As We Speak: Music of David Sanborn

Fabian Lim is a seasoned musician in Singapore. He has performed and recorded for David Foster, Incognito, A-Mei; to Dick Lee, Stephanie Sun, J.J. Lin, Kit Chan, Elva Hsiao, Voice of China, and many others. He has performed in international festivals like SummerSonic, Java Jazz, Jarasum, Kathmandu Jazz Festival. He also plays in musical theatre productions like Aladdin, The Addams Family, and Singing in the Rain. In addition, Fabian is also a dedicated music educator specialising in music pedagogy and woodwind instruction.

A civil engineer by training, Sebastian chose to forgo a career in engineering to pursue his love for music upon graduation in 2001. Since then, he has played across diverse genres, from jazz clubs to festivals, backing Laura Fygi, Donne Ray of The Platters, and Joanna Dong. He has also performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, toured internationally.

Sebastian was the principal guitarist for the billion-dollar grossing, award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King, and has been involved in local and international Broadway musicals like A Chorus Line, The Addams Family, Santa Claus and Evita. He has also played for various TV programmes with MediaCorp and RTM in Malaysia. As a session player, he has recorded for numerous commercial songs and television shows.

As a composer and arranger, Sebastian works with Universal Music Productions as a composer of library music. His composition, Dark Rhapsody, was featured at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. He has also released his debut single, 《光》 (meaning Light), as an artist in December 2021. He is also a part-time lecturer at Lasalle College of The Arts and National Institute of Education.

Keith Ong is a veteran bass player in the local music scene. Known for his rock-solid grooves, energetic demeanor and his signature smile, Keith levels up any ensemble he is a part of.  Experienced and at home playing in many different settings and genres, his versatility and vast knowledge of styles and idioms of music have served him and his audiences well throughout his career.

Rizal Sanip is a home-grown drummer whose passion for music has propelled him into musicals, starting with Honk! in 2002. He served as a regular in the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band for 13 years, holding various roles including percussion section leader, drum major, arranger/guitarist for the dance band, and emcee for concerts. He was also involved in the ceremonial segment of Singapore National Day celebrations from 1990 to 2003.

A studio musician as well, he plays drums, percussions and trumpet.

His collaborations with Pangdemonium, The Theatre Practice, Dream Academy, Wild Rice Productions, SRT, Vizpro, Toy Factory and Base Entertainment have provided him with ample opportunities to work as a session drummer in numerous theatre productions. He has also played an instrumental role in nurturing young talent, teaching music at both international and local schools in Singapore.

Known for his wit, sensitivity, and versatility, Rizal approaches every situation with grace, talent, and finely honed skill. With a deep sense of musicality, he always puts the music first—never overplaying or underplaying, but perfectly complementing the musical moment.

To deepen his experience as a veteran musician, Rizal returned to school at age 48 to earn a BA (Honours) in Jazz from LASALLE College of the Arts.

He feels truly blessed to have a career in music, continually involved in major theatre productions and concerts.