The recent huge success of “The Greatest Showman” once again proves that the musical drama genre still works very, very well in today’s culture. This is the kind of genre where the characters sing as a part of the storyline, sometimes accompanied by dancing. This genre has begun in the mid 20’s, where “The Jazz Singer” became one of the most famous one from that decade. The 30’s through 50’s are known to be the golden age of Hollywood’s musical film and placed some of its artists to stardom, like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for example. While those were the golden era, the musical film never stopped coming. Look at the classic movies like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins in the 60’s, then Grease, All That Jazz among other similiar genre in the 70’s and so on.
Entering the millenium, this musical drama film still rules from time to time. Look at the jazzy “La La Land” for example, then of course “Pitch Perfect” series and yes, the most recent one The Greatest Showman. Let’s not forget the ones targetting teenagers like “Glee” and “High School Musical”, and of course Disney’s film that has been doing it for many decades. So yes, the musical drama plays a big deal in cinematic history, the popular culture or probably even the history of mankind. As you may notice, jazz has been found/involved in this theme from time to time, from the first ones a hundred years ago up to this day.
Looking at the connection between jazz and musical drama, we thought like, what if we bring a slice of it to our event? We have held that thought for quite a long time, and finally we got it! It’s brought by a creative and innovative music school in Bandung who has been connected with us these past several years. But that’s not the only important subject to tell, because we also welcome a band coming all the way from another city in West Java, about 3 hours by car from/to Bandung, Sukabumi. And, we continue our support to the newborn jazz-oriented band. You will find them all in this event, the BRAGA JAZZ NIGHT #46.
First, let’s talk about the one who will bring the slice of musical film into this event: The M.E. MUSIC CENTRE. Founded by jazz pianist Michelle Efferin in 2006, this school has been welcoming children as early as 2 years old to become students and allow them to join the music and vocal classes once they reach the age of 4. The school is an official representative of Encore Music Education all over Indonesia, where Michelle stands as the official trainer. We have been featuring them for many times, either representing the school or highlighting some of the students. But this time it’s going to be different.
“The theme we have this year is musical. It’s different than last year where we were more into acoustic, jazz and top 40” said Michelle to us. For this event basically Michelle will lead the kids and her team to bring the songs from the box-office hit movie “The Greatest Showman”, starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron inspired by the imagination of Phineas Taylor Barnum, a famous American showman, politician and businessman. It’s not easy to bring this concept alive, and it becomes harder when it involves children and teenagers. But M.E Music Centre seems to know what to do and how to utilize their students in bringing the difficult concept, something that they have done many times before.
The M.E Music Centre will use this event as a preparation for its 12th Anniversary on 26 May 2018 at the Atmosphere. For this anniversary concert they will play/sing songs not only from The Greatest Showman but also from Les Miserable, Grease, La La Land, Pitch Perfect et cetera.
We are happy that this event can be in use for them and at the same time it can entertain our audience and passers-by. So, The Greatest Showman will land on this edition. You love the movie? You love the songs? Make sure you join us.
If you remember, last month we got a band came all the way from Majalaya. This time we have the return of a band from anoher city in West Java, Sukabumi, ALLVOICES. We say the return, because we have actually had them in this event 4 years ago in edition number three.
The band was formed in 2011 when the personnels were still in high school in Sukabumi. Now they live in different cities. Some are still there, some have moved to Jakarta and some others are in Bandung.
We met them for the first time in the Kampoeng Jazz Band Auditions 2014. They won the audition and appeared in the main event of the festival. Later on AllVoices continued their shining moment by participating in other big fests such as Tangsel Jazz Festival and Ramadhan Jazz Festival just to mention a few. We still remember how good they entertained the audience in this event 4 years ago with their catchy, groovy pop jazz. The AllVoices was considered to be quite a big band, since they got 9 players back then.
We hadn’t heard from them for some years, until a few months ago they told us that the band is back in action with new concept and new formation. Most of the original members are still there such as Boy Hilmi Johari (vocal), Dori Wirawan (sax), Diaz (bass), Elko Nurul Yaqin (keys) and Rizfan Zulkifli Sastrawinata (percussion). But now they have two new members: saxophonist Yudansyah Utama Putra and the rockin’ drummer, Ade.
For us, it’s like welcoming old friends. With quite big formation they can bring such a party where fun and rich sound live in. They know how to cook jazz to fit the ears of even non jazz listeners. Plus, not many band has two saxophonists inside. 43 editions have passed, it’s been 4 years we haven’t seen them, it’s about time to bring them back home!
As usual, we try our best to welcome newborn bands into our event. This time we will feature one of them, a band with 5 members that takes a Deutsch language as their name: ERFOLG.
We heard about this band from one of its member who are no stranger to us, guitarist M Rizqi Pratama. According to him, it all began some times in 2017 when Ajie MC (bass) and R Bhameswara Putra Kencana (keys) searched for some partners to make a band with 80’s fusion flavor. Rizqi who studied at the same college with Bham joined in, and the band was born. To fill in the drum position, Rizqi brought in his fellow from STiMB, M. Reza Pahlevy. Then, Ajie invited his high school friend, Puji Ayu Lestari to be the vocalist. There, the band is finally complete and ready to sail.
Erfolg debuted at the Mechaniversary HMM ITENAS with satisfying result by getting good appreciation from the crowds. As they are still looking for more event to land, we open our door wide for them. Since Reza is currently working in different city, his position will be taken by Kevin Bernard. If you wonder what Erfolg is, it simply means: Success. That’s what they are aiming for: becoming a successful band with good works.
For you who love the sound of jazz fusion in the 80’s, this should be your thing. Do show them your support and enjoy their music.
The Braga Jazz Night #46 is coming soon on Thursday, 19 April 2018, starting from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm at the Braga CityWalk (Ground Floor). Just as usual, this event is FREE and open for public, and the jam session will be provided when we still have some spare time. From The Greatest Showman to 80’s Fusion to Groovy Pop Jazz, from kids to teens to adult, the Braga Jazz Night looks forward to give you variety of jazz-tertainment. Quoting from what Hugh Jackman (as PT Barnum) in The Greatest Showman says: “The noblest art is making other happy”, we hope this event can bring happiness to both musicians and jazz lovers. That’s what we like the most. Do come and share the jazzin’ fun with us!
BRAGA JAZZ NIGHT #46
Date: Thursday, 19 April 2018
Time: 07:00 – 10:00 pm
Location: Braga CityWalk
Jl. Braga 99-101 Bandung
FREE EVENT!
Featuring:
:: ME MUSIC CENTRE ::
Agus and Moudy – keys
Iwan – bass
Oggie Samuel – guitar
Richard – drum
Darren, Chris, Maddy, Sydney, Maria, Celline – vocals
Juan, CJ, Jason, Darren, Nathaniel, Gifford – rampak
:: ALLVOICES ::
Boy Hilmi Johari – vocal
Elko Nurul Yaqin – keys
Dori Wirawan and Yudansyah Utama Putra – sax
Diaz – bass
Rizfan Zulkifli Sastrawinata – percussion
Ade – drum
:: ERFOLG ::
R Bhameswara Putra Kencana – keys
Ajie MC – bass
M Rizqi Pratama – guitar
Puji Ayu Lestari – vocal
Kevin Bernard – drum