When a jazz legend meets his fans
When a jazz legend meets his fans
Tarlen Handayani, Contributor, Bandung, West Java
Mutual admiration was the pervading mood at the JazzSphere at Art Space, where the Bubi Chen Quintet was on stage with the Imam Pras Quintet in the Selasar Sunaryo Art Space amphitheater in Bandung last Saturday.
"This is the first time in my career that I've performed in such a beautiful place," revealed Bubi in the beginning of the concert.
Around three hundred fans, mostly young people, filled the Selasar Sunaryo theater.
Bubi Chen, renowned as a jazz pianist with over three decades of experience in jazz music, appeared along with Benny Likumahuwa (trombone), Jacky Pattiselano (drum), Perry Pattiselano (acoustic bass) and Kiboud Maulana (guitar) presenting vocalists Imel Rosalin and Nenden Shintawati.
Several memorable songs like Georgia on My Mind, Misty, Autumn Leaves, The Nearness of You and Bye Bye Blackbird created a relaxed and cozy atmosphere at the bright weekend.
Despite his fairly advanced age and rather poor health, Bubi Chen was capable of displaying his mesmerizing talent. The jam session between Bubi, Imam Pras and Imel Rosalin even overwhelmed the stunned audience.
"If you want to know how to play true jazz, just watch Bubi Chen. He can do it as required by its roots. And as a senior musician quite open to playing music alone with younger musicians. I feel we can interact and communicate with each other on stage," said Imel, who demonstrated her stylishness on the piano and vocal flair.
Imam Pras expressed his great delight after the show for having performed with one of Indonesia's jazz legends.
"Bubi Chen is one of my idols. It's a thrilling experience to play with Asia's art whiz," he said.
Imam's quintet -- with pianist Imam Pras, saxophonist Boyke P. Utomo, guitarist Amir Ishak, drummer Ari Aru and bassist Rudy Aru, opened the two-hour concert.
Representing Bandung in Bali's International Jazz Festival, the Iman Pras Quintet has, over the year, frequently emerged in jazz events now drawing the interest of youths in the West Java capital, triggered by the local jazz club's promotional activities over the last year.
"It's terrific. I'd only heard about Bubi Chen so I was all too eager to watch him playing," said Poetri, a fifth-semester student of international relations, Parahyangan University, enthusiastically.
"It's exceptional. Veterans and newcomers combined on stage. I got the rare and valuable opportunity to see first-rate musicians and learn from them," commented Angga, an architect, who went to the show despite his busy schedule.
According to Niman, the jazz club's initiator and coordinator, this association aims at introducing jazz music to broader circles through weekly meetings and concerts in cooperation with other parties. This JazzSphere at Art Space was the second collaboration with Selasar Sunaryo and Kopi Selasar.
"Last year we held a Simak Dialog concert and the response among young people to such jazz programs has been quite high," Niman pointed out, adding that their passion for jazz music was inseparable from their endless search for something different.
The tendency to seek new icons is also increasingly apparent, as indicated by the waning popularity of some artists like John Coltraine and the rising fame of new idols like Thelonious Monk.
Didit E. Aditya, known as DJ Dxxxt, who often presents jazz compositions from behind his turntable, responded to the youth trend to look different: "Youths will always act that way. We can see how they will apply their jazz knowledge to distinguish between those wishing to look good and becoming really good."
At the end of the program, Bubi Chen conveyed his deep gratitude to the Bandung audience for showing appreciation of the show.
"I'm very happy because young people can now appreciate jazz and nobody says Bubi Chen's jazz music is old-fashioned. I'll go on fighting for youths' acceptance of jazz and they have appreciated it as we all witnessed."