Exclusive Interview With Bop Vivant
The main event for Ramadhan Jazz was filled by a fantastic band named Bop Vivant. This is a really cool band with high degree of difficulties way of play that may sound a bit too difficult for those who are not familiar with deep jazz. I’d say they deliver a “mature style of jazz“. Just like their name, they brought bop style blends with standard jazz here and there. From what I saw at the event, their outstanding skill brought them big applause from the audience. Not only that, Bop Vivant also delivered their own-made songs. They played their unbelievable compositions and I tell you, those songs were really great. Individual skills and solid teamwork made them stand as one exceptional band.
Bop Vivant consists of 3 personnel. David Manuhutu (piano), Opik (drum) dan Sonny Susetyo (bass). Accompanied by Mr Niman from Klabjazz, here’s the interview.
How long has you formed Bop Vivant?
It was formed right before JGTC (Jazz Goes To Campus), then we performed at Java Jazz.
Please tell me how you formed.
It started when I (Opik) heard David played, then I realized that we fit to play together. Bop Vivant formed by Mr Niman.
David, you played just like Herbie Hancock. Did he teach you himself?
Haha… no.. I just love to keep experimenting.
Did you learn piano by yourself?
No, I learn from Mr Imam Pras, since 3 years ago.
Vivant, what’s the meaning of it?
Vivant means joyful and lively. Means, we deliver Joyful/Lively Bop.
I think what you play is quite heavy. How do you think about this to face the music trend that goes to pop and acid direction?
We got along together by this kind of music. We all love this genre, and we don’t think much of the market trend. Not that we don’t care about the audience, but at least for now this is who we are. In different event we can also play some ballads or mellow songs as well.
Your own-made songs “Blues For My Father” and “Rhytmico” were fantastic. How many songs that you have already wrote yourself?
Besides those two, there are 3 more coming up. One has been done, the other two are not ready yet (laugh)
Any plan to do recording?
We are in the middle of that process right now. We produce it ourselves.
Are you optimist that the album will be acceptable by the market?
Hopefully Bop Vivant can be a nice alternative that available for music listeners.
I noticed something from your performance… why only drum went on solo run?
hahaha… we never plan for that when we practice. When we are on stage, it depends on how we feel. We perform differently in diffrent stage, so that doesn’t mean that the drummer get more portion. Sometimes Sonny have his time, also David.
David, two of your own-made songs were fantastic. Where did you get the inspiration from?
I got many inspirations from Herbie Hancock…
Are you the only one that write songs?
We all write songs, but David write more than the rest of us.
What do you plan after this?
We still practice once a week, we look forward to perform on jazz events. It’s like, before we do recording, we first introduce our band and let people know us.
It’s a pleasant surprise to see there are new comers that dare to perform in heavy jazz areas, such as you in bop. Do you all like bop that much?
Actually I didn’t think David like this (laugh). I thought he would like Keith Jarrett style and the likes of it, but when we met and played together, actually he is into this. So here we are, the music of Bop Vivant.
David is still 16 years old. How can you attracted to heavy jazz like this?
I got it from my dad’s kind of music.
Does he like Herbie Hancock?
As a matter of fact no.. actually he likes Wes Montgomery.
Mr Niman, we can’t deny that the music trend goes to groove and acid direction, or even fusion. Not many young musicians dare to play bop. How do you or Klabjazz support them?
There are many senior musicians dare to play different, like Indra Lesmana, Imam Pras or Riza Arshad for example. Just a coincidence that they are still young, so we suggest them to keep going. Klabjazz started as the place where jazz lovers used to meet. Then we all have the same way of thought, to socialize jazz, we met musicians, we made events. Then some Event Organizers were interested, also campus. The more events, the more young bands appear. From 10 groups, maybe 3 still stand, but still, it goes on really well until now. But we can’t close our eyes to face the fact that this kind of jazz is a bit difficult for ordinary music listeners. Because of that, I try to find them spots to appear in international events that normally can understand more of what they offer. And yes, they are capable for that.
Ok then.. I wish Bop Vivant and also Klabjazz all the best!
Thanks.
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Thank you for the good interview..
Good Luck to Jazzuality!
thanks mas Niman. all the best to you and Klabjazz.
[...] Manuhutu. I saw him first of all last year at Padjadjaran University playing in a group called Bop Vivant. Imagine this. He was still 16 at that time, yet he could play bop style without any problem, with [...]