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."