Parkdrive: Relaxing in the jazz park

Parkdrive: Relaxing in the jazz park

Artist: Parkdrive

Album: Parkdrive

Record Company: Gowa music

Featured Single: Sekedar Cinta

Rating: *** out of *****

There are a number of misleading and just plain wrong
stereotypes floating around about jazz. That jazz is boring. That
it is difficult to listen to, or just plain uninteresting. But
thanks to a number of young jazz musicians in Indonesia, like the
hip and talented Maliq and the Essentials, jazz has begun to
stand out in the country's cluttered musical scene.

Now a new jazz band has arrived, bearing with it loads of
talent. Parkdrive consists of Mikuni Gani (vocals), Juno Adhi
(drum/synthesizer/trumpet) and Rayendra Sunito (drum/electric
bass/electric guitar and acoustic). The three Berklee College of
Music graduates prove that jazz can be easy to listen to. With 12
tracks, including bonus tracks, on their self-titled debut album,
Parkdrive presents a unique and memorable take on jazz.

The band recorded its first songs in 2002 while living in
Boston. "We recorded a few songs on our computer during our
summer holiday," said Juno.

However, nothing really came of the songs until 2004 when the
three were back in Jakarta. Juno said the three recorded some new
songs and rearranged those old songs from Boston.

Sekedar Cinta -- the group's first single -- is a hip tune
that will have listeners bobbing their heads up and down. The
band agrees that the song represents the entire album.

All 12 tracks on the album are catchy. Sinari Hari has a deep
jazz soul, and the bass and keyboard mix really well together.
Although the sound is very much like Incognito, you will not
complain. Juno says he loves listening to Incognito, while the
others are into slow jazz and funk.

Other catchy and groovy tracks include Kucoba and Siapa Dia.
Both tracks have different atmospheres and Parkdrive successfully
blends unique vocal arrangements with simple and sweet guitar
arrangements. The heavy influence of Brazilian music can be heard
throughout Siapa Dia, adding power to the song.

Writing lyrics in Indonesian was a challenge for the group.
"Everybody says that writing in English is much easier, but we
wanted to write the songs in Indonesian," says Juno.

Overall, the album is loaded with energy as it rushes along on
a hip and catchy sound. With two English songs and 10 Indonesian
songs, the album will offer plenty of jazz enjoyment for young
fans. This is a gem of soulful jazz. -- Tari Danawidjaja