The popular Ghibli Jazz series by Japanese group All That Jazz, known for its swing-inflected interpretations of Studio Ghibli classics, will see a new round of vinyl releases this year. A global success, the project has cultivated a loyal Malaysian following, now poised to welcome its first live performance in the country.
Led by vocalist Yuriko Kuwahara, the group will bring its easy-listening sounds to Zepp Kuala Lumpur at Bukit Bintang City Centre on Oct 24. The Ghibli Jazz Night concert promises to capture the charm that define of the group's cafe-friendly music, translating its refined studio sound into an intimate stage setting.
In Malaysia, the Studio Ghibli films of Hayao Miyazaki continue to resonate across generations. Central to this legacy is the music of Joe Hisaishi, whose richly expressive scores have become inseparable from the studio’s cinematic identity.
While audiences remain drawn to Hisaishi’s works in full orchestral form, Ghibli Jazz offers an alternative perspective – one that replaces symphonic scale with the intimacy and spontaneity of a jazz ensemble.
Presented by Ichigo Live and Cos-Mic in Kuala Lumpur, Ghibli Jazz Night positions All That Jazz not as a tribute act, but as an officially endorsed project, commissioned by Studio Ghibli to reinterpret these celebrated compositions through a jazz lens.
The group’s two albums, Ghibli Jazz (2009) and its 2010 sequel, sold out on release and have since reached an international audience, evolving from a studio project into a fully realised touring outfit.
Led by Yuriko, with Tomoo Nagami (piano, arranger), Sosuke Kawamoto (bass), Shintaro Kurihara (saxophone) and Kenji Suefuji (drums), the five-piece reimagines themes from Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and My Neighbor Totoro as pure acoustic jazz - stripped-down yet richly textured.
As with most Studio Ghibli-related events, early ticket purchase is advisable. Local demand for these beloved soundtracks is unmistakable: the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra has already sold out all eight performances of Symphonic Ghibli II this July, prompting the addition of an extra date that is expected to sell out just as swiftly.
Tickets for Ghibli Jazz Night featuring All That Jazz go on sale on April 13. More details here.
