromi, the celebrated Japanese pianist who caught the eye, or rather, the ears of the legendary Chick Corea. Whats more, budding pianists can attend her workshop on the 16th Dec at 8pm, held at Esplanade's Recital Studio. Tickets at $15 ($10 for ticket holders and concession holders)

Hiromi plays 17th Dec at Esplanade's Concert Hall, 7.30pm.


The Suite Chic is always in awe of good songwriters. A songwriter, a pianist and a vocalist?Excuse the Suite Chic while she goes green with envy. Singapore's very own singer-songwriter, Corrine May will be playing at a one-night only concert. It'll be easy listening and a guaranteed aural pleasure. What's more to ask for?

Catch Corrine May live on 16th Dec at Esplanade's Concert Hall, 7.30pm.


In the mood for some soap?

Cake Theatrical Productions in collaboration with Phillip Tan and Tiramisu, presents Divine Soap, an original play by Haresh Sharma. Expect loads of comedy and action. Oh, and elaborate costumes and 'special efx'. Just bubble-licious...

Get cleansed on 2nd & 3rd Dec, 3pm & 8.30pm, Gallery Theatre at the National Museum.
Tickets at $28 from the National Museum Box Office or online at www.nationalmuseum.sg


Jack and the Bean-sprout

Before you pooh-pooh the idea of watching a children's fairytale, think again. With Sebastian Tan and Ivan Heng helming the show? Uh-uh...catch this "ginormous" musical-pantomine-comedy which promises to keep you "laughing into the New Year".

Climb the Bean-Sprout from the 29th Nov-15 Dec at Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets available at Sistic.

Phew! That was a long list. The Suite Chic hopes you will be adequately amused this festive season. Keep supporting the arts, especially the local arts scene. Till then, she takes her leaf.

A Night Of Horrors

Yes it was, at Victoria Theatre, in the presence of the Little Shop of Horrors. The Suite Chic is a great fan of the Dim Sum Dollies, and was eagerly awaiting yet another ra-ra comedy. But no...wait a minute, she could have sworn she almost fell asleep. The Dim Sum Dollies were at their comedic and sultry best but the scenes in which they appeared in seemed almost like an afterthought. Hossan Leong was as always, good, but in the ensemble pieces, his character always seemed a tad faded-out, playing second fiddle to the rest of the cast. Ok, so he was playing the loser-ish Seymour, but surely that didn't mean his voice had to be loser-ish? Its still a musical after all yes?

The saving grace had to be the voice behind the carnivorous flower, leaving the audience in stitches, and Denise Tan's vocals, silencing the audience whenever she sang. Kudos too to the live band that was instrumental (pardon the pun) for the musical to proceed.

The Suite Chic hopes for the return of Dim Sum Dollies next year, but count her out if they're going to do another "off-broadway" production. Singapore wants THE Dim Sum Dollies and they sure haven't gotten enough of them.

Little Shop of Horrors runs till this Saturday, 18th November. Get your tickets at all Sistic outlets.

What's Happening: The Suite Chic's Picks

Nothing to do this weekend? The Suite Chic lets you in on the down-low:

Indulge in some retail therapy at The Fashion Attraction.

A beauty and fashion bazaar with loads of international brands. A one-day only event, doors open to the public from 11am. If you're lucky to have an invitation, join the Suite Chic as doors open at 10am for invitees and RSVP-ers.

Date: 4 Nov 2006, Saturday
Venue: Atrium Ballroom @ Raffles, The Plaza


Be an Arty Fart, watch a musical: Little Shop of Horrors

Catch the Dim Sum Dollies in their very first musical. Also starrs the hilarious Hossan Leong, Denise Tan, Lim Yu-Beng and Electrico's David Tan as the voice behind the evil orchid. Interesting? The Suite Chic thinks so - Dim Sum Dollies are rarely not.

Opens on the 2 Nov, through 18 Nov
more details at Sistic

The Dutchess Is In Town

Fergie's debut solo album is a treat. Incorporating some of the best 80s and 90s rap and still sounding contemporary, will.i.am and Fergie combine to produce an album worthy of The Dutchess' first effort.

"London Bridge" caught the Suite Chic's attention at first hearing. It reminds a listener of Gwen Stefani and her successful "Hollerback Girl". The Suite Chic hates to admit that she prefers Gwen's "Hollerback Girl" much better as the sexual innuendos in "London Bridge" cheapens the track. That said, this will be a hit in clubs.

"Fergalicious" samples sounds from "Give It All You Got" and rap material from JJ Fad's "Supersonic". will.i.am insists that Fergie is "d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s" and rightly so. A light, fluffy track, it is geared to be another hit for millions of club-goers.

Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" comes through in "Mary Jane Shoes", with great harmonization by Rita Marley and the I-threes.

Fergie's softer side can be heard in the ballad "Big Girls Don't Cry", trying out her chops on another genre and passing almost with flying colours. The track isn't a masterpiece though it showcases a vulnerability in her we never thought she had. Until now.

Fashion House

I was in Sydney when the twin telenovellas - Desire and Fashion House - debuted on Fox TV. The acting in both series were bad, Desire notably worse than the other because of its all too uninteresting plot of a woman torn in between two brothers.

Fashion House on the other hand relates the going-ons in a fashion house, namely the House of Gianni, with Bo Derek starring as the Maria Gianni, the CEO of the company. The other big name in the cast is Morgan Fairchild - Bo Derek's nemesis. Oh, its fun to see two mature (but beautiful) women going at each other with the energy and drama of the other sweet young pretty things in the series. Oh yes, alot of heavy hand action and bitching takes place.

Bo Derek tries her best to act as a villainess, out to make things difficult for the aspiring young designer Michelle Miller played by Natalie Martinez, who falls in love with Bo Derek's reel-son. However, Bo Derek comes across as stiff and vacant and has an irritating habit of pronouncing her words reel (pardon the pun) slow. One forgives her because, frankly, she's in great shape for her age.

My main grouse? The lengthy flashbacks. The faithful viewers following the series are treated to almost 15mins in total of flashbacks in one episode. Hello? Anybody there? Really, do they have to show them over and over again. I know the concept of telenovellas is somewhat new, but this is really ridiculous!

The upside? Look out for great outfits worn by the stars in the show. What else could one expect from a show about the fashion world chock full with models and designers and the who-who's in any deserving fashion industry.

Maneater?

Nelly Furtado has crossed over to the R&B section, entering the growing stable of R&B artistes with the release of her singles Maneater and Promiscuous. I like the melodies and the rhythms of the songs for which I’m in awe of the songwriter - Nelly herself. In fact, Maneater is so infectious that it has been playing in my head for days now.

So what is it I don’t like? Well, the fact that she doesn’t sound like she’s totally at home in R&B city, thats what. If anything, she lacks the power and the vocal runs that the queens of R&B are known for. Nearing the end of Maneater, she seems to have run out of ideas vocally, contenting herself to ad lib to the chorus.

The music videos for both singles sadly did not do her justice at all. Firstly, she can’t really dance and secondly, her sexiness did not come across. I don’t know, but she fades in comparison to her co-singer - Timbaland and the other cameos in her Promiscuous video.
Don’t get me wrong. She’s a great singer. I liked Turn Out the Lights and I’m Like A Bird more. This girl should just stick to pop. Or R&B infused pop.

No bite from this one, I’m afraid.