The New Beginning: Potluck’s Fresh Comeback Celebration
Ask the youngsters and young at hearts who live in Bandung about Potluck, and they will know it directly. That should prove enough how Potluck Coffee Bar and Library has deeply attached in their hearts and minds. Potluck Coffee Bar and Library has been known as the perfect place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere with friends and family while shipping the freshly brewed coffee, tasting the delicious snacks, and also let’s not forget the unique concept of combining the food concept with library. This is, as far as I know, the only cafe in Bandung that also provides many selection of books to choose. When the concept strectches to enter the music matter, they have been going through some changes. Potluck started their music concept with jazz. With series of collaboration with Klab Jazz back in 2007, Potluck used to held numerous live jazz event on their cozy venue. But then it was stopped. The concept was changed for a while to go with other segments of music. Now after going through a fully renovation process, Potluck Coffee Bar and Library is back again in businesss. And here’s the good news: They were decided to go back to the way they started. Jazz is once again the main course of Potluck’s music concept. Once Lucille G Husaen, the General Manager of Potluck told us “it’s actually been jazz all these times.” Realizing that, Potluck has made a perfect decision to bring jazz in front once again just like they used to be in the past.
The collaboration with KlabJazz was established once again. We have seen two great edition of Sunday Jazz last April and May. The next one is coming tomorrow, Sunday, June 6, 2010. Not only the Sunday Jazz, but they also present Afternoon Jazz every Wednesday and Thursday starting 5:00 pm local time and also Sunday Jazz Brunch every Sunday Morning starting at 11:00 am. It’s a smart choice afterall, since they are targeting the active segment amongst 25 years old and up to fill up their “homey and relaxing” concept. With their new tagline, “My kind of Life. Positive.”, everything seems perfectly fit in place.
Let’s now talk about the Library. They have been providing numerous reading materials from books to magazines that can be read on the spot for free. You can even rent them after fulfilling the membership terms. As jazz re-appears as the main course of Potluck, now the Library has a special section, the jazz section. They gave a very special name as well for it: Klab Jazz Corner @ Potluck Library. Now you can find various magazines and books related to jazz. It’s a good way to nourish your knowledge about the wonderful world of jazz while enjoying your relaxing hours with your loved ones along with tasting the delicious menus. So far it was Dwi Cahya Yuniman, the coordinator of Klab Jazz who donated his jazz books and magazines collection to fill up the section. “Some people asked me, what if those magazines and books dissapear? I said, let it be. It’s still better to place them in here and give benefit to many people than just staying cold on my rack or attic.” said Dwi Cahya Yuniman. As how he always dream to socialize jazz as much as possible, sharing these collections would surely make him happy.
A comeback party was made on Saturday, June 5, 2010. It’s a party to celebrate “The New Beginning”, a Fresh Comeback Celebration. going back to the jazz concept along with the establishment of special jazz section on the library. On the invitation they have stated that there would be jazz performance featuring a surprise guest star!
Besides making this event as a come back party, it was also made as a birthday celebration. Potluck has been in service for 7 years now and this year may be the start of something big for them. We sincerely wish them all the best for that.
The party was opened by an acoustic trio, Mr Bean & The Teddy Bear. Bravely they brought the new version of ST 12‘s “Cari Pacar Lagi” and some cool version of traditional folk song like “Manuk Dadali” and “Yamko Rambe Yamko” in jazz approach. After a short break due to the prayer calling came a unique performance of Deugalih, delivering a poem musicalization. He played guitar while singing his poems. Deugalih is a poet who can also interpret his writings into cool guitar melody and sing. It was surprisingly creative.
The official ceremony of opening the Klab Jazz Corner @ Potluck Library came next. The senior jazz man Yongki Nusantara got the honor to cut the curtain with Dwi cahya Yuniman and the owner of Potluck, Pungky Paulina.
The stage went on again with the stylish acoustic band De’Natu, a band that regularly fill in the Sunday Jazz Brunch at Potluck Coffee Bar and Library. They brought the first song “Tersiksa Lagi” that was famous by various artists including Utha Likumahuwa and Syaharani. The next song was a surprise, the Incubus‘ hit “Summer Romance (Anti-Gravity Love Song).” De’Natu delivered it cool acoustically. Daniel Sahuleka‘s evergreen “Don’t Sleep Away The Night” and Edie Brickell‘s “Good Times Bad Times” continued their session. The last song from De’Natu was the acoustic version of Billy Joel‘s “Just The Way You Are”.
Another acoustic band named “Room” continued the sweet performance of De’Natu. This band of 5 delivered Robin Thicke‘s “Sweetest Love” to open their show. then they sang their own song, a groovy beat “Kau Datang”. A duet came next taking on Bee Gees‘ “How Deep Is Your Love.” After delivering their own song, they sang Sandhy Sondoro‘s “Malam Biru” in a very different style. If you are into the groovy kind of songs just like Soulvibe, you will like this band as well.
A newly formed band appeared next. It was a special band came from Jakarta consists of emerging new generation of jazz musicians. The band called “Shadow Puppets”, or in Indonesia we call it “Wayang Golek.” This band with a very unique name consists of friends who firstly gathered at the Henning Sieverts workshop which was made by Serambi Jazz last year in October. 
They found chemistry with each other since then, and went on establishing a band together. Shadow Puppets consists of:
Indrawan Tjhin (contra bass), a fast rising jazz instrumentalist who graduated from Koninklijk Conservatorium (Royal Conservatory) of The Hague in Den Haag majoring Jazz Performance. Coming back to Indonesia, he got many chances to appear directly, and that’s no surprise since he has complete skills including a “nice to see” performance. You can see how he’s so into his gig just by watching his face on stage.
Robert Mulyarahardja (guitarist), a highly skillful guitarist graduated from Berklee College of Music. Still young but he’s surely ready to appear high on the Indonesian jazz scene.
Irsa Destiwi (piano). We know her first of all by joining the international band “Bali Lounge 2″ several years ago. Her stylish way of playing, the ability to bring from pop to serious jazz pattern in complex chords has placed her into the top female jazz pianist in Indonesia today. Besides joining Shadow Puppets, Irsa is also the pianist of a cool duo, Bandanaira with Lea simanjuntak.
Shandy Satya (drum) is a young drummer from Institut Musik Daya. He was the student of the versatile drummer Sandhy Winarta.
Strong combination of talents means quality, and that was what they showed on stage. A tribute to Thelonious Monk entitled “Monkisms” was the first song they brought. The crowds really loved it and gave huge applause just when they were done with it. Everyone seemed to be hypnotized now, as we all focused on their performance. The next song was Irsa’s own composition entitled “Shades of Orange” served chill and cool. Irsa got the chance to show herself with her fingers dancing on the piano keys ellegantly. “Unspoken Thought” was next, again composed by Irsa Destiwi. It’s another cool playing with enough room for improvisations, and that drawed the crowds’ attention really well. The last song was “Pete’s Tune”, served amazingly just like the previous ones.
A lovely solo jazz piano recital presented by a beautiful young pianist Diah Ayu. It was really nice to hear two of the songs we all know, “Beautiful Love” and “Satin Doll”.
Shadow Puppets came back again on stage, this time bringing Dira J Sugandi. “Eventhough I came from Bandung, it was rare for me to have the chance performing on my own hometown” she said. For that she extended her thanks to Potluck and Klab Jazz for inviting her. The first song from Dira and the Shadow Puppets was “I Wish You Love”, a famous heartbreaking song that originally written in French. Dira sang it smooth and sweet, sending the love from the stage to the audiences. The sweet bossa tune “My Little Boat” came before Dira showed her amazing vocal range with Etta James‘ “At Last”. It was really nice to have a romantic night session with Dira’s appearance together with the Shadow Puppets.
Shadow Puppets will release their mini EP this coming July 3rd, when they have a gig at Salihara. It’s going to be wonderful to have a new highly talented group like Shadow Puppets. Very promising indeed, and we wish them all the best to climb higher in the near future.
Another solo jazz piano recital came next by Stanley. He played two songs “Someday My Prince Will come” and “Spain”. Just like Diah Ayu, Stanley gave a stunning landscapic jazz piano playing. Sunday Jazz will bring solo piano recitals in the future, and tonight we got the chance to taste two of them.
The crowds were still filling up every space of Potluck as Iman Brata Trio prepared themselves on stage. They brought one of Coltrane‘s number, “Mr PC”. Two more songs came from them, “Tin Tin Deo” by Kenny Burrell and “All the Things You Are”. Again Iman Brata Trio gave out a great show just like they did at Frenzy Jazz Night some weeks ago.
The last performer was G/E/T. They gave a burning performances. Tesla, Gallang and Edward were on fire playing their repertoires including “One Year Dinner”, “Migraine”, “Play Dead”, “3 Months Already” and “Patas 05 AC”. Shouts and applauses were given to this excellent trio, and that was the end of the party.
Whether you want to have a nice relaxing hours with jazz or learn more about jazz through reading materials, or you want to have both while enjoying various foods and freshly brewed coffee, now you know where to go. Potluck Coffee Bar and Library has made themselves appear very jazzy, and we love it! And of course, what a celebration it was. Nonstop live performances for almost 7 hours marked the anniversary of Potluck and the launching of Klab Jazz Corner @ Potluck. Congratulations, Potluck, and Happy Anniversary! Also we give props to Klab Jazz for their consistant and continuous efforts to socialize jazz. May jazz be alive well in Bandung starting from Potluck. We wish you nothing but the best. Keep jazzin’!
See more pictures:
Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan
Photographer: Eghi Gabred
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