Jakartass Home thoughts from abroad. Alien thoughts from home.

Jazz has long been my favourite music genre because I believe that it is one of the few art forms which are an honest reflection of 'soul' and, when improvised, collaborative empathy.

That so much of what currently gets labelled as 'jazz' is formulaic, appealing to the lowest common denominator by catering to commercial trends, is unfortunate. Of course, everyone is entitled to earn an income, but I am often disappointed when talents are seemingly wasted on 'background' muzak.

This week Jazzuality has a really fine interview with Riza Arshad, the current 'guv'nor' of Indonesia's jazz scene, and much more complete than his contribution to the next edition of Culture Shock! Jakarta – to be published later this month. This is what he wrote.

Jakarta has a number of jazz festivals, the biggest being JavaJazz. There is also JakJazz and the oldest one in Indonesia, the third oldest in the world, Jazz Goes to Campus which started in 1977.

These festivals indulge jazz at its most marketable, so this has inspired other places around Indonesia to follow suit. and although people have started to accept jazz, not only as music but also as a 'lifestyle', this doesn’t mean that the city has facilitated any aspect for the musicians. We still have to strive to present and express our ideas and musical ability just like our colleagues around the world. But unlike jazz musicians who live in the US, Europe, Australia and Japan, musicians here lack good jazz education. We have no more than three ‘reliable’ institutions which provide decent knowledge of this music.

Programs like Serambi Jazz (curated by Riza – J) were created to raise the value of the music performed by dedicated and idealistic jazz musicians. Other small gatherings, in ‘Jazz at Café Au Lait’ or Indra Lesmana’s studio where jazz musicians frequently gather to jam and express their creativity, also help maintain the greater values of this music.

Another movement, world jazz, presents jazz with local/ethnic values. Even though there isn't much in Jakarta, in cities such as Bandung, Solo and Jogja, this is a new trend. Some festivals are related to this.

This demonstrates that jazz lovers around the globe have their own ways of presenting jazz as a very moderate and democratic 21st century cultural product.
…………………………..
Some 'ethno-jazz' albums to look out for.

Kulkul – Welcome To Bali
Karimata – Jezz
Simak Dialog – Trance Mission, Patahan, Demi Masa
Dwiki Dharmawan's World Peace Orchestra

All these fine albums, and more, can be ordered from Warta Jazz.com.
…………………………………………………………………….
Riza will be a guest of the Mery Kasiman Project next Thursday, August 12th, 2010, from 7:30pm at Goethe Haus, Jl. Sam Ratulangi 9-15, Menteng, Jakarta
Entry is free, but seats are limited.
For more info, please contact: (+62 21) 2355 0208, ext.116.