Wan Andre
By V. Sivaji
Saxophonist extraordinaire Wan Andre aka Kenny G of Malaysia is a man on a musical mission.
He has seen the entertainment industry while being part of a big band, duo band and now on his solo journey.
His career in the music industry spans over 30 years performing in hotels, clubs, private dinners and weddings
He has found a niche market in the wedding industry as he is much sought after by all races in the country.
Be it a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Sikh or an European wedding, he performs for them all.
His secret ? Is simple – He tailor makes his musical performance to suit any nationality.
“Music is universal and one has to keep learning new numbers, be it oldies or a current hit.
“For the Malay community, I have a list of P. Ramlee hits, Siti Nurhaliza, Alley Cats, Flybaits, DJ Dave, Headwind, Carefree, Sheila Majid and many more newer numbers. I also have a long list of Chinese, Tamil, Hindi and Western numbers to complement my repertoire.
“Many times guests at Indian and Sikh weddings are taken aback when I perform a rendition of Hindi and Tamil numbers. I normally escort the bride and bridegroom to the main stage or altar with my performance.
“I am always learning new songs every day as my knowledge of reading musical notes is handy in the process. “Furthermore, nowadays we can also depend on technology like Youtube and other sources”, said Wan to Penang Hyperlocal.
Wan with Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak
For a smooth flow of the particular event or wedding, he normally does several rehearsals with the accompanying musicians or dancers to make sure all goes well.
He recently put out a stellar performance at the grand opening ceremo of the Cili Kampung outlet at the Light Hotel Penang which was graced by Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and other dignitaries.
Wan’s journey with saxophone has taken him to perform for Prime Ministers, corporate heads, politicians and other dignitaries all over the country.