SimakDialog sticks with jazz music genre

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Dominated by baby blue, with an addition of a white trapezoid and entitled Trance/mission, the album cover looks more like the latest volume of Cafe Del Mar or some other clubbing tunes, rather than jazz.

The design probably does not mean anything but the title marks the changes in the body of simakDialog, one of very few local jazz bands.

Formed in 1993, the band comprises Riza Arshad (piano, keyboard, accordion), Indro Hardjodikoro (bass), Tohpati Ario (guitar) and Arie Ayunir (drums) -- young musicians who have already made a name in the music scene, although not necessarily in jazz.

Releasing two critically acclaimed albums, Lukisan (Painting) in 1995 and Baur (Mixed) four years later, the group has earned both respect and fans.

Later on, however, Arie and Indro quit.

"We've been through changes in a journey as a group. In the past three years, there has been a blacked out area in our creative process. That's what Trance/mission is sort of about," Riza said at a recent media conference.

The two who quit were then replaced by noted drummer Budhy Haryono, Jalu Pratidina, who plays kendang Sunda (Sundanese percussion) and Adhitya (fretless bass).

The latest line-up automatically meant changes in the group's musical concept, especially with Jalu and Budhy involved.

Budhy, although still in pop/rock group Gigi, has much experience of playing in jazz groups, and has a style that mixes well with Sundanese percussion patterns.

"Our music is broadening now. We pay more attention to ethnic music, especially from West Java," said Tohpati.

The shift is about the group trying to emphasize its identity and wanting to define what Indonesian jazz is.

"Jazz itself is indeed difficult to define. It's just that we used to be strongly influenced by Western music patterns. Now we want to change that. We want to play western music from different perspectives -- ours: the philosophy of jazz as 'Eastern'," Riza asserted.

The idea came in the early 1990s when Riza jammed with several American musicians at California State University. One of them started to talk about color, identity and stuff.

"They said that I have this Indonesian touch in my style and asked me to develop it more. I always thought about the suggestion but only with this third album have I realized it," he said.

The difference between Western and Indonesian people, according to Riza, lies in thought patterns.

"Western people tend to be conservative. Everything must be by the book, based on rules that cannot be broken. Every instrument must be tuned. Here, in the sense of traditional music, everything is freer," he said.

With Trance/mission, the group aims at breaking the taboo, and countering the common rule.

"For instance, we are no longer against untuned sounds. I also play "prepared" piano, which is usually used by contemporary musicians," Riza said.

The fourth track in the album, titled Finding the Path, is the perfect example of the phenomenon, he explained, as the two- minute track sounds more like an experimental piece. Like those musicians who plays anything but common music instruments.

"In this album, we play more on the rhythm. Especially because our country is rich in percussive rhythmic patterns that come from different ethnic groups," Riza said.

Each member of the group is free to do whatever he wants.

"Jalu even plays the percussion in a style that is different to what is traditional. What we need is expression, not how to play," Riza added.

The result is an album that is slightly heavier than the previous ones and also edgier.

Baur is softer and more easy listening, but Trance/mission is more intense.

"It is indeed a challenge to produce an album that people enjoy but critics also appreciate. All in all, we just want to express ourselves, and to create something honest," Tohpati said.

The launch of the album was marked by a performance by the group last week at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ), Central Jakarta.

It was the second performance of the latest lineup after its debut at Philharmonic Petronas, Malaysia, a while ago.

The show was reportedly successful, leaving the audience awestruck in its seats during the entire evening.

The performance at GKJ was proof that the band was still respected and had a loyal fan base as about 250 people turned out.

They played a set of 11 numbers, with two taken from previous albums, Mahesa and Kata Hati.

Despite the poor lighting and a little trouble with the sound system in the old building, the band gave an impressive performance, and quite attractive too, with proper jazz improvisation included.

The jazz scene, both here and elsewhere, is now said to be in the doldrums. But here, at least, we have simakDialog, with the consistency and perseverance to stick to the genre.