14February2006
Posted by admin under: Album; Gigs.
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Fresh from its worldwide tour, seminal fusion band Krakatau is set to stage a homecoming at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) this evening at 8 p.m.
Billed as the 2-Worlds Live In Concert, the seven-member band will bring an attraction that has become the biggest draw of their overseas concerts, a blend of pentatonic Indonesian ethnic music (traditional gamelan music in particular) and diatonic Western-style jazz music.
In the TIM concert, Krakatau, however, will broaden its musical horizons by incorporating elements of Acehnese traditional music with a song from Acehnese vocalist Teuku Rafly.
The show will also be tinged with flavors of World Music with the presence of Farabi Percussion Ensemble.
After the group’s musical excursion to these exotic lands, renowned saxophonist Arief Setiadi is expected to bring back a jazz flavor to the show, the first in a year for Krakatau.
The band staged its last gig early last year at the first International Java Jazz Festival.
It will also be the first time in a year that Krakatau will play a venue with its complete lineup: keyboardist Dwiki Dharmawan, bassist Pra Budi Dharma, vocalist Nya’ Ina “Ubiet” Raseuki, trumpeter Yoyon Dharsono, percussionist Adhie Rudhiana, gamelan specialist Zainal Arifin and drummer Gerry Herb.
The concert also doubles as the official launch for the band’s double-disc album, 2-Worlds and Rhythm of Reformation.
Krakatau, one of the jazz supergroups in the country, was founded in 1985 by Dharmawan, a classically-trained musician, and Budhi Dharma, who had just returned from music studies in the U.S.
Later, veteran bassist Donny Soehendra and rock drummer Budhy Haryono joined.
In subsequent years, some of the country’s best musicians entered the lineup, among them session drummer Gilang Ramadhan, jazz prodigy Indra Lesmana and female singer Trie Utami.
Krakatau made its international debut at the 1985 Yamaha Bands Explosion in Tokyo where Dharmawan bagged a Grand Prix as the most talented keyboardist.
Thus far, the band has performed in 19 countries on four continents, including some of the most respected events in jazz, such as the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
The band will start another leg of its European tour later this year
25September2005
Posted by admin under: Gigs.
The Jakarta Post
Features - September 25, 2004
John Badalu, Contributor, Jakarta Italy is rarely associated with jazz — more so with classical music and opera; however the Italian band Actis proved the assumption wrong. Its concert at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, on Sept. 22, went beyond the audience’s expectations.
Organized by the Italian Institute of Culture Jakarta, the band members’ physical appearance was already intimidating before they even started to play. Wearing loose, tribal-pattern clothing, Actis offered an unusual blend of jazz with an ethnic touch.
Led by Carlo Actis Dato playing saxophone and clarinet, Massimo Rossi blowing alto and soprano saxophones, Karsten Lipp on guitar, Federico Marchesano with electric and acoustic bass and Dario Bruna beating the drums, the band was an attractive stage act.
In the first half of the concert, Actis indulged not only our ears but also our eyes. At one point, both saxophonists Actis and Rossi jumped down to the audience and communicated with the audience through their instruments.
On another occasion, Carlo Actis Dato played his saxophone and slowly dismantled his instrument; still playing with less and less of it. Takayama Rap, the first song to open the concert, was an “urban soundscape” inspired by the town, Takayama, in Japan.
The tempo went down on the next one, a mellow tune that still made the feet want to tap along. Actis kept us entertained with Los Tiburones (The Sharks), which is a blend of jazz and funk, to Nairobi Night where the music turned from jazz to Middle Eastern. The exploration of jazz took its widest interpretation in the hands of this engaging band.
Carlo Actis Dato started to play clarinet in street bands and dance groups, touring across Europe and the U.S. since the 1970s and recording more than 80 albums.
Back home in Italy, Dato is considered one of the best baritone saxophone players around. Karsten Lipp, the only German in the group, was born in Bremen. He got a scholarship to study at Sienna jazz school and since then has lived in Italy.
Dario Bruna, the drummer, has participated in Umbria Jazz Festival, one of the most important jazz music festivals in Italy. Federico Marchesano graduated from Turin Music School and worked with symphonic orchestras before.
Massimo Rossi has recorded two CDs. He also composes music for actors and dancers. With such dynamic members, Actis produces solid, yet entertaining jazz music in the widest sense of the term.
The second half of the concert was filled with Krakatau, a home band that has been well known since the 1980s. Krakatau has changed over the years — not only the personnel but also its music.
The new lineup comprises Dwiki Dharmawan on keyboard and synthesizer, Pra Budi Dharma on electric fretless bass, Adhe Rudiana on percussion and kendang (traditional percussion), Yoyon Dharsono on vocals and traditional musical instruments, Zainal Arifin on gamelan and percussion, Gary Herb Siwalette on drums and Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet) on vocals.
Krakatau offered three lengthy songs with improvisation on each instrument and vocals. They played with more jazz as a base but heightened it up with a more ethnic Karawitan sound. More electronics and vocal exploration was a notable feature.
Ubiet did a sensational, short vocal session with many different sounds being articulated.
Playing together, Actis and Krakatau, created a noisy circus beat that searched for harmony at the beginning. At some points the instruments drowned each other out but once they found their own rhythm together, they produced a serene collaboration.
Each musician had a dialog with his counterpart. At the end of the concert, both bands received a standing ovation. It was rare indeed to be able to enjoy a quality concert like this.
