AIM 2000 Band :
The Hands That Rock
The House

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Aubrey Suwito is the Music Director, and leader of the house band. Besides writing the parts and arrangements, playing keyboards and directing the band through rehearsals and the show, Aubrey had to engage the musicians, some of whom appear in an Awards show for the first time. Some of the regular members of his award band, including Steve Thornton and Mac Chew, had committed to playing the farewell Michael and Victor Wong concert, inexplicably scheduled for the same night.

The new band however, sounds pretty ferocious, and most of them have played together in studio sessions and gigs in various combinations, as well as featuring on the records of some of the finalists.

Aubrey himself is a finalist in Best Musical Arrangement. He has just released his first album Melaka Son. His classy touch produced Amir Yussof?s debut album Some of this is Real, winner of best English album in 1996.

On second keyboards is Firdaus Mahmud, who works with mentor M. Nasir. He was music director for Hattan?s recent album and is no stranger to live shows, including Awie?s great Stadium gig.

Jamie Wilson steps up on guitar, having recently provided the 'dirty bits' on the Juliet the Orange album. Jamie won Australia's Best Guitarist award when he was 17 earning him a scholarship in the States, followed by live work with Jimmy Barnes and Richard Clapton. After a time in England on the professional circuit he has been playing with Malaysian musicians the last two years.

Acoustic guitar is played by Rafi, who counts as his greatest memory the live show at Manchester with M. Nasir. He features on many of the unplugged recordings, notably Ziana Zain and Awie?s albums and is comfortable with ethnic, Indian and even Chinese contemporary music. Last year he played cello during Kris Dayanti's stunning performance.