Corporate Bits | Count Basie Orchestra to perform at the Venetian Macao

The legendary Grammy award-winning Count Basie Orchestra will bring its unique style of jazz and swing to The Venetian Theatre on Sunday, Dec 7. The intimate venue will see the 19-piece orchestra, made up of 17 sidemen and vocalists Alexander Stewart and Carmen Bradford, led through a catalogue of hits by two-time Grammy Award winner Scotty Barnhart, who was announced as the new director in September 2013.  Barnhart is committed to continuing the excellent history started by Basie of stomping and shouting the blues, as well as refining those musical particulars that allow for the deepest and most moving of swing. Tickets for the concert go on sale today.
Founded by jazz icon William James “Count” Basie in 1935, the “The Swingingest Band in All the Land” has continued to tour and release albums since the death of Basie in 1984 and has won a total of 18 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls.

4th MGM Macau International lion dance championship concludes

The 4th MGM MACAU International Lion Dance Championship came to a conclusion after two days of competition. Kuong Ngai Dragon & Lion Dance Association from Malaysia took home the title of the 4th MGM MACAU International Lion Dance Champion, while the troupes from Hong Kong, the Philippines and Macau were awarded with the Gold Trophy in the Female Lion Dance Performance Competition.

The final round of the “Male Lion Dance Competition” was held yesterday, and the troupes wowed the crowd with gravity-defying moves while performing acrobatic pole-jumping routines. The “Female Lion Dance Performance Competition” was presented by eight lion dance troupes from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. The troupe from Italy forfeited the tournament due to injuries.

Starworld hotel opens new Sichuan restaurant “Feng Wei Ju”

As StarWorld celebrates its eighth anniversary, the five-star hotel announced the official opening of its new Sichuan and Hunan restaurant, Feng Wei Ju, offering diners authentic Sichuan and Hunan flavors.
Feng Wei Ju is headed by Chef Chan Chak Keong, StarWorld Hotel’s Executive Chinese Chef and a widely acclaimed figure in the culinary industry. Chef Keong has devoted himself to the study of local specialties across China’s many provinces and, for over a year, he has searched the country for chefs who share his passion and exceptionally high standards to join the restaurant’s kitchen team. Now, under the efforts of these elite chefs, Feng Wei Ju is recreating the essence of Hunan and Sichuan using fresh local ingredients. From the refreshing hot and sour of Hunan to the spiciness of Sichuan dishes, as well as the delicate hand-made ‘al dente’ noodles and dim sum, diners can look forward to a new dining experience.