Sawung Jabo bangs a gong for world music

Sawung Jabo bangs a gong for world music

By Sonya Sandham

SYDNEY (JP): If you thought you had heard the last of Sawung
Jabo and his words of condemnation for social injustice, think
again. He is back with more songs, a new outlook and a band with
a difference.

Ten years on, Jabo is as passionate about his homeland as he
was when, together with Iwan Fals, he penned the words to the
song that gained him national notoriety -- Bongkar.

While Indonesia is still Jabo's primary inspiration, the
social issues that influence his music have changed. He now finds
himself torn between two loves.

"While I still consider myself to be an Indonesian who is a
musician, I spend at least six months each year living in
Australia with my wife and our two children," Jabo said. "I am
forever commuting between Australia and Indonesia.

"It's really difficult but challenging because I love, really
love, my family but I love Indonesia, too."

Jabo has lived in Australia since 1992 with his wife of 20
years Suzan Piper and their children, Johan, 18, and Shanti, 13,
who both go to school in Sydney.

In Australia only a small but growing circle know who he is or
the profound impact his songs have had on Indonesia's cultural
landscape. In Australia he is just another musician with a dream.

This anonymity has prompted Jabo to change the way he presents
his music and to form a Sydney-based band.

"My songs are written in Indonesian so the thrust of my
statements have to come more from the dramatic staging of the
show than what I say on stage," he said.

"With my new band, I had to find a different way of expressing
the same thoughts. My songs now place less emphasis on political
commentary which would not be understood by the largely English-
speaking audience. Instead the performance itself makes
statements with the use of sirens and military references, for
instance.

"My music now is based more on traditional beats and rhythms
in contemporary arrangements."

His new band, GengGong, was formed in 1999 and played
throughout the political and economic crises consuming Indonesia.
This took its toll on Jabo and he experienced periods of "black
despair" as relations between Australia and Indonesian sank to
their lowest point in 30 years.

"Through this band, the role of the musicians and my wife as
manager is to work toward a good relationship between the
cultures through the arts, and to spread the word from one person
to another," Jabo said.

"My role in Australia is to introduce Indonesia to Australia.
Sometimes the governments in Australia and Indonesia say things
that have nothing to do with the people on either side of the
problem, but it's always these people who are affected if
something goes wrong."

Jabo said Indonesia had undergone a lot of changes, but he
remains optimistic about the future. "I believe Indonesia is
heading in the right direction, but not as quickly as I expected.
I know it won't be easy. We've done a lot but there's still a lot
to be done.

"I am still trying to understand the full extent of what's
going on in Indonesia at the moment. It wouldn't be right for me
to make statements about things I don't fully understand myself,
so I would just say that I'm trying to assess the situation in
Indonesia right now.

"The crisis had a big impact on me but I never lost my
optimism or sense of humor. I kept writing music through these
times because that's who I am.

"Indonesia is a never-ending source of inspiration for me. I
am always inspired by everyday life. Anything, anytime."

Jabo and his band GengGong are currently on tour in Jakarta
and have completed their first CD, which is yet to be released.

The band's members are all Sydney-based musicians with an
Indonesian background or with a fascination with Indonesian
culture.

Ron Reeves, who plays percussion, first met Jabo at the
Akademi Musik Indonesia where Ron was a teacher and Jabo a
student. Kim Sanders, who plays Turkish and Bulgarian wind
instruments, toured with Jabo in Indonesia in 1996. The fourth
member of the band, Australian-born Reza Achman, has been
involved in the Indonesian community in Sydney and was a natural
fit in the band thanks to ability on drums and percussion. All
musicians have a strong interest in world music.

GengGong will be touring the country until the end of August.
They will perform at the National Gallery on Aug. 21 at 8 p.m; in
Desa Mangli, Jember, East Java, on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25; and at
Desa Antasari in Bali on Aug. 27.

For more information about GengGong check out their
website at http://home.iprimus.com.au/wot or e-mail the band at
wot@primus.com.au