Erwin an all-round concert maestro<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Everybody has their own way to celebrate their birthday. For
\nnoted musician Erwin Gutawa, who turns 40 on Thursday, it will be
\nmarked by holding a concert.<\/p>\n
Not just another concert, of course, as there will be a bunch
\nof famous performers on hand, including singers Ruth Sahanaya and
\nKrisdayanti.<\/p>\n
Konser Eg will present Erwin's many persona: band player,
\ncomposer, arranger, conductor and producer.<\/p>\n
\"The main purpose of this event is actually presenting our
\nlocal artists. I've organized several concerts, like for
\nKrisdayanti, Chrisye and Rockestra. Now, I want various artists,
\nin music, of course,\" he said recently.<\/p>\n
\"Since there are so many great artists here, I chose those who
\nI have worked with, whether in recording or anything else.\"<\/p>\n
Erwin is known for having a Midas touch in music. Violinist
\nHenry Lamiri, who will also accompany Erwin during the concert,
\npraises his sharp intuition.<\/p>\n
\"As an arranger and producer, he possesses a great sense for
\ngood songs and knows how to make songs sell,\" Henry said.<\/p>\n
Involved in music from an early age, Erwin's professional
\ncareer took off in 1985 when he established and played bass in
\njazz band Karimata, along with top names Candra Darusman, Aminoto
\nKosin, Denny T.R. and Uce Hariono.<\/p>\n
Until its members gravitated to other interests in 1991,
\nKarimata was a respected and noted jazz band, paving the way for
\nother Indonesian bands to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival
\nin The Hague after they played there in 1985.<\/p>\n
Erwin's reputation as an excellent bass player spread;
\nMalaysian singer Sheila Majid is a fan of his and asked him to
\nplay on her album and accompany her on a tour of her homeland.<\/p>\n
When he was still with Karimata, Erwin had also acted as
\narranger and producer for other singers and helped them in
\nattaining success. When the group went on semipermanent hiatus,
\nErwin saw it as a time to improve himself as an arranger and
\nproducer.<\/p>\n
\"I'd had enough being a bass player, performing on stage,
\ntraveling to places. I wanted to do something else. Basically, I
\nno longer had the ambition as a band player,\" said Erwin, who
\nholds a bachelor's in architecture.<\/p>\n
He started his own orchestra, and his name rocketed to more
\nprominence when, along with Ruth, he won the Midnight Sun Song
\nFestival in Finland in 1992.<\/p>\n
He was also a pioneer in organizing solo concerts for
\nIndonesian singers with his Bass Productions, a company involved
\nin music performances, jingle production and also recording.<\/p>\n
In producing music performances, Erwin now always works with
\ncollege mate, director Jay Subijakto, who handles the creative
\nside of things.<\/p>\n
\"All we want is that a music performance is not just another
\nperformance. We want it to have a strong and integrated concept,\"
\nErwin said.<\/p>\n
After doing last September's hugely successful Krisdayanti
\nconcert together, Erwin and Jay will put on another concert for
\nher in Singapore in July.<\/p>\n
\"We were invited to do the concert there. It won't be like the
\nusual promo tour nor performing in front of Indonesian people who
\nlive there. It will be a real concert, in an indoor stadium, in
\nfront of Singaporeans. So, it's very important to us,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Erwin and Jay will also work together for a performance in the
\nNetherlands around October. That time, it will be Erwin
\npresenting his own work.<\/p>\n
\"I will play my nonindustrial work, which means, my work that
\nhas never been recorded. It's not in the form of a band, and no
\nvocals involved. It'll be pure instrumental, and Jay will work on
\nthis animation or visual thing to accompany my works,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He is enjoying his orchestra, especially as the latter have
\nbecome the in thing for local musicians to perform with.<\/p>\n
\"I think it's normal if our musicians are mad about it,
\nalthough I sometimes wonder, is it purely intentional or they're
\njust being snobbish?\" he laughed.<\/p>\n
\"But, to put it in positive thinking, the orchestra is great
\nbecause it's pure acoustic and can't be replaced by electronic
\ninstruments. However, here in Indonesia, the players are still
\nfew, while the demand is high.\"<\/p>\n
There is some criticism that Erwin's orchestral work is
\noverdressed.<\/p>\n
\"Well, I'm just trying to do something. I always write my own
\nmusical score and arrangement instead of buying or getting it
\nfrom the Internet. I don't want to do Miss Saigon or Phantom of
\nthe Opera. I want local music to be made like Phantom. If it's
\noverdressed, fine, I'm still learning.\"<\/p>\n
With all his years of music industry experience, Erwin is
\nconcerned about today's \"stagnancy\".<\/p>\n
\"I see that record companies are being more transparent now,
\nwhich is good. We now know how several groups can sell over 1
\nmillion copies. It's not a new thing, though, it's only that the
\ncompanies are willing to be more transparent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Regarding the system and creativity, it is not getting better
\n-- and perhaps is getting worse.<\/p>\n
Royalties and piracy are still major problems, and promotion
\nof western artists hogs the market, due to MTV and fast marketing
\nand distribution.<\/p>\n
\"Concerning creativity, there are too many variations. Too
\ntypical. Indonesians are indeed copycats. But back in the 1980s,
\nfor example, music was more varied. We had jazz, pop, rock,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I think record companies hold responsibility for that. They
\njust want a profit. There's no such thing as dedication and
\nloyalty to the music itself. No wonder that certain genre are
\ndead. Like jazz, or keroncong (Portuguese-influenced music).\"<\/p>\n
For his next project, Erwin said he really wanted to do
\nanother Rockestra, providing orchestral accompaniment to rock
\nperformers.<\/p>\n
\"It's just interesting to collaborate on rock music with an
\norchestra. One more thing is that I really want to do a solo
\nconcert for Iwan Fals. He's just great,\" he said about the
\nlegendary musician\/singer \/composer.<\/p>",
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