Joan Jim is a Malaysian, Sabah Borneo-born singer, arranger, composer and guitarist. She is best known for her Latin Jazz singing style including Bossa Nova, Samba, Afro Cuban and Salsa.

 

Joan picks up singing inspirations from Ella Fitzgerald, Astrud Gilberto and Flora Purim. Some of her favorite Jazz artists includes Stacey Kent, Esperanza Splading, Eliane Elise, Gretchen Parlato, Sade, Roberta Flack, Randy Crawford, Rachelle Ferrell, Laura Fygi, Ursula Dudziak and Kate Davis. Latin Jazz and Swing are on top of her love list but she is also deep into Post Bop, listing Joe Lovano and Kenny Garret as few of the artists she listens to. Her influences also includes Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorious, Chick Corea, Fourplay, Tania Maria and Michael Jackson.

 

Joan was based in Kuala Lumpur from 2003 to 2013, performing around the circuit. She has performed at the Bandung World Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2010), World Youth Jazz Festival (Indonesia, 2013), World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012), World Youth Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2013), KL International Jazz Festival (Malaysia, 2012), Borneo Jazz Festival Preview (Malaysia, 2012), Jazz Catz Music Rendezvous Festival (Malaysia, 2014), Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (Malaysia-Sabah,Borneo, 2014 and 2017), Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (Malaysia-Sarawak,Borneo, 2017), Sabah Jazz (Malaysia-Sabah,Borneo, 2019). Proud of her ethnicity, Joan is the first ever 'Dusun' (a native from Sabah-East Malaysia) vocalist to be featured at the World Youth Jazz Festival in Indonesia back in 2013.

 

An ASWARA (National Arts Academy Malaysia) alumni, Joan has established quite a portfolio. One of which was being featured as a vocal instructor/back up vocals in the first Maldivian Contemporary Jazz Album – Feshun (2011). In 2012, Joan was selected by Disney Malaysia to dubbed the voice of Belle in the Malaysian dub of Disney's Beauty And The Beast, one of the Disney films to be dubbed in Bahasa Malaysia for TV release. She sang the songs 'Belle', 'Belle-Reprise' and 'Something There'. That same year, Joan dubbed the voice of Belle again for Disney's Beauty And The Beast 2: The Enchanted Christmas singing the song 'Stories'. Joan has also featured in numerous RTM Malaysia TV shows and Radio interviews. Joan has worked and performed with iconic Malaysian and Indonesian musicians such as Steve Thornton, Idang Rasjidi and Lewis Pragasam.

When Joan is not performing or writing music, she runs music classes at Joan's Music Centre. She teaches private vocals, guitar and piano lessons to adults and children. Occasionally, she's invited to various music workshops around the region and has also been invited to guest judge numerous music competition in Malaysia.

Joan Jim is the founder of the Borneo Big Band (a twelve piece big band based in Kota Kinabalu City), Grupo Da Bossa (a Latin jazz ensemble) and Blue Note Band (a standard jazz specific band).