Ireng and friends to pay tribute to two jazz maestros

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jazz guitarist Ireng Maulana and seasoned fellow musicians such as Ermy Kullit and Margie Segers will stage a concert titled An evening of Jazz on Dec. 15 at Balai Sarbini, Central Jakarta, under the banner Ireng Maulana & Friends.

"The concert is a tribute to late jazz pianist Hendra Wijaya and bass player Perry Pattiselano," Ireng told The Jakarta Post.

The concert will feature dozens of veteran and emerging jazz artists, ranging from Donny Suhendra, Bubi Chen, Oele Pattiselano, Idang Rasjidi, Iga Mawarni, Indra Lesmana, Dewa Budjana to Andien and Tompi.

Ireng Maulana & Friends comprises guitarist Ireng, guitarist Kiboud Maulana, saxophone player Didiek SSS, and vocalists Ermy Kullit, Margie Segers, Anna Andrea, Kemala Ayu and Laurence Manaba.

Late pianist Hendra Wijaya was supposed to perform with the friends.

Hendra, 56, passed away on Nov. 6 this year, after a struggle with cancer. Hendra, was known as a ragtime specialist in the country.

Perry Pattiselano, 55, died on Nov. 9, in a suicide bombing at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman, Jordan, while he was performing with Indonesian vocalist Pinky and pianist "Sukat" Harjanto.

Ireng Maulana & friends recently released an album titled Sweet Jazzy in the second half of 2005.

The album comprises 10 songs, mostly standard, easy-listening jazz songs like Nat King Cole's When I Fall in Love, Bill Withers' Just the Two of Us and Randy Crawford's One Day I'll Fly Away.

Sweet jazzy is indeed a perfect title for the album because the words simply describe the impression the album leaves on listeners.

There is nothing spectacular in the album, but it delivers a fine piece of work from some of Indonesia's best jazz performers.

The concert will also perform tunes from the album.

Tickets are on sale from Rp 100,000 to Rp 500,000.

An evening of Jazz
Thursday, Dec. 15
7.30 p.m.
Balai Sarbini
Jakarta

Information on tickets:
5669762
5712747