Exclusive Interview with Riza Arshad and Indra Aziz at Serambi Jazz
As we reach the mid 2009, we are happy to see Serambi Jazz events getting stronger and better. It was full crowded last night at GoetheHaus Jakarta. Smiling faces of satisfaction from people enjoying the good quality show could be seen easily around the building. Serambi Jazz has been providing such an interesting concept, mixing the joy of watching concert and educational cause, in form of cultural relationship between Germany and Indonesia, in Jazz to be exact. This is a very meaningful cause served well, especially with having the fully experienced Riza Arshad as the curator of this program.
Last night, June 11, 2009 at GoetheHaus, another chapter of Serambi Jazz was held. This time featuring Bintang Indrianto’s AKORDEON and Indra Aziz Project, BEATBOP with Riza Arshad. Interesting and unique concept to see the wider scale of jazz has presented brilliantly. It’s very nice to see how great ensembles of musicians could stretch Jazz into many other forms harmoniously, creating a whole new musical experience for us to absorb.
With this cool concept and many new things, of course there are many questions arise. What’s behind the making of Serambi Jazz? Will there still be series of Serambi Jazz next year? Curious to know about the beatbox, and how the future will be for them according to their plan? We got the chance to do an exclusive interview with the curator/musician Riza Arshad and the man behind this interesting Beatbop Project, Indra Aziz.
I’d like to ask Riza first, can you tell us how Serambi Jazz was formed?
Riza: Serambi Jazz was established through a partnership between me and GoetheHaus. They often invited me to play at their jazz events, but I couldn’t always be available for them. Plus, I don’t think it wouldn’t be good to feature me all the time. So, I offered them a new concept. A jazz concert every two months, featuring loads of talented musicians that have always been dedicating their lives to music.
How was the process?
Riza: The chairman of GoetheHaus is actually a big fan of art, especially music. Once he showed me his music collection, and he impressed me. I never thought he was someone with high taste of art. Therefore when I proposed this concept, he agreed right away, and asked me to find the musicians to be featured in these Serambi Jazz series of event.
Serambi Jazz presents one jazz concert in every two months. Why did you decide to make it that way?
Riza: I don’t want to dominate the Indonesian jazz scene too much by making this event too often. I would love it if Indonesian people could have a lot of variations and choices of what they would like to see. So they won’t focus only at one point, watching jazz concert only at Serambi Jazz. Besides that, we want to give compliment to many other jazz events, such as JakJazz, Java Jazz or many “smaller” jazz events that have been made regularly like Komunitas Jajan Jazz, KlabJazz’ Jazz Break Revival in Bandung, and so on. The more the merrier. We can see the development of jazz community through these many events.
Now let’s talk about the musicians featured at Serambi Jazz. What’s the criteria? how do you base your decision to select them?
Riza: I make my decision based on who or how they are as a musician. As I said before, this event has to be filled by someone who has high dedication to Indonesian jazz development. In other words, someone who has decided to live their life as jazz players. I have the list of many musicians who are very talented, but not widely known yet. Therefore through this Serambi Jazz event we hope we can introduce them and get more appreciation from the society.
It’s interesting to see two international names were being listed on the Serambi Jazz series (Florian Ross and Henning Sieverts Quartet). How did you select them?
Riza: As for the selection of international musicians, my selection is based on very simple terms. Besides being a good player, they also have to be able to teach, because the system of Serambi Jazz for international musicians is workshop and concert. I have seen so many international musicians who came to Indonesia only to do a concert, while actually they had potential to share their knowledge to our musicians.
So, why did you choose Florian and Henning? Did you consider based on any particular genre as well?
Riza: I’m open with any jazz genres, as long as they still have thick jazz pattern and wiling to give good education to our local musicians. Why I finally decided these two names? Actually I was handed a very long list of international musicians by GoetheHaus. Then I choose Florian and Henning based on those two terms, they are great musicians and can give good education as well, spreading their knowledge to us.
Now let’s move to the next subject, about your concert tonight, Beatbop Project. It was a very unique and brilliant concept, fusing Beatbox Music with Jazz in one harmonious marriage. Who had this idea first of all?
Indra: First of all, about the idea of this collaboration, I have to thank Riza, because I have rehearsed a lot with him. Then he gave me an idea, what if I fused my music with jazz. And here it is as the result, just like what you have seen.
Indeed, it was fascinating. How did this beatbox style develop in Indonesia?
Indra: Actually the Indonesian beatbox community started from this buliding (Goethehaus). This is where it started. Back in October 2008, there was an European Film Festival, with “Love, Peace & Beatbox” as one of the movie presented. (Love, Peace & Beatbox is a documentary movie directed by Volker Meyer-Dabisch, picturing the beatboxing community in Berlin). Mando, the personnel of 4xsamples, the champion of 2006/2007 Germany beatbox championship who got big portions in that movie also came to Indonesia at that time. From there, we formed our community. First we interracted through Friendster, and now we are solid as a group in Facebook. We gather often to practice and beatboxing.
As how I heard through your performance tonight, Beatbox has blended harmoniously with jazz. My next question is, where this Beatbox influence came from?
Indra: Beatbox is more to funk and hiphop.
Then, Riza, how to blend Beatbox with Jazz?
Riza: If we look back to the 70’s-80’s, there were many jazz musicians experimenting with many things. One of them was Branford Marsalis, who fused his thick jazz style with DJ’s sampling machine. From there, a new style was formed, the style that is famously known as Acid Jazz. And now, many people are familiar with Nu-Jazz as well.
About your collaboration, is this the first time in the world, or there were other artists/groups that has done it before?
Riza: No, we are not the first. There are many examples of bands that has been fusing beatbox with jazz for quite sometimes out there, overseas. Maybe it’s because they have formed the community much earlier than us.
Indra: In Indonesia, maybe this is the first time. So, we can proclaim ourselves as the first beatbop in Indonesia.
So, will Beatbop still be continued? How’s the plan?
Indra: Certainly. Seing the appreciation from the audience tonight, we are sure to continue this project everywhere. Maybe by doing a concert in other places, we are glad to spread this new concept to wider society.
Will there be any album for Beatbop Project?
Indra: I’ve been thinking of it, but we are focusing on DVD Live Performance or videos about beatbox first. We want to educate many people who are interested in beatbox, but they have no source to practice it. That’s why I’m more like focusing on the educational DVD Live.
Indra, what do you plan for yourself in the near future? With all you’re capable of, how do you position yourself as? Indra as the beatboxer? saxophonist? vocalist?
Indra: I don’t want to put myself in a certain box. I think I can be known as Indra the beatboxer, saxophonist, or vocalist in different segmentation. I don’t want to be identical to any instruments I play with, because now I can also sing and beatboxing.
Riza: Yes, that’s what we call a multitalented musician. Indra Aziz is indeed a true artist. He can play many instruments and many other talents without wanting to be related to any particular instrument. Amazing.
Indra, you were featured in “Jazz Masa Kini” album with a very cool song called “Jakata City Blues”. What’s about a project of making a solo album?
Indra: About making a solo album, maybe I can concentrate to it next year. As for now, I’ve written some songs, but I still can’t focus my mind fully on that yet. So far, I have made 3 songs. My style is more to the classic R&B/Soul.
Like Marvin Gaye, perhaps? He’s one of the legendary soul artist.
Indra: yes, maybe I’m going to his direction. My vocal character is set to that too.
Riza, you have been involved in so many project. What’s your next plan?
Riza: My first priority is still with simakDialog. Other than that, like making this event for example, take it as my effort to keep pushing Jazz in Indonesia to grow continuously.
The last question, how’s the prospect of Serambi Jazz in 2010? Will this still be continued?
Riza: For next year, Goethe has asked me about it, what will the concept be in 2010. I haven’t decided ye, but yes it will still be continued. What I like from this event is how we are back to our own tadition in general, that as an Indonesian we like to gather together to watch a show. In the old days, this kind of social gathering was always a special moment to relax, out from the daily works, having some fun with friends. We don’t need to see our jazz attribute in this case. The most impotant thing about it is how we can make a meaningful event where the community can join together, having their best of times in a cozy place enjoying music, and still keep coming back in the next events to come.
All right! Thank you very much for the interview. All the best to you both.
Interviewed by: Titis Sapto Rahardjo
Photographer: Reska
Editor: Riandy Kurniawan
Popularity: 16% [?]
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[...] The night went on, BeatBop Project featuring Riza Arshad & Indra Aziz took over the stage. It was amazing how with only their mouth they manages to make beats from perccusions instruments and create musics. “Our Song” was the first song that awed the audiences, this song was composed on 2006 and was played for the first time at Serambi Jazz last year (check out the report here) and again was played last night at Java Jazz On the Move. Although the rain almost poured down from the sky again, people are still gathering for the great jazz beat and amazing BeatBop Project. They ended the night after singing 8 songs from their composition and reminded everyone to go Java Jazz Festifal on March. (Read our exclusive interview with Indra Aziz and Riza Arshad) [...]