Braga Jazz Walk #25 : The Report

The Braga Jazz Walk #25 was made as a celebration of the holy month of Ramadhan jazz style. In this 25th installment, we were back again to normal, but of course by still keeping the momentum. With that in mind, we invited 3 bands to give their best shot, not only to make this regular jazz community event has its own style but also to spread the love of jazz to Bandung society.

It turned out interesting. Interesting in terms of variety of colors, styles and nuances, all crafted perfectly by all players. There was the exotic, breezing bossanova brought by the top band from Jakarta, the naughty French funk with a phenomenal debut and sweet, beautiful pop jazz by a lovely girl with strong character. The venue Braga CityWalk and KPH Music is walking side by side with us as usual. What an edition it was. Only three bands in this edition, but we got so much fun.

Rizka Adlina was first. This girl has all things needed to succeed. She surely can sing. Her sweet, soulful voice suits to sing pop jazz. She can write songs, she plays some instruments, she got the look, camera loves her, and like we said, she has character. Plus, she has a really strong band to go with. What else to need? Maybe, more performing experience before she become famous.

We have invited her in 5 edition before. This time she has new players in her band: Yoga Wardana Kusumah (guitar) and Gerson Valdo Siahaan (piano), both members of the great fusion band 5Petani. The rest of the players are her long time partners: Farhan Faikar (bass) and Raka Rizkyandi (drum).

Rizka got many friends to support her tonight. Among them are friends and even her Korean teachers. After greeting everyone, she began with India Arie’s hit in 2013, “Just Do You”. A fresh, upbeat soulful groove was perfect as the opening which immidiately rewarded applauses. Then she switched to her favorite Korean singer IU’s song “The Shower”. Her teachers loved hearing the song from their own land, so did her friends. Then she went sweet, smooth groove with Andien’s “Denganmu Sahabatku”.

Next she took her own original song written when she was still in highschool, “Cinta Sementara”. This song could become a hit due to its relevancy to youngster’s daily life, lovely written lyrics and melody. For the last song she chose another hit of IU, “Pierrot Smiles at Us”. “This is the song from the first IU’s album that I listened to, and I fell in love right away with her album since it was made in jazz.” she said before singing. Huge applause was given to her for this delightful ending.

She called her music pop jazz exploration, showing her passion to explore the pop side of jazz more and more. Tonight she sang in three language, which for us exposing her ability that only a few can. She is working on a mini album with single right now expected to come next year. Let’s wish her the best, may the album be ready as planned. Good arrangement and talented musicians behind her made her appearance even shinier. One lovely session like this surely made a nice start.

The second band was a bunch of boys who takes the word playful to another level. They called themselves Jean Denis Trio, but no one in the band has that name. They are not even a trio, but a quintet. Confused? Well, Jean Denis is a personification of their music, which is rooted in funk. Claiming Jean Denis is a master of French funk trumpeter who performs with his trio, the 5 boys intend to make us feel his presence through their play. So, it’s imaginary, but somehow we can ‘meet’ that person and the trio. Who are these ‘derranged’ boys? They are: Albert Shadrach Dragtan (drum), Jason Limanjaya (keys), Frank Navayo (guitar), Gerson Valdo Siahaan (piano) and Fauzan Rijal (bass).

The band was born just a couple of weeks ago as a result of Albert’s wish to make one after his return from Jakarta to Bandung and Jason’s to play in this very event after he graduated from his formal study in Singapore. They met each other in the regular weekly jam session in Tera Walk Station Resto & Cafe which is hosted by Albert. Albert then moved fast to bring 3 more players in, which are also stand as proud members of 5Petani. The band might be newly born, but since the players are all skillful and creative, it doesn’t take long for them to find the magic formula for their concept. The evidence was clearly shown in their debut right here.

Not only playing, they also made some simple but unique concept in their appearance. they began with just two players: Gerson and Frank who established a dialogue using their instruments. Then the rest of the players came in to complete the first song, a cover of Roy Hargrove Quintet “Strasbourg — Saint-Denis”. This is where their name ‘Denis’ came from. Then, they delivered “Jean Pierre”, a later song from Miles Davis in 1981. Their playful funk began to bang the mall and totally grab the attention of everyone including passers-by.

They rose the tension with a classic 1969 funk by The Meters, “Cissy Strut”. The keyboard trading between Jason and Gerson was magnificent. Frank in front was burning, while the funky basslines and drumbeat from Fauzan and Albert injected lethal dose of poison. For the last piece they took “So What” (Miles Davis). We thought we knew the song, but they re-dressed the song differently. With more deadly funk chops and free-flying improvisation, they totally nailed it perfectly. Again, they made interesting stage act. The musicians slowly left the stage one by one. Starting with Frank, then Gerson, Fauzan and Albert. The only left player Jason gave a landscapic ending by showcasing some manic jazz-classical as the ending. Loud cheer and applause were given to them.

There are many band of youngsters who has funk inside their repertoires, but only a few core themselves deeply inside this side of jazz. When it comes to the playful French funk, the number gets even lesser. So, we are happy to see the birth of this band, and proud that they were debuted on our soil. About Jean Denis, was he present? Yes, we now know who he is: C’est magnifique fellas!

Ever since the Bossanova pioneered and exdmplified by João Gilberto in the 50’s in Brazil, the music took the world by storm. This ‘new trend’ music attracted the attention worldwide including in America. Elvis felt the urge to do it, so did Cannonball Adderley, Quincy Jones and many others. In Indonesia the wave hit pretty big too. Jack Lesmana had played it in the early 60’s for example when he played for pop singer/movie star Oslan Husein. Almost a decade later Margie Segers and Rien Djamain did numbers of Bossa songs, also many more artists like Ireng Maulana, Oele Pattiselano, Ermy Kullit, January Christy, Harvey Malaihollo, Jilly Likumahuwa only to mention a few. Today Bossanova still stands as one of the best-known Brazilian music genres abroad and loved by many music fans including in Indonesia.

In this event bossanova was found quite often, either in a full session or included inside band’s repertoires. This time we are really proud to have a man who’s known as one of the most stylish bossanova guitarist our nation ever has, along with his band established 10 years ago in 2006. It’s Zarro Ananta, and the band is ZARRO DE VEGA!

Zarro rose to fame with a popular acid jazz-based band Chlorophyl. After he left the band, he directly showed his passion in Bossanova, which is reflected in various projects and occasion. Other than this band, he also established Zarro and His Kaili-Bossanova Project where he shows the harmony between Bossanova and the lingua franca of his motherland, Palu in Central Celebes (Sulawesi). With Zarro de Vega (previously called Zarro and the Vega) and other projects including his solo project which has resulted 3 albums he has landed in many prestigious festivals including Java Jazz Festival, JakJazz and Indonesian Jazz Festival among others. Speaking of performance, Zarro de Vega loves to expand its musical canvas by collaborating with some other artists or bands including Mercy Dumais, the Brazilian artiste Lica Cecato and HajarBleh Big Band, where his band team mates pianist Roberto Joko stands as the conductor and mentor.

Tonight Zarro de Vega appeared in full team. Other than Zarro himself on guitar and vocal and Roberto Joko on keys, the band features Ricky Firmansyah (bass), Revi Awondatu (drums) and Junno Candra (percussions). The sheer extacy and the beauty of pure bossanova filled the hall right away. “Incompatibilidade” became their first choice, followed by a classic “Bossa Na Praia”. What’s unique came next. Zarro de Vega presented their version of The Police’s “Spirits in the Material World”. If the original has reggae feel and groovy syncope, Zarro redressed the song totally like it was made for Bossa.

We wonder what’s next, then Zarro and his band demonstrated how close Bossa is to his motherland. He sang his original songs using Kaili language, which yes, really fit to be sung in Bossa. First, “Mboto-Mboto” means “Separately”. They gave us something special, playing a new song which hasn’t even named yet. After that two other songs in Kaili were given, first “Yojo” and then the groovy “Tope Gugu” which should become Zarro de Vega’s anthem.

Zarro de Vega presented Bossanova in its authentic fashion, delivered it naturally clean and neat. The music, the singing, the chanting, humming.. it feels as if we were relaxing under the coconut tree and summer breeze in Ipanema beach. Soothing, exotic, warm and really entertaining, what a blessing it was for us and this Braga Jazz Walk event. We extend our grattitude to Zarro de Vega for supporting this community event. Obrigado! We salute you.

What an interesting edition this was. we got pop jazz, Electro French Funk and Bossanova in conjuction with the Kaili language. Thank you all performers for making up such a nice edition! Next month we will be back again with fresh batch. Just a hint: there will be a new band consisting of youngsters, a talented kid who will begin his role as a band leader and a new duo singing the contemporary jazz in relaxing mood. We believe it will give different sensation. That’s all for now, see you again next month!