RI jazz mourns legendary bassist

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesian jazz has lost a seasoned bass player, Perry Pattiselano, 55, and his contemporaries mourned the passing of a "reliable, stable and consistent" musician and good friend.

Perry was playing with Indonesian jazz vocalist Pinky and pianist "Sukat" Harjanto at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman when a bomb exploded at the hotel, killing him instantly.

Pinky and Sukat are still being treated in an Amman hospital for their injuries.

That bomb and two others at separate hotels in the city killed 57 people.

Trombone player Benny Likumahuwa recalled on Friday that Perry was a good friend and a reliable bassist.

"When we're playing, the bass is the guide. Playing with him, we were never worried because whatever the tempo, we could swing together beautifully," said Benny, who had played with Perry since the 1970s.

"The last time we played together was on Sept. 3 in Bandung," he added.

Perry and the band were playing on a six-month contract at the Hyatt, having left Indonesia in early November.

Jazz guitarist Ireng Maulana, who also often shared the stage with Perry in the Ireng Maulana All Stars, said he felt a deep sadness about his passing.

"I'm now helpless," said Ireng, who had just lost his close friend, jazz pianist Hendra Wijaya, last Sunday.

"(Perry) was recently also an agent for artists who sought to play abroad. He had played in China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore," added Ireng, who used to play with Perry and Idang Rasjidi at the then Regent Hotel in South Jakarta.

Perry, the fourth of five Pattiselano sons, had played several gigs with his brothers, guitarist Oele and drummer Jacky, in the Pattiselano Brothers Band at the international JakJazz festivals. He was also a regular performer at the Jakarta Le Meridien Hotel.

"He is the master of rhythm. Bassists are like the rice in the meal. We, guitarists, are the side dishes. Playing with him, it was like eating very tasty rice," Ireng said.

Perry is survived by a wife, Eleanor Savitri, their three children and several grandchildren.