Bataan was born and raised in Spanish Harlem, NYC in 1942 to an African-American mother and Filipino father. By merging Latin music with R&B tunes in the late 60’s, Joe Bataan became known as the first recording artist to create authentic Latin Soul music. He was signed to legendary NYC label Fania records, together with Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentino, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe and many others. Joe Bataan co-founded Salsoul Records, one of the biggest and most influential disco record labels of all time. The label’s name was conceived by Joe Bataan, who recorded some of the earliest sessions for the label (predating the label’s formation). Bataan’s big hit in 1979 « Rap-O Clap-O», was the first Rap Disco hit, accredited as the first Rap song in Europe. In 2005, Bataan broke his long hiatus with the release of « Call My Name”. No recording artist has more impeccable street credentials than Joe Bataan - King of Latin Soul.

For this special performance at Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival, Joe will be joined by "The Malasimbo Orchestra".

Kentaro is a hip hop DJ from Japan. He came in third place at the Technics DMC World DJ Final in 2001 and won it in 2002 at the age of 20. In doing so, he became one of the first ever Asians to win the DMC World DJ Final, receiving the highest score in DMC history in the process. He is currently signed to Ninja Tune independent record label.  Kentaro is renowned worldwide for his unique blend of world class technical skills & ability to rock the party - this will be a set not to be missed!

Since brothers Shuya and Yoshi Okino formed KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE (named by DJ Giles Peterson) as a DJ unit in the beginning of the 90's, they have pioneered the way for Japanese Club Jazz/Crossover music at home and abroad. Shuya Okino is also the owner of The Room club, Shibuya, one of the most vital venues worldwide in supporting Club Jazz/Crossover music, while Yoshi Okino runs the influential shop and record label Especial Records.

In 1994 their first production was released, a compilation CD entitled "KYOTO JAZZ MASSIVE V.A.".
Their first single "ECLIPSE" was released in 2000 after signing to the record label 'COMPOST' (Germany).
In 2002 KJM released their first album "SPIRIT OF THE SUN" which received global acclaim.
The 'BY KJM/FOR KJM/RE KJM' series was released as a Kyoto Jazz Massive Tenth Anniversary project in 2004.

'Kyoto Jazz Massive Live Set' featuring Vanessa Freeman and Tasita D'Mour was also formed in 2004 and have gone on to perform all over Europe and Asia. Some of the events 'Kyoto Jazz Massive Live Set' have played include Tokyo Crossover Jazz Festival (Japan), Rising Sun Rock Festival (Japan), North Sea Jazz Festival (The Netherlands), Balton Sound Festival (Hungary).

As well as their own work and compositions KJM have released a steady flow of remixes, which has gained them their reputation as highly sought after producers.
As DJ's they play regularly not only in Japan but all over the world including the U.K, Germany, Italy, France and the U.S.A.
Shuya Okino has also established his name as a writer, authoring three successful books 'What makes a good DJ', 'The First Book of Club Jazz.' and the business book 'Filter Your Thinking for Success'.

During Shuya Okino's career he has produced a number of successful artists including Mondo Grosso, Sleep Walker, Cosmic Village, Hajime Yoshizawa, ROOT SOUL and DJ KAWASAKI.
He has also released his debut solo album 'United Legends' in 2006, featuring 'Thank You' which was nominated for Best Song in Giles Peterson's 'Worldwide Awards'.
Currently Shuya Okino is preparing for his latest solo album's release, 'Destiny.

'Destiny' features Navasha Daya, N'Dea Davenport, Clara Hill, Divinity and Pete Simpson providing vocals for one cover and one original song. The first single 'Still In Love' featuring Navasha Daya has already been picked up by numerous DJs around the world, Giles Peterson for BBC Radio One, Kevin Beadle, Patrick Forge amongst many others. 'Still In Love' is also scheduled for release in the UK from the record label 'Defected'.

Another side of Shuya Okino’s career is as a music writer. He has written a book and is currently working on another on the subject of DJing in the Club Jazz scene. His first book was published in 2005 and is in it’s fourth published edition.

Shuya Okino appeared on iTunes CELEBRITY PLAYLIST and was the first Japanese artist ever to achieve this. He has also selected music for NIKE+iPod and recently produced music for RISONA BANK in TOKYO MID TOWN, Tokyo.

As a DJ, Shuya Okino regularly tours Japan and worldwide. He has played a number of times throughout Europe and America. DJing at THE JAZZ CAFE and NOTTINGHILL ART’S CLUB, London, A.P.T, New York, SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER JAZZ FESTIVAL, FUTURE JAZZ FESTIVAL, Croatia to name a few.

Shuya Okino continues to be an important figure in the Crossover/Jazz scene worldwide and his work is influential and inspirational to many members of the club music world.

Kyoto Jazz Massive's at Malasimbo promises to be one to remember!

Up Dharma Down is an award-winning Filipino rock band. Mark Cole's BBC show tagged them as the Asian band to most likely cross over to North American shores, and they’ve been featured in regional shows together with bands such as Arcade Fire (Canada) and Bloc Party (UK). The band was featured in the July 2007 issue of Time Magazine. In 2008, they received the Favorite Indie Artist award at the MYX Music  Awards.

Junior Kilat is a Filipino reggae, ska and dub band based in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. The name is taken from the 70's Cebu band Leon Kilat, which the latter group claims, was first to sing about "Agta". They are a popular reggae band in Manila, winning a "Song Of The Year Award" in NU-107's Rock Awards for Ako Si M16, their first single from the album party pipol ur on dub tv.
The band is composed of Errol "Budoy" Marabiles on vocals, Tiano Evangelista on bass, Archie Ybañez on guitar, Bangin Atienza on turntable, Gina Pestaño on keyboards, Cleofas Quijano on trombone and Diana Freese on drums.

Junior Kilat currently features in a Cebu-based channel RCTV show, Ismol Tym, in which Diana Freese, Tiano Evangelista and Gina Pestaño are staff members. Errol "Budoy" Marabiles also joined Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition, an ABS-CBN production. He has written two songs for the show, Maligo Na Jam, which began as a poem he wrote while inside the Pinoy Big Brother house, and Budoy Ako, the Cebuano version of Pinoy Ako.

June is a singer-songwriter from Dallas, Texas who is now residing in Manila, Philippines. Her music is a mix of R&B, rock, soul, jazz, and experimental. Manila’s culture itself has a big impact on June’s writing influences while she falls in love with her country, learns how to cope with the dirty city, and alternatively sips on coconut juice on the surreal islands.

Good Leaf is a five-man band from Malabon, Philippines. Their music is mainly dub, having the characteristics of roots and conscious reggae with the combination of crucial lyrics, electronic and down tempo sound, and their mission is to spread the good vibes of roots dub.

Amidst the dense tropics of the urban Manila jungle, a cold wave fusion of electronic, rock, and drum n' bass music is infiltrating the metro. Founded in 2008, FEEN is a power trio composed of singer songwriter Juno Limjap, guitarist Ado Ortiz aka Flipperbaby, and Kishore Ramnani.

All their songs are conceived and performed live. A regular fixture of Nomad Massive, the Philippines’ underground circuit for electronic music producers, FEEN’s supercharged performances are a testament to the distinctive musical sensibilities and savant of the individuals that make up the band.

Juno honed her voice onstage for many years with Pinoy rock legends like Dondi Ledesma and Wally Gonzales before pushing forward with her brainchild FEEN.

Meanwhile, Flipperbaby (Ado) and (Kishore)have been independent electronic music producers for over a decade where Flipperbaby’s affinity lies in organic, liquid drum and bass while Kishore’s sound is more industrial and rallies for hard-step,Neurofunk mindbenders.

The result of their coming together: a tempered amalgam of hardcore beats, ambient rhythms, and ethereal yet powerful vocals. FEEN is able to harmonize the opposite spectrums of electronic music stunningly.

In one moment you can be wafting through space with mellow and relaxing rhythms and in the next you are prompted to release all the aggression in you and be one with ferocious beats. FEEN is not afraid to let it all out. They defy norms and serve up music straight from the source!

Feen (Propaganda) debut album out now.10 full length songs.

Waway Saway is an imminent artist in indigenous communities of Mindanao. Being a teacher of Talaandig School of Living Traditions in the highlands of Sungko, Lantapan, Bukidnon, he serves as a guide of the youth into a better life by means of music and art. His first music CD was recorded in the heart of Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon’s highest mountain. To date, his home studio has produced six albums of Talaandig traditional and contemporary music.

Recognized as the man behind the first ever DJ -produced album in the Philippines, DJ Arbie Won has no doubt played an integral part on shaping the sound of the local Hip-hop scene. Whether doing gigs around the metro, or in the studio collaborating with other artists, he has maintained one general rule on his music career for more than a decade: Keepin' it fresh.