The Most Beautiful Sound I Ever Heard...

Do you remember that song from West Side Story? Oh how I loved that song. More so because I, along with about 20 million [give or take] Filipino girls happen to have Maria precede the other fifteen names our parents bestowed upon us at birth. Ok. So I exaggerate. However, I would've been very satisfied with just Maria for a name! Alas, it was not to be. My parents decided that I would bear my mom's name so that I could then, technically, be her junior which would in turn give my dad the liberty to give me the nickname Junji. By the way, Junji is a Japanese name usually given to male offspring. Hence, when Japanese folks meet me for the first time, they usually have trouble downplaying their reactions. But somehow I manage to appease them once I explain that I had a sex change operation.

Now what has all this got to do with my post, you say? Absolutely zip. But Maria has.

Enter Maria Gomez. The diminutive lass with the big voice. Maria is back at The Top Room this weekend together with the Eye2Eye Jazz Mix.

Maria's foray into the international music scene began with the show band Stardust, with whom she performed all over the South West in the UK. They are still remembered and lauded as one of the most notable acts of the time.

She was also involved in local theatre productions like 'The Fantasticks', Natra' and Berjaya Times Square's New Year Opening ceremony production 'Naughty Naughty', as well as a few Instant Café Theatre productions.

Her portfolio includes a range of jazz standards by the likes of Billie Holiday, Diane Schuur, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald and Eva Cassidy and is influenced mainly by genres such as Blues, Latin and Jazz.

Eye2Eye Jazz Mix has evolved over the last year into a tight band of four made up of bandleader, Albert Yap on bass, Cher Siang Tay on piano, Martin Ngim on drums and Eddie Kismilardy on sax. Pretty much Top Room mainstays, this quartet never fails to bring it on whenever they park their gear onstage.

Catch them this weekend from 10:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Cover charge RM 20nett. For bookings, ring 03 21428611 or email info@top-hat-restaurants.com.

See you at The Top!