What a showdown of talents. The team of Tesla Manaf and Gerald Situmorang Trio finally nailed their album showcase called “Duality” in two cities. Last Monday, September 8th, 2014 they successfully hit Indro Hardjodikoro’s Jazz Spot at Rolling Stone Cafe, Jakarta. Before they visit UPH Jakarta next week, on the beautiful but cold night of September 12, 2014 Bandung got the chance to enjoy the package of these two brilliant young guitarists.
As we know, Tesla Manaf and Gerald Situmorang are young guitarists who have fought for their music since many years ago from one stage to another. The appealing point of this show was how two distinct styles and concepts of music could be cohered and blended harmoniously in one single concert. The collaboration of creating this concert occured since they both need to promote their new album, which, coincidentally or not, is being realeased during close period of time. Gerald and Tesla is around the same age, they have the same passion in music by playing the same instruments. Eventhough they are based in different cities, both of these guitarists have made big impact in Indonesia’s jazz scene. They gave a strong statement that a calling is worth fighting for. Look at how these boys struggle in their early career. But then, look where they are standing now, while they are still considerably that young. It surprised us when they announced this collaborative event, but it does make sense and should happen sooner or later.
What Gerald brought into this event is his trio, simply called Gerald Situmorang Trio which has just released an album entitled “Time is the Answer”. Gerald started the show with him alone playing a sentimental composition “Natural Thinker”. This composition brought out the sensitive side of us. Actually, Lawang Wangi is a cafe and art space that located in Bandung’s high land. Since the event was set outdoor, a very beautiful scenery of sparkling Bandung’s city lights was the background that naturally made a perfect harmony with the music, especially in night hours.
Before we carry on with this report, let’s take a closer look at Gerald Situmorang first. This man is skillful as a guitarist, great in composing and also ‘restless’, in terms of never stop producing something. He’s been active with variety of bands where each of them has different concept. BAG Trio came out at the first time as a jazz band, then they added more flavor and changed the name into BAG+BEAT with more team-mates and urban sound. He also shaped Hemiola Quartet and of course, his probably most famous band to date, Sketsa. It was born nine years ago, mainly as a guitar-duo concept (that stays until today), a showdown between him and Dimas Wibisana. However since they always love to place more sounds and wish to avoid stagnation, Sketsa’s formation is made flexible. They can appear as a trio, quartet or even bigger with vocals, violin, contrabass, percussion, clarinet and accordion.
Back to the concert, the second song was “P & L”. He called his team mates to play with, bassist Ankadiov Subran and a drummer Jessilardus Mates. They came out and brought a fun medium to fast beat. Jessilardus Mates was the spotlight on the third song, “Keeps Coming Back”. The syncopative drum beating, the long-duration solo run and cool dynamics made him gain applauses from the crowds. Gerald and Ankadiov gave him comfortable space to show off his ability. The next song was called “Debu” which allowed Ankadiov to set his bomb. Gerald played a pretty catchy melodious jazzy tune in it. “This song is a reminder that we’re all formed of dust, so arrogance should have no place in us.” Gerald said in explaining this song. This reflective song relaxed our minds.
“Familiar Song” was carried in solo format by Gerald Situmorang and still led a reflective nuance to the audience. After this one, Ankadiov and Jessi back to the frame by bringing a light countryside’s freshness entitled “Old Stories”. Gerald put some effects to the guitar’s sound on the next song called “Dice”. They mixed a rock sound and jazz vibes in one bowl with high beat and each of them had a space to do solo runs.
Once again they served a relaxing tune in medium tempo entitled “Time is The Answer”. This title track already got a video clip which was released just a couple of days ago (watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmUpviQz8mU). “Getting The News” became the last song that might be listed under the modern progressive jazz. Challenging but fun. The temperature felt like dropping colder, the consequences of watching a concert outdoor on a high ground. Thanks to the trio, we got warmer by their presentation.
Gerald Situmorang told us about his trio, “I’m so happy because I got two my closest friends to play with me.” Ankadiov Subran was like his ‘music soulmate’ that has played alongside him for many years, while Jessilardus Mates is his musical mate as the band member of Monita Tahalea.
More about his new album “Time is the Answer”, Gerald told us that this album can be used as an introduction for us to find out who Gerald Situmorang and his music really is, and it will lead to the upcoming solo album he plans to release next year. Other than having beautifully crafted music where jazz pulses strong, we always love the surprise factor in his music projects. That happens because he loves to try new concept by using different kind of stuffs and sounds, then put them all into the recordings. That move makes us able to be a part of his journey as well as using it as a window to see where Gerald is at one particular time.
Gerald, is a fine young musician who has the tendency to have borderless exploration no matter what format he’s in. Even with a minimalist formation like trio he still performs many manouvers and flies as free as a bird. No keyboards or other ‘melodic’ instruments to block the chords while Gerald runs freely, but they know how to make their music round and full. Nutricious show from Gerald Situmorang Trio we have to say. If you wish to get the album, you can buy it at our online store: http://store.jazzuality.com/product/gerald-situmorang-trio-time-is-the-answer/. The Gerald’s Game is always interesting isn’t it?
Tesla Manaf and his team took over the stage for the second and final show. Tesla has been through quite a musical journey. We caught up with Tesla for the first time when he was still in his first duo, Bayu & Tesla with Bayu Kristianto. Later on this young man’s progressing not only in skill but also in trying out different concepts. He was in Ivan & Tesla, another duo project with Grace Sahertian called Grace & Tesla, then a trio with Gallang Perdhana Dalimunthe and Edward Manurung called G/E/T.
But the genius collaboration with Mahagotra Ganesha, the Balinese gamelan ensemble from students of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) known as Tesla Manaf feat Mahagotra Ganesha seems to be his pot of gold. Maybe not really literally just yet, but this unique ensemble made quite an impact to his career. The album got sold out pretty soon and he caught the attention of MoonJune Records from USA that made him a fresh, new recruit from Indonesia after simakDialog, Tohpati Ethnomission, Dewa Budjana, Ligro and I Know You Well Miss Clara.
While Tesla Manaf ft Mahagotra Ganesha’s “It’s All Yours” appeared again with the repackage edition under independent label DeMajors (click here to buy: http://store.jazzuality.com/product/tesla-manaf-feat-mahagotra-ganesha-its-all-yours-reissue/), he’s ready to launch the whole new concept for a shot to be distributed internationally by MoonJune Records. He recruited Rudy Zulkarnaen (contrabass), Desal Sembada (drums) and Hadis ‘Hulhul’ Hendarisman (clarinet/sax) and the quartet embarks a journey towards the progressive acoustic experimental music. Rudy is the bassist for the album, but in terms of concert, his place is given to Khrisna Alda Radiansyah. With this team, Tesla managed to make an album with the funny title: “A Man’s Relationship with His Fragile Area”. The surprise continues on with the most recent news we got from Tesla that his international debut will come as two-in-one album. That means, both his quartet and the one with Mahagotra Ganesha will be distributed all over the world by MoonJune. His never-say-die spirit that sometimes makes him more like a warrior than a musician proved to work. Tesla’s project with Moonjune Records is expected to arrive in November 2014.
Tesla started with a song called “Chin Up”. Hadis ‘Hulhul’ Hendarisman came first by playing his clarinet and the other players came in to build a complete structure. They combined the progressive free jazz with ethnic sundanese sound. The second one was the song of long distance relationship, “Counting Miles and Smiles”. They went out from the normal jazz pattern to create their own pattern, still involving the Sundanese sound. The third song was “Moving Side” where the clarinet spoke even louder. Is that it? Absolutely no. They actually have just begun and ready to bend our mind and flip it upside down.
Look at what came next. It was one of our favs, the spooky yet intriguing “Necrophilia” where horror and noir satire bumped to each other. Tesla and Hulhul created an interestingly different music hybrid unlike what you usually expect from guitar and clarinet sessions.”The Sweetest Horn” began with marching Celtic army, created by flute and drums, but then the strings completed it. Drummer Desal Sambada and bassist Khrisna built some variations of tempo and rhythm. “Where Are We Now” became the very last drop of Duality.
Tesla has a distinctive music style that’s like coming from a different dimension of brain and mind. We have noticed the seeds since many years ago when he was just started, and now comes the time for him to collect ripe fruits. As a quartet, the players sail towards the progressive-acoustic-experimental music where his nationality is shown within the pentatonic scales. Great ability to compose even the most complex piece, his braveness to go boldly beyond limit, visiting terrains not many have ever gone before and of course, fine execution with a perfect team, all makes the pendulum of fortune swings to his side. Don’t be surprise if soon he’ll be described as one of the finest, exquisite guitarists in the world.
Being a musician doesn’t mean that you should just wait for someone to give you gig but you can start making your own. And hey, you can also collaborate with your fellow musicians in making a ‘double-show’ concert. Tesla and Gerald did it. A simple idea but executed well with fine results in the end. Both of them are ready to make more impacts with their new works. For us who have known him since they were just begun, we feel really, really proud of them. It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t a one-night work, but it takes long struggling years. In the end, we all know that it’s all worth fighting for. They have became a good example in such young age. Well, Tesla Manaf and Gerald Situmorang Trio, congratulations and wish you the best with your album and future career. Shine on, jazz yourself all the way up!
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Reporter: Bintang S Tania
Photographer: Mia Damayanti
Editor: Riandy Kurniawan and Titus Firmanto