Every year since 2007, the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu and the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu Sabah jointly organise the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival.
2013 sees the 7th instalment of the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival set in the picturesque capital of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu.
The jazz festival was initiated to promote Kota Kinabalu’s to the international music scene.
Judging by how the jazz festival brings together a musical melting pot of talents from around the world, it’s safe to say they are reaching their goal.
From the smallish venue at the Jesselton Point pier in 2007 where the festival was a 1 night affair, the KK Jazz Festival quickly grew to a 2-night festival by it’s 3rd edition in 2009.
Last year over 4,000 people attended the jazz festival.
Aside from added exposure for Kota Kinabalu as an international tourism destination, the festival has been very successful in raising public awareness about jazz as a music genre.
A series of events on the festival fringes, including workshops, have made for a great platform for enthusiasts to learn more about and interactive with local and international artists.
The KK Jazz Festival is already a signature event in Sabah’s calendar of events and has been noted by Tourism Malaysia.
The festival is also a key component of the Kota Kinabalu Arts Festival.
In addition to just great music, money raised through the KK Jazz Festival are used to fund community projects of the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu.
It includes the Clean Water Project, Literacy Program and Eye Screening and Environment Protection programmes in rural communities.