SimakDialog sticks with jazz music genre<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dominated by baby blue, with an addition of a white trapezoid and
\nentitled Trance\/mission, the album cover looks more like the
\nlatest volume of Cafe Del Mar or some other clubbing tunes,
\nrather than jazz.<\/p>\n
The design probably does not mean anything but the title marks
\nthe changes in the body of simakDialog, one of very few local
\njazz bands.<\/p>\n
Formed in 1993, the band comprises Riza Arshad (piano,
\nkeyboard, accordion), Indro Hardjodikoro (bass), Tohpati Ario
\n(guitar) and Arie Ayunir (drums) -- young musicians who have
\nalready made a name in the music scene, although not necessarily
\nin jazz.<\/p>\n
Releasing two critically acclaimed albums, Lukisan (Painting)
\nin 1995 and Baur (Mixed) four years later, the group has earned
\nboth respect and fans.<\/p>\n
Later on, however, Arie and Indro quit.<\/p>\n
"We've been through changes in a journey as a group. In the
\npast three years, there has been a blacked out area in our
\ncreative process. That's what Trance\/mission is sort of about,"
\nRiza said at a recent media conference.<\/p>\n
The two who quit were then replaced by noted drummer Budhy
\nHaryono, Jalu Pratidina, who plays kendang Sunda (Sundanese
\npercussion) and Adhitya (fretless bass).<\/p>\n
The latest line-up automatically meant changes in the group's
\nmusical concept, especially with Jalu and Budhy involved.<\/p>\n
Budhy, although still in pop\/rock group Gigi, has much
\nexperience of playing in jazz groups, and has a style that mixes
\nwell with Sundanese percussion patterns.<\/p>\n
"Our music is broadening now. We pay more attention to ethnic
\nmusic, especially from West Java," said Tohpati.<\/p>\n
The shift is about the group trying to emphasize its identity
\nand wanting to define what Indonesian jazz is.<\/p>\n
"Jazz itself is indeed difficult to define. It's just that we
\nused to be strongly influenced by Western music patterns. Now we
\nwant to change that. We want to play western music from different
\nperspectives -- ours: the philosophy of jazz as 'Eastern'," Riza
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
The idea came in the early 1990s when Riza jammed with several
\nAmerican musicians at California State University. One of them
\nstarted to talk about color, identity and stuff.<\/p>\n
"They said that I have this Indonesian touch in my style and
\nasked me to develop it more. I always thought about the
\nsuggestion but only with this third album have I realized it," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The difference between Western and Indonesian people,
\naccording to Riza, lies in thought patterns.<\/p>\n
"Western people tend to be conservative. Everything must be by
\nthe book, based on rules that cannot be broken. Every instrument
\nmust be tuned. Here, in the sense of traditional music,
\neverything is freer," he said.<\/p>\n
With Trance\/mission, the group aims at breaking the taboo, and
\ncountering the common rule.<\/p>\n
"For instance, we are no longer against untuned sounds. I also
\nplay "prepared" piano, which is usually used by contemporary
\nmusicians," Riza said.<\/p>\n
The fourth track in the album, titled Finding the Path, is the
\nperfect example of the phenomenon, he explained, as the two-
\nminute track sounds more like an experimental piece. Like those
\nmusicians who plays anything but common music instruments.<\/p>\n
"In this album, we play more on the rhythm. Especially because
\nour country is rich in percussive rhythmic patterns that come
\nfrom different ethnic groups," Riza said.<\/p>\n
Each member of the group is free to do whatever he wants.<\/p>\n
"Jalu even plays the percussion in a style that is different
\nto what is traditional. What we need is expression, not how to
\nplay," Riza added.<\/p>\n
The result is an album that is slightly heavier than the
\nprevious ones and also edgier.<\/p>\n
Baur is softer and more easy listening, but Trance\/mission is
\nmore intense.<\/p>\n
"It is indeed a challenge to produce an album that people
\nenjoy but critics also appreciate. All in all, we just want to
\nexpress ourselves, and to create something honest," Tohpati said.<\/p>\n
The launch of the album was marked by a performance by the
\ngroup last week at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ), Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
It was the second performance of the latest lineup after its
\ndebut at Philharmonic Petronas, Malaysia, a while ago.<\/p>\n
The show was reportedly successful, leaving the audience
\nawestruck in its seats during the entire evening.<\/p>\n
The performance at GKJ was proof that the band was still
\nrespected and had a loyal fan base as about 250 people turned
\nout.<\/p>\n
They played a set of 11 numbers, with two taken from previous
\nalbums, Mahesa and Kata Hati.<\/p>\n
Despite the poor lighting and a little trouble with the sound
\nsystem in the old building, the band gave an impressive
\nperformance, and quite attractive too, with proper jazz
\nimprovisation included.<\/p>\n
The jazz scene, both here and elsewhere, is now said to be in
\nthe doldrums. But here, at least, we have simakDialog, with the
\nconsistency and perseverance to stick to the genre.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/simakdialog-sticks-with-jazz-music-genre-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}