SANDAKAN: Prominent Malaysian stage performer and jazz vocalist Janet Lee is bringing her multilingual take on Shanghai jazz to Sepilok Jazz 2026, with a set that will also feature songs from two of her solo albums and a surprise for festival-goers.
Lee, who will perform with the WVC Quartet led by Tay Cher Siang, said she is looking forward to returning to Sandakan and reconnecting with a part of Borneo she visited years ago.
“Although I will still be performing on an indoor stage at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), I am excited to be travelling to Sandakan for Sepilok Jazz and reconnecting with this part of Borneo,” she said.
Lee previously visited the Kinabatangan River, Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and Danum Valley Research Centre, and said she is pleased to add the RDC to that list.
Her Sepilok Jazz set will feature some of her favourite Shanghai jazz repertoire while retaining the multilingual approach that has become a hallmark of her live performances.
“We have something for everyone there, hopefully sounds for every species under the rainforest,” she said in jest.
Lee said her performances with Tay and the WVC Quartet are built around enjoying the music, engaging with audiences and allowing each live show to develop its own character.
“The element of surprise for this festival will reveal itself when we meet and interact with the folks in Sandakan,” she said.
She is also looking forward to arriving early enough to attend the first day of the festival as a member of the audience, particularly to catch jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and his ensemble.
“I have not seen maestro Jeremy Monteiro for years and I am looking forward to the performance by him and his ensemble,” she said.
Lee said taking part in a project connected to environmental advocacy also carries personal significance, as she has long sought ways to contribute through her work as a performer.
She said artists can help draw public attention to issues such as conservation, wildlife welfare and biodiversity, adding: “I hope to be a voice too on topics such as conservation, wildlife welfare and biodiversity advocacy.”Her Sepilok Jazz performance will include songs from her second solo album, “Cinnabar Rouge” (2017), as well as several selections from “Tea for Two” (2023), alongside a surprise she is saving for her festival set.
Outside the performance, Lee said she hopes to explore the surroundings near the festival grounds and her hotel, while spending time with Sabahan friends whom she expects will take her on a memorable food trail.
Sepilok Jazz 2026 will be staged at the RDC in Sepilok, here, on Friday and Saturday (Sept 4 and 5), with performances starting at 6pm, and Lee urged music lovers to “bring your fun-loving selves” to discover new music, new artists and new friends.
