Just a couple of days ago Indonesia officially has a new President. Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi took his oath on Monday, October 20, 2014. As TIME magazine put him in the cover with “A New Hope” as the title, the music people now can hope for a better future, simply because for the first time this nation has a President who’s really a music fan, especially metal. Moreover, many times in his campaigns he affirmed commitment to support the creative economy. He’s only just begun, so let’s hope for the best.
Enough of the introduction, let’s get down to business. We scored another goal. A hattrick. Yes, we’re happy with the result of Braga Jazz Walk, 3rd edition. Speaking of variety we got Soul-Blues-Swing, Funky Fusion, Hard Bop and Groovy Pop Jazz among some other jazz corners that appeared here and there in smaller amount. Since all performers did their thing really well, this edition was filled with joy. Happy, tapping feet, smile, cheer, claps were all over the venue throughout the show.
Braga Jazz Walk is a two weekly event (on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month) that’s created by Jazzuality.com in full cooperation with Braga City Walk and KPH Music. We wish to (re)introduce the rich varieties of jazz to the society especially the music lovers who live in the same city, Bandung. Through this regular event we wish to push the regeneration much forward by providing reliable ground for them to gain experience, make themselves heard and try their music in front of real audience. At the same time we believe this event will give good entertainment to everyone watching. Thus, this is an edutainment program that hopefully can give benefit to the jazz development.
AllVoices was the first to begin with. This band was established 3 years ago when the personnels were still in high school in Sukabumi, West Java. In pursuing the education, they have to be scattered in three different cities: Bandung, Jakarta and Sukabumi. But amazingly the band was still well kept. They even still manage to have regular practice in their hometown. Talk about passion and commitment, they really have it.
AllVoices appeared in full team with Boy Hylmy and Simplicity (vocals), Dori wirawan and Trisna Wiguna (guitars), Yudansyah (bass), Elko Nurul (keyboard), Aldi (sax), Rizfan Zulkifli (percussion) and Puji Belmanda (drums). Right after the whole team arrived at Braga City Walk, AllVoices heated up the audience right from the start with Reza’s “Berharap tak Berpisah”. The second song was the posthumous hit of Michael Jackson with Justin Timberlake, “Love Never Felt So Good”. But interestingly, they taylored the song in mid tempo smooth jazz, not the original breezy disco confection. Brave attempt but it paid off.
Still with smooth jazz, the Dewa 19’s hit “Pupus” took us into even more melancholy night. Rizfan changed his gear to flute that gave richer layer to the song. For the last song they went upbeat, this time with the cool rearrangement of GIGI’s “Nakal”.
Just in 2014 alone they have performed in three prestigious stages: Kampoeng Jazz 2014 (as the winner of Band Auditions), Ramadhan Jazz Festival and Tangsel Jazz Festival. A fruitful year it’s been, and we’re just proud to be able to invite them. Fresh, groovy pop jazz like this are always perfect to capture the mall-goers, especially when it’s well executed by a band like this. As an evidence, we got good amount of crowds right from the start.
AllVoices is a solid proof that jazz has been growing very well in Sukabumi. From them we got the info that Sukabumi already has a jazz community called “Ngajazz”. We’re happy to know it. May there be more jazz bands from this particular city in Braga Jazz Walk. Thank you for coming and playing, AllVoices, hope to see you again.
Time to check out the ‘Light’, a direct translation of the name of the next band, Lumiere. Established by a bunch of friends: Hendike (saxophone), Widiyanto Sutanto (keyboard), Marissa Wiguna (drums), Robert Daniel (bass), Daniel Christy (guitar) and Gerry (vocal) in June 2014, this band move quite fast by already has one recorded track from their original materials. Speaking of the composition of players, Lumiere is like a marriage between two bands: Out of 7 and Final Script. We know the great talents behind this band and expected something tight from them. Did we get it from them? Absolutely.
A package of funky hard bop was served as the opening with Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon”. Massive funk-attack were thrown from the stage by them. After this instrumental track, Gerry joined the musicians to sing their original song, “Tak Terkalahkan”. Benjamin S’ “Nonton Bioskop” got a groovy, fusion suit and then they sealed up high with Daniel Christy’s favorite pick, “Night Rhythms”. Solo runs, tradings, call and response and improvisations were all over each song. It was tight!
Powerful in every line, we should say. Infectious monster groove from the bassman, the colorful beat from the lady drummer, sharp jazz-rock guitar, the stunning improvisation on the piano and funky boppin’ sax were merry like a multi-colored Christmas light bulbs. By the addition of RnB male vocalist, Lumiere should shine even brighter. Still 4 months old, but with this kind of players the band can really go far, no doubt about it.
The mainstream industry in Indonesia today tend to go more into big sized band plus the amount of singers that is never enough. If that’s the reference, the young musicians would think that the big sized is the only way for them to succeed. Because of that, while we are dealing with the regeneration process, we have to push the establishment of smaller format, all the way to duo or even solo. As we have showcased the duos and solos a couple of times in the old Terraz Jazz, Klab Jazz moved towards the same point, even further by making up a Duo Tone concert. Four duos plus one special performance by Sarah N Soul for us became an important agenda not only to keep the music scene full of variety, but also as a reminder that a duo can be good too if not even better.
So here, we invited one of the four duos and placed them as the final show: Agis Bape, the collaborative project between the powerhouse soul sister Agis Kania teamed up with swingin’ guitar sensation Opik Bape. They have worked together for quite some time, especially in the French Gypsy Swing/Jazz Manouche group Satura. In Satura there are two guitarists and two vocalists, this time it’s like being cut in half. By going smaller, these two artists are able to focus on their forte which creates a unique blend between soul and swing.
Agis has a strong, 5-star soulful vocal character while Opik is a fine swing guitarist that would have been a huge success had he be born 80-90 years ago, either in Paris or Chicago. With that kind of hat, Opik got even stronger spirit and look cooler. They began sailing with Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”. Agis showed how strong she could sing as well as demonstrating a voice with character. Then she went back all the way to the mid 30’s with a jazzy blues blast from the past, “Why Don’t You Do Right”. If the 30’s sounds too far, this song was sung by Jessica Rabbit character in the trailblazing combination of animation and live-action from 1988 movie, “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”.
Etta James’ “Fool that I Am” served deep before they revisited Motown with Marvin Gaye’s “Inner City Blues”. Agis’ all time fav “Change The World” originally by Eric Clapton became the last meal. Not an easy song to sing since one has to have the ‘it’ factor other than top-notch singing/guitar playing quality, but these two folks have it all. What a way to end a show.
Just two of them, but look at the music they produced. It felt fully round and deep, not flat and has no blank spots. Players in a duo have to know their own role and be connected fully to each other. In our opinion, Agis Kania and Opik Bape is definitely one of the best pairings ever made in Indonesia and they should be able to march much further, if the industry still care of quality.
Before the jam session started, we gave a shot to a group of Telkom University students named Nouveau. They have been coming regularly but they haven’t got the slot just yet. We invited and let them play one song. They surprised us with a unique swingin’ cover of Pharell Williams’ “Happy”. They gave good shot. For sure you will see them again in even longer duration in one of the soon-coming editions.
Then the jam session started. Billy (vocal), Andi Pramudito (drums), Robert Daniel (bass) and Nicodemus Horisson (piano) were there together with three guitarists: Daniel Christy, Jerry Gates and Thomas. Chick Corea’s “Spain” became their choice. A group photo session occured earlier since some of the players especially the AllVoices members from Sukabumi had to go home. But the “Spain” was back again right after the session and carried on up until the end.
Three groups, different sizes, multi flavors, plenty of highlights and so many cool rearrangements, these would be good enough to describe this third edition. It was filled with groovy tunes, funky chops, jazzattack and classic/authentic swingin’, bluesy soul. With that range of variety, we hope the audience and mall-goers were entertained, while the coming musicians got something to look at. We thank everyone who have come and support us up until now. More to come in the next editions, so stay tuned and meanwhile, keep jazzin’.
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Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan
Photographer: Titus Firmanto
Video Editor: Vierna Mariska Kurniawan