Jakarta host to prominent international musicians ...

Jakarta host to prominent international musicians ...

By Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): As far as music goes, it seems Jakarta will one day
become as cosmopolitan as any other bustling metropolis anywhere in
the world.

This year, the city has hosted more foreign entertainers than
ever before, ranging from pop, rock, reggae and jazz musicians. And
this trend does not show any signs of subsiding.

It seems clear that there has been a broadening of musical tastes
among Indonesians lately, especially among the young. Surely this
is not very surprising. The wide exposure which Indonesians,
Jakartans and other urbanites in particular, are getting at present
to recorded music through audio cassettes, CDs, radio, television
and live concerts has brought a familiarity with musical genres of
all kinds.

There is a long list of foreign singers and bands who presented
shows in Indonesia this year. Among those performing in the capital
were Grammy-winning rock star Sting (whose real name is Gordon
Summer), the Australian group Air Supply, Joan Jett and UB40.
Although most of the concerts presented were entertaining it cannot
be said they were all of top quality. Quite a few were put on by
fading stars. For example, the shows by The Real Thing, KC and the
Sunshine Band and many others whose songs are now rarely found in
the world's music charts. So, what's the use of organizing such
concerts (with very high-priced ticket?) Do local musicians benefit
from such nostalgic concerts?

This is not to say that all of the events were substandard. There
were some concerts well worth seeing. Let's take another look at
Sting's concert early this year.

After the riot-marred concerts of Mick Jagger in l988 and
Metallica last year, it remained a possibility, in the minds of
many parents and music lovers, that Jakarta wasn't ready to provide
music fans a safe and secure venue to enjoy international, big-name
pop and rock artists. Nobody would have been willing to say it was
going to be an easy job to hold large-scale music performances in
Jakarta.

However, as the Sting concert and several others have proven,
with the opening of the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center and the
improved coordination between the promoters and government
agencies, it now seems safe for everybody to enjoy their favorite
artists performing the universal language of music.

Last February, the Hilton center was the venue for Sting's world
tour concert.

Sting is currently one of the biggest and brightest stars in the
music industry. If a big name equals trouble, as was previously the
case in Jakarta, then Sting's concert was a real test for its
promoters Indomugi Pratama and Singapore-based Sunvic.

If you attended this British rock star's world tour concert at
the Jakarta Hilton Convention Center promoting his new and grammy
winning album Ten Summoner's Tales, you were very lucky. Regardless
of the various technical shortcomings at the concert hall, Sting's
live show was considered the most important rock concert held by
foreign musicians this year.

Innovative

Opening the concert before 6,500 local fans with his new hit If
I Ever Lose My Faith in You, Sting proved himself to be one of the
world's most gifted musicians. His personal and melancholic lyrics,
combined with simple yet innovative and progressive music
arrangements -- once the musical trademark of the British rock band
The Police -- have contributed much to the development of pop and
rock music in this era.

During his two-hour concert, Sting, previously The Police's
bassist and lead vocalist (l977-l985), also presented the band's
top hits. Roxanne, with its sad and touching lyrics dedicated to a
street girl and Every Little Things She Does is Magic were on his
repertoire during the concert.

Another interesting musical performance was the one by the
Birmingham-reggae band UB40.

Last May, UB40 brought reggae music to the ears of Jakartans.
Like jazz, the Jamaican-music genre, reggae, previously reflected
the sound of an oppressed segment of society. The music,
popularized by Jamaican star Bob Marley, is now accepted as part of
the world's music vocabulary. The multi-ethnic band, UB40, has
successfully produced best-selling reggae records such as Labor of
Love, Red Red Wine and the most recent hits like Can't Help Falling
in Love (soundtrack of Sliver), which they shared with their local
audience.

Yes, UB40's concert was quite successful as their music resembles
the local dangdut music style, which is very familiar to the ears
of many Indonesians.

Former rock diva Joan Jett, now 34, also highlighted the local
music agenda when she and her band The Blackhearts performed at
the Hard Rock Cafe in early August. Promoting her newest album Pure
and Simple, dubbed by critics as her most socio-political effort to
date, Joan seemed to be reviving her music career.

Overshadowed by unsuccessful career moves and serious drug
addiction, Joan has had to work extremely hard in the l990s to gain
back her former popularity.

Jazz

In contrast to pop and rock music, which offered only a small
number of high-quality concerts, in l994, Jazz lovers in Jakarta
and other big cities in Indonesia enjoyed a wide opportunity to
watch international standard jazz performances by world-class
musicians. To name a few star performers, Armando 'Chick' Corea,
Bob James, Maynard Fergusson, Tania Maria, Astrud Gilberto, Lee
Ritenour, Michael Frank, and Japanese-born Sadao Watanabe.

The first big name in jazz who performed in Jakarta was Bob
James. Bob James and daughter Hillary performed before local
audience at the 21 Concert Hall in the Ratu Plaza shopping center.
Presenting his newest album Restless, Bob James and Hillary
collaborated on several wonderful compositions, including Storm
Warning.

The two day's of performances by Canadian-born jazz saxophonist
Maynard Fergusson at the Topaz music lounge were noteworthy
although he has not made such a great contribution to the world of
jazz as has Dizzy Gillespie.

In September, guitarist Lee Ritenour was back in Indonesia for a
series of appearances with a group that includes saxophonist Ernie
Watts and singer Phil Perry at Jamz. They also performed in Bandung
and Surabaya. Ritenour presented his recent solo records Stolen
Moments and West Bound .

In October, local jazz lovers were amused by one of Japan's most
well-known saxophonists, Sadao Watanabe, who gave concerts at the
Blue Note Jazz Club.

Sadao's contribution to the jazz world with several albums such
as My Dear Life (l977), California Shower (l978), Morning Islands
( l979) and Fill Up The Night (l983) has been vividly acknowledged.

Sadao's performances in Jakarta were supported by his band
consisting of keyboardist Kei Akagi, guitarist Jun Kajiwara,
Tomohito Aoki on bass, drummer Toshiharu and percussionist Steve
Thornton.

Here, Sadao presented his world-class hits, including the most
recent composition Burung-Burung (The Birds), which was inspired by
Balinese traditional music, gamelan and the sound of the Kecak
dance chants.

Prior to the Jakarta Jazz Festival, Chick Corea's six days of
concerts at the Jamz pub did much to brighten up the local jazz
scene this year. Corea's contribution to the jazz world is vivid.
His firm foundation in classical music has created music that can
only tentatively be called jazz, but he establishes a true jazz
context that is airy, spacious, relaxing, and engaging to the mind
all at the same time. During his shows here he presented several
complex but beautiful compositions including The Wish, Terrain and
Discovery. He ended his shows with a special piece, New Life, which
displays his musical talents as a jazz pianist and a composer eager
to go beyond jazz or any other kind of musical boundaries.

Following the success of Chick Corea's concerts, local jazz buffs
watched a large variety of jazz shows during the Jakarta Jazz
festival.

On the first day of December, an estimated 5,000 fans attended
the opening of the fourth international Jakarta jazz festival,
called A Mild Jak Jazz l994, at the Plaza Timur, Senayan Sports
Complex.

Altogether, at least two-dozen foreign nations were represented
at the festival, along with many prominent Indonesian groups and
soloists. Festival organizer Ireng Maulana said about 150 musicians
took part in the festival.

Among the local ensembles were Indra Lesmana's Java Jazz,
Krakatau, Trigonia, Idang Rasyidi ensemble, and the Ireng Maulana
All-Stars. Violinist Luluk Purwanto and pianist Bubi Chen and Bill
Saragih also appeared in the festival. Vocalists Margie Segers,
Harvey Malaiholo, Ruth Sahanaya and Ermi Kulit were also on this
year's Jak Jazz bill.

Foreign musicians appearing in the festival included highly
popular saxophonist Candy Dufler from the Netherlands, Japan's
fusion group Casiopea, Iceland's Mezzoforte, American accordionist
and singer Eddie Monteiro, British singer and pianist Georgie Fame
and trumpeter Terumasa Hino, a first-call session player in New
York.

Steady progress seems to have been made since the first jazz
festival was launched in l988. The Jak Jazz festival organizer has
helped to put Jakarta on the world map of music festivals. This
forum is valuable for local musicians who reap the benefit of
sharing expertise and experience with visiting foreign artists. It
is also a good forum in which local artists can get valuable
lessons from their foreign counterparts.

Unfortunately, many Indonesian artists, the young talents in
particular, are quick to claim themselves to be jazz musicians when
they feel they can play fusion.

During the visit to Indonesia, American Jazz musician Ernie Watts
gave advice to young Indonesian jazz talents who want to improve
their playing.

"Based on my having heard Indonesian musicians during past visits
here, I'd emphasize this; do a lot of listening and don't just pay
attention to what's going on now. Listen to the heritage of jazz,
pay attention to the masters like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Oscar
Peterson, people like that. Then add your own culture and your
individual experience to it; your playing will have a really solid
foundation."