Indra Lesmana: A jazz player, composer and producer

By Helly Minarti

JAKARTA (JP): At 33, jazz musician Indra Lesmana is still considered young, but he is already too big to be ignored. Being the only son and youngest child of the late Jack Lesmana -- a legendary jazz guitarist of the 1970s and 1980s -- Indra has earned his own reputation in the world of jazz, both as a player and a composer, and now, increasingly, as a producer.

Jazz has, indeed, surrounded Indra.

"Maybe in the womb when I was conceived," he said.

Yet his father did not seem to be aware of Indra's talent until, "One day, when I was still a kid, I just climbed up in front of the piano and played a jazz composition," recalled Indra. His father was really surprised since he had not taught Indra how to play that music. Indra himself said that even now, he does not know how he did it.

"My father then enrolled me in a private piano course under Iravati Sudiarso (the reputable Indonesia's classical composer) and then with a Russian, Ms. Valentina," said Indra. Since then, "jazz has been a way of life. It teaches me about freedom and how to connect with people by playing in an ensemble."

Soon, little Indra started performing solo. He released his first album at 12, titled Ayahku, Sahabatku (My Father, My Best Friend), was hailed a "jazz whiz kid" and gradually became known more as "Jack's boy". A year later, at 13, he won a scholarship to study at the Australian Conservatory of Music in Sydney. His family -- his father, his mother Nien Lesmana and older sisters, Lani and Mira -- moved to the new city so the little jazz wizard could pursue his music. He studied until 1983, taking jazz studies as his specialty.

Then the world was introduced to Indra when he signed up with a U.S. recording company for his debut album, No Standing, which -- not surprisingly -- made an entry on the chart of the prestigious U.S. music magazine Downbeat. His next album, For Earth and Heaven, also recorded in Los Angeles, is still considered his jazz masterpiece.

Back home, Indra was warmly welcomed by fans, who crowded his occasional gigs during his short visits. In 1983 his family moved back to Jakarta and Indra didn't wait to immerse himself in the local music scene. But instead of recording a jazz album, he went pop.

"The condition at that time was not supportive of jazz. Though jazz seemed hip and alive onstage, it was very hard to put down a jazz record. If any of us wanted to do so, we used to have to collect some money since there was no professional producer who'd want to do the job," said Indra.

Besides, "I was unavoidably influenced by pop music -- being young and that. And it seemed that people, the general public, appreciate my pop side more at that time," he reasoned. So he cut a solo debut pop album, which was followed by album after album. He also produced many hits for new artists, including (then) girlfriend Titi DJ, followed by (then) wife Sophia Latjuba and Malaysian pop star, Sheila Madjid.

But jazz has been and always will be his roots. Even while busy with his pop projects, Indra developed his own circle in the jazz scene -- sometimes bringing in more senior players to share the stage. He also occasionally showcased playing with international jazz musicians like Jan Garbarek and Chic Corea.

Indra has joined and founded many groups, like the jazz-rock fusion group Krakatau, and has had the occasional jam session with the group GIF (Gilang-Indra-Fariz), as well as collaborating with an array of musicians -- in and out jazz. Yet, Indra's musical chemistry seems to click best with a certain combination of players. They are his best friend Gilang Ramadhan (drums), Embong (sax), Donny Suhendra (guitar) and Mates (bass), with whom he formed Java Jazz in the early 1990s. "Maybe because I have known each of them for a long time -- since the mid 1980s," said Indra of the closeness.

Emerging first as a jam session group, Java Jazz has also had its share of new members. "With other performers, we went to the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1994 and released a limited album for the occasion," Indra said. But it was with the original set he cut a second and well-produced album titled Sabda Prana (old Javanese for Voices of Soul), last April. This also marked Indra's withdrawal from the pop genre.

"Three years ago, I decided to concentrate on jazz. I was just hitting 30, and I thought I should do something serious at that stage of my life," he said.

Besides being known as an eloquent keyboardist and jazz composer, Indra is also blessed with a Midas touch as a jazz producer. With his own label, Funk U Production, he now intends to produce only jazz albums. "This year, I just finished an album for Ermy Kulit and some sets for other projects," he declared. "It's a much better time for jazz to go on record," he said.

While selling a decent amount of copies -- 1,000 CDs and 10,000 cassettes in Indonesia alone -- Java Jazz has just signed a contract with a major label which will distribute the new album to nine countries in Asia and in the U.S. Now the group is looking forward to performing in jazz festivals in 2000.

Indra Lesmana, also inheriting from his father the ability to teach, now also gives private lessons to young people on general jazz studies. A true admirer of John Coltrane, Indra has an affable openness to welcome other musicians -- mostly younger -- who come to him for advice and guidance.

This also means that he is more approachable. Once he was spotted playing a few numbers with his jazz peers in a celebrity- packed party celebrating a decade of the pop-rock group Dewa 19. On another occasion, he played solo keyboard at a cafe gig for Potret Band. He is like a bottomless well for musicians who are thirsty for the latest musical enlightenment.

Married to Sophia Latjuba in 1992, Indra has a daughter, Eva Celia (who will be 7 next September). "Eva is very musical. She has an incredible voice and has asked for a violin for her next birthday," he said with sparkle in his eye. He is doing for Eva what his father did for him. "I am not pushing her into music. She wants to be a veterinarian, and I think it's a noble profession," said Indra of Eva, who is now in Sophia's custody.

After his divorce from Sophia, Indra married Virta Dwi Handaryati Trihandojo (Hanny), 25, earlier this year. His new wife, who is now his manager, is three months pregnant. Indra declined to comment on the current media fuss on Sophia's latest situation, after she posed for sensual photographs in a magazine. The magazine is being charged with printing pornography and Sophia was recently questioned by the police as a witness. "It's her business. She's an adult, she knows what she's doing."