Parkdrive: Relaxing in the jazz park<\/p>\n
Artist: Parkdrive<\/p>\n
Album: Parkdrive<\/p>\n
Record Company: Gowa music<\/p>\n
Featured Single: Sekedar Cinta<\/p>\n
Rating: *** out of *****<\/p>\n
There are a number of misleading and just plain wrong
\nstereotypes floating around about jazz. That jazz is boring. That
\nit is difficult to listen to, or just plain uninteresting. But
\nthanks to a number of young jazz musicians in Indonesia, like the
\nhip and talented Maliq and the Essentials, jazz has begun to
\nstand out in the country's cluttered musical scene.<\/p>\n
Now a new jazz band has arrived, bearing with it loads of
\ntalent. Parkdrive consists of Mikuni Gani (vocals), Juno Adhi
\n(drum\/synthesizer\/trumpet) and Rayendra Sunito (drum\/electric
\nbass\/electric guitar and acoustic). The three Berklee College of
\nMusic graduates prove that jazz can be easy to listen to. With 12
\ntracks, including bonus tracks, on their self-titled debut album,
\nParkdrive presents a unique and memorable take on jazz.<\/p>\n
The band recorded its first songs in 2002 while living in
\nBoston. \"We recorded a few songs on our computer during our
\nsummer holiday,\" said Juno.<\/p>\n
However, nothing really came of the songs until 2004 when the
\nthree were back in Jakarta. Juno said the three recorded some new
\nsongs and rearranged those old songs from Boston.<\/p>\n
Sekedar Cinta -- the group's first single -- is a hip tune
\nthat will have listeners bobbing their heads up and down. The
\nband agrees that the song represents the entire album.<\/p>\n
All 12 tracks on the album are catchy. Sinari Hari has a deep
\njazz soul, and the bass and keyboard mix really well together.
\nAlthough the sound is very much like Incognito, you will not
\ncomplain. Juno says he loves listening to Incognito, while the
\nothers are into slow jazz and funk.<\/p>\n
Other catchy and groovy tracks include Kucoba and Siapa Dia.
\nBoth tracks have different atmospheres and Parkdrive successfully
\nblends unique vocal arrangements with simple and sweet guitar
\narrangements. The heavy influence of Brazilian music can be heard
\nthroughout Siapa Dia, adding power to the song.<\/p>\n
Writing lyrics in Indonesian was a challenge for the group.
\n\"Everybody says that writing in English is much easier, but we
\nwanted to write the songs in Indonesian,\" says Juno.<\/p>\n
Overall, the album is loaded with energy as it rushes along on
\na hip and catchy sound. With two English songs and 10 Indonesian
\nsongs, the album will offer plenty of jazz enjoyment for young
\nfans. This is a gem of soulful jazz. -- Tari Danawidjaja<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/parkdrive-relaxing-in-the-jazz-park-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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