The Jazzuality @ TP 06 was different in any way. Unlike before, this time we highlighted one band that has a very different concept, set to support and introduce their latest album released a few months ago.
Yes, we are talking about LIGRO, the home of three mad men. This is the kind of band that dares to go beyond limit, embarking a journey into the ‘unknown’ part of music that probably would only exist in the darkest part of the parallel universe. Their music, especially this new album titled “TRANSISI” is one of the most ‘provocative’ jazz recordings we have ever heard. It’s so provocative that we even have to use ‘brutal’ as the one of the words to describe their music. And of course, we just have to feature them in our event. We want our jazz community members to see how far can jazz go if they don’t go against the word ‘crazy’, how borderless jazz really is in the mind of free-spirited musicians and how exactly skill is needed in order to accomodate the creation from a dangerous mind.
So, this is the story of three musician extraordinaries who think differently: Agam Hamzah on electric guitar, Adi Darmawan on electric bass and Gusti Hendy (the drummer of GIGI) on prepared drum set. They gave birth to LIGRO in 2004 and worked on some compositions which led to the first album “Dictionary 1” 4 years after. Their dangerous, deranged mind carried on to the next two albums. Dictionary 2 and 3 were released in 2012 and 2016, making the first three recordings ended up as epic triolgy/saga which gained many praises from all around the world. This was made possible by USA-based label MoonJune Records who distributed the album globally.
At the end of last year they came back with the fourth album titled “Transisi” under Demajors. You can take your wildest guess on what’s inside, but we bet you would still be surprised once you listen to it. While still rooting in their previous compositions, they are taking it into the new level, more open and unpredictable direction. This album documented their attempt in going wider with their musical spectrum and goes more dangerously loose. More than a continuation of the Dictionary saga, they digged much further to find out what’s inside the different, hidden phase. Look at how serious these three mad-men are. In this album Agam uses a decatonic electric guitar tempered from Slendro scale made by the maestro Pra Budidharma. As a result you will find a different guitar sound and tone that you have never heard before.
If you wonder what they want to tell by having “Transisi” (Transition) as the title, this album contains the story of the transition period Indonesia has been experiencing still the huge political turmoil in 1998. But that’s not all, because they also captured the chaotic, lawless streets of Jakarta that may represent the same problem in other over-populated cities. You will find your mind being flipped upside down, being thrown from side to side and even tear your brain apart. Violent, brutal, derange, fierceful and uncontrolably wild. You see, just three players found inside, using each of their respective instrument. Yet you can experience how much chaos they created that goes all the way to the most extreme, passing the deathcore.
Enough for the introduction, and let’s see how this event went. The audience started filling the TP Stage a bit late due to the heavy rain outside right on the time we were supposed to start. Luckily the rain didn’t last too long, and soon after we got pretty enough number to start. Of course, to bring such brutal music courtesy of three madmen, we needed an opening act that we believed could take our mood, mind, heart, soul and every sense to be ready to such show. For that, we proudly relied on a band of young wizards, The NEW BLOOD.
Formed not too long ago by legendary harpist Hari Pochang, this band consists of all free-spirited and skillful young musicians who could also take jazz to the extreme yet pleasant to listen and fully entertaining. Their music is far from brutal, but they share the same wildness in playing like Ligro. The players are: Jason Limanjaya (piano), Anjuan Julio (guitar), Philip Manfred (saxophone), Sugih Achmad Gumilang (drum) and Ezra Manuhutu (bass).
We have featured them in our other event not long after they were formed last year. This band moves quite fast, because now they have more than enough materials to make one or even two albums. Fast, but it’s not a surprise since the band has brilliant musicians who are able to compose instead of just playing.
For this event they played all original songs. New Blood started with the youngest Philip’s composition titled “Look Down”. This song is inspired by his experience playing in a sea cruise. According to him, at first the musicians underestimated him. What could a mid-teen boy like him do? That was what they probably had in mind. But that soon changed when Philip started playing. So, this song was meant to motivate the listeners not to break down when someone look down on them, instead use it to go even higher. The song has some sharp punches primarily from Anjuan and Philip in front. Jason kept everything intact while making it ellegant with his jazzy fingers. Ezra and Sugih teamed up strong in thumping in the rhythm.
“Imagine the feeling when you feel like someone’s stalking you.” said Jason explaining the next song composed by him titled “Stalker”. This one was made heart-pounding that describe that exact feeling. Later on, Anjuan roared wild creating an intense chase scene. From smooth jazz, funk to rock, New Blood delivered the story chilled.
After throwing a couple of jokes, they went on with another story written by Philip based on his trip to an island located around 6 hours by boat from the beautiful Raja Ampat in Papua, off the norhwest tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula. The island name and the title of the song is “Misool”. If usually one would refer to the beauty of an island as the theme, Philip see it from a different angle. During his trip, he heard that a man was just died in the island after stepping on a highly toxic sea anemone. When they started playing, we directly catched a sad, scary and sound of terror inside a beautiful melody. For this one, Jason moved to grand piano and led the band to narate the story. Behind something beautiful lies a tragedy. That’s more or less what they want to tell, and yes, we feel it. Beautiful, intense, sad and terrorizing.
Earlier this month New Blood released their debut single titled “Caca Maura”. This song came almost like in medley. Anjuan made this song about two girl-friends of his, Caca and Maura. Unlike the previous one, “Caca Maura” has the Brazilian joy. while Anjuan stood tall in front accompanied by Philip’s sax lines, Jason was busy behind them moving back and forth from the keyboard to piano. This song easily showcase the fun side of these boys. Probably the lightest of their crafts so far, yet still technically challenging.
“Caca Maura” would work to give a blazing climax, but they wanted to give the audience more. “Do the Best”, another motivating theme written by Anjuan spread the uplifting spirit and positive vibes. They threw every last drop of energy they had resulting a blazing finale. The combination of smooth, funky jazz and hard-rocking fusion are encouraging and entertaining at the same time.
Playing much wilder and intense than any time we have seen before, the boys of New Blood did terrific job in rising up everyone’s mood. When we invited them to be the opening act, we intended to see them deliver high-octane performance that could set the heat before the unthinkable form of music. And they did rise to the occasion. They stepped up the plate and nailed it. Thanks to these young lions, we had no doubt that the audience were ready to enter the dare-devil rollercoaster ride.
More and more audience came in as the three madmen of LIGRO, Agam Hamzah , Adi Darmawan and Gusti Hendy entered the arena. Without further ado, these three madmen directly surprised the audience by letting out heavy distortive loud noise, nonstop for probably around 4 minutes or so. Feels like they are taking us into a transition from our cozy seat inside a cool jazz club to the chaotic, deranged and bizzare realm. If you wonder how it was, well..it was like being trapped inside the running engine of a plane. Oddly enough, soon after our ears adjust the noise, we could somehow hear ‘music’. Yes, it must be. Not like the kind of music we know, but it definitely is. Thunderous drum banging and unorthodox bass playing made it even more bizzare. These are the living entities inside Ligro’s music dictionary.
Adi told us that the story of Ligro began when Agam became the host of Java Jazz’s famous jam session that took place at that time in Hilton. The songs are familiar, but when musicians from all around the world put their sketch, the atmosphere created differently. Agam then came to Adi and Hendy offering an idea. “What if, we do our own jam.” he said. That became the core of Ligro, who then entered the studio and let themselves fly naturally. “All were done in one take, we didn’t even know what we were going to make, how the song would go as, etc.” said Adi. “Basically we based ourselves on motives. We try to figure out the motive of others and answer it. Sometimes it’s right, sometimes it’s wrong. But so be it. We just go straight up.” he added.
For “Transisi”, Agam said that it was actually a recycle of their previous songs, only played totally in different way. Some people refer their music as experimental. Some say it’s avant garde, heavy rockin’, deathcore or even mad music. “We don’t care, we just do what we do.” said Agam. That makes this band one of a kind. They might be inspired by the Mahavisnu Orchestra, they might be provoked by Pra Budidharma and his ingenius guitar creation, or inspired by the jam session involving musicians around the world. In the end, it doesn’t matter anymore, because Ligro transforms into a band like none other. Try to find a band like this, you would find it kind of impossible. Provoking, terrorizing, in times spreading horror, but we still want to put ourselves in it.
They kept on playing in the same fashion. They could start ‘smoother’ with some melodies, but in the end they put all sketches and scratches on each canvas. It’s like enjoying an abstract painting. You don’t have to understand or try hard to find the meaning to be able to admire it.
Gusti Hendy sent love to everyone who came by saying that their coming and th interaction they have with Bandung becomes a spirit for them to keep on creating stuffs.
Then they played a song that was kind of funny, especially when Agam being cool playing a little bit of reggae. The song is “Don Juan”, taken from their second album “Dictionary 2” released in 2012. Although the song was lighter than the previous ones, it still contained intense action from them that took us to the edge of our seats.
Eventually we finally reached the last song. For this one, Ligro gave something special as a token of appreciation by presenting an unreleased track never been played anywhere else before. This song which is projected to enter the upcoming 5th album is called “Bakucau”. From what we know, bakucau means eating by using hand instead of spoon and fork, but according to Hendy, it means scrambling or mixing things that normally would be impossible to blend in. This song turned out to be an epic. Agam produced some pentatonic scales, that was awesome, but what surprise us the most is when Adi left his bass guitar to become a pianist. He made it like a classical piano recital. He got plenty of time to do it as Agam and Hendy stepped aside and let him flew freely presenting wide, landscapic key-ploration. Majestic yet melancoly, but provoking at the same time. From there they roared wild to build the momentum until finally the reached the wild climax. The manic drumming, the crazy guitar part and the way Adi provoked Hendy – something he’s been doing throughout the concert were just unbelievably mad.
It was a bizarre jazz concert that only Ligro could do. Brutal but pleasuring, you can’t even hum with their song yet your soul got hooked to its deepest core. If you haven’t bought their latest album “Transisi”, you better get it now. The album would energized you in a way you have never felt before, it would pump your adrenaline and place you in the darkest corner of a parallel universe you have never thought existed.
It’s a big privilege to be able to present Ligro here in Bandung. We send our respect to Agam Hamzah, Adi Darmawan and Gusti Hendy for accepting our invitation to play for us and for presenting a very special concert that we will never forget. We thank 3 Negeri and Henky Suparjan for helping us out with the equipments, Zahar Mustilaq for supporting us, The Wolf Pack (Howling Channel) for capturing the event both photos and videos, and certainly, everyone who came. We salute you all.
We will be back again in April with another fresh batch. We hope you all will keep supporting us, our event and mission, and also the musicians we feature. We will let you know who will be featured in the Jazzuality @ TP 07 and look forward to see you again then.
See more pictures:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzuality/albums/72157665128552027
Reporter & Photographer: Riandy Kurniawan .