It’s certainly good to see Goethe Institut‘s successful program Serambi Jazz‘ is being busy in the Indonesian jazz scene recently. The last show in Jakarta was two months ago, on August with Tuslah (the unique quartet of Riza Arzhad, Sri Hanuraga on piano, Adra Karim and Elfa Zulham) (http://jazzuality.com/jazz-events/serambi-jazz-2014-tuslah/). Normally we would wait until the next program in November since Serambi Jazz is a two monthly event, but for this year this program landed on two different cities: Yogyakarta and Surabaya in between the regular schedule. The Duo Project (Dhani Syah and Johanes Radianto) was in Yogyakarta in July (http://jazzuality.com/jazz-events/serambi-jazz-2014-duo-project-ramadhani-syah-warongan-johanes-radianto-yogyakarta/) and then Sketsa (in trio format with Gerald Situmorang, Dimas Wibisana and Andreas Arianto) visited Surabaya (http://jazzuality.com/jazz-event-report/serambi-jazz-2014-presents-sketsa-in-surabaya-the-report/). So not only Serambi Jazz’s wings spread wider, they have been flapping more too. So talk about penetrating Indonesia with good quality of jazz concert, this program has been doing remarkably well.
As we have entered the month of October, that means it’s about time to have the next regular schedule of Serambi Jazz. We have received the official announcement from Goethe Institut Jakarta, and it turns out to be special. For the November 2014 edition, Serambi Jazz is presenting a trio who place their feet on two cities, Berlin and New York. Led by the German-American pianist Benny Lackner, here comes a group of three formed about a decade ago in New York City, Benny Lackner Trio.
Yes, it’s true that Benny Lackner’s group was build under a standard jazz trio formation, but their concept is anything but typical. The music is a combination of hard grooving beats, slow, atmospheric sounds and modern jazz. The balance of the composed music and improvisation holds a deep respect for the Jazz tradition and at the same time bringing out contemporary elements of modern music inspired by Radiohead as well as harmonic language inspired by composers such as Brahms and Chopin and Keith Jarrett. They refer their music to expressive jazz, that might be the good way to describe this multi-dimensional band. They decorate their music with slight electronic augmentation and drum programming, playing totally collective with each member plays an equal role inside. Together with drummer Matthieu Chazarenc and bassist Jerôme Regard, the trio establishes a new horizon of jazz unlike we have seen or heard before. Modern, groovy beating rhythm, artistic and utilizes both electronic and acoustic instruments can be found in their veins, something that they have started since 2002.
The unconventional interpretation of some diverse contemporary works of artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Björk, Feast to David Bowie has won more and more crowds everywhere they landed. But that’s not all, since they can fly their wings to reach wider lands by making surprisingly insightful arrangements of Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk and the Gershwins. Hey, we should add Brad Mehldau too, since Mehldau is actually, once, the private mentor of Lackner. By looking at these names you could get a slight hint of how diverse this group is in their play. But of course they have their own original songs which all can stand as their masterpiece. All of these stuffs are documented in their recordings such as “Sign of the Times” (2006), “Pilgrim” (2007), “Cachuma” (2012) and their brand-new 5th album, “Sisikiyou” (2014) that they are currently promoting by being on tour to Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The album Sisikiyou was recorded at the famous Jazzanova Studio in Berlin and features a modern, groove-oriented sound with electronic embellishments.
Jazz Times stated that their sound “is a direct result of the influence of the trios of Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal, Brad Mehldau and Bill Evans.” From what we have seen in Benny Lackner Trio’s live recordings on Youtube, their repertoires are quite indescribable. We got something different from each videos, where highlight can be found in every tune. They could play bluesy, sophisticated like Norah Jones, but on the other hand they can go wild and challenging by performing the progressive jazz/rock even reaching out to touch the experimental. No matter what or how they play, the manouvers are stunning, as if they want to catch you off-guard through each played material.
Benny Lackner Trio was here in 2011 brought by @America and Beyond Production. For this 5th album promo Asia-Australia-New Zealand tour, the bass position is given to Paul Kleber. Special for the trip to Indonesia, two Indonesian musicians are featured too. They are keyboardist Azfansadra (Adra) Karim and guitarist Johanes Radianto. Both of these considerably young but highly skilled musicians got their master degrees in Netherlands. It’s going to be interesting to see how these lads would reinforce the Benny Lackner Trio and create even richer tones and possibilities than ever.
Now let’s see the profile of each member.
Benny Lackner (piano)
He’s said to be the incarnation of Bill Evans or the younger Brad Mehldau. Benny Lackner was born in Berlin. He moved to California at the age of 13. He received BFA from the California Institute of the Arts under the direction of big names such as Charlie Haden and David Roitstein. Then he continued by studying privately with pianist Brad Mehldau. He’s seen in various jazz festivals including North Sea, Monterey and Montreux Jazz Festivals. This once called young lions has played alongside big names including Billy Higgins, Brad Shepik, Marc Ribot, Pheeroan akLaff and many more. Today he lives in New York City and Berlin. Other than working on the trio, he’s also active as a sideman and composer.
Matthew Chazarenc (drums)
Listen to his drum and you’ll be amazed. This man can shift efortlessly from whispers to snapping energetic beat. and Just like Jerôme, Matthew also came from France, more specifically from the south-west part of the nation. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris under the guidance of Daniel Humair. After that he continued to study privately with Jeff Ballard, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Washington and John Riley. Just like his two companions, he has played with many musicians including Robert Glasper, Marcia Maria, David Linx, Laika Fatien, Misha Fitzgerald, Glenn Ferris and Dominique Di Piazza just to name a few.
Paul Kleber (bass)
Paul Philipp Kleber was born in Berlin and began his musical journey with cello lessons. But then he switched to drums before finally found peace in bass. He’s involved with many bands/projects, for example with Lisa Bassenge, in the live band of Jazzanova, with Sonar Kollektiv Orchester, the German nu jazz band Micatone among others. This won’t be his first trip to Indonesia since he was here last year accompanying Kai Brückner in a mind-bending encounter with Riza Arshad Project on April 2013. http://jazzuality.com/jazz-event-report/serambi-jazz-kai-bruckner-and-riza-arshad-project-the-report/. He is a very effective player while assisting his team mates, but once being given a space, he will float merrily on the surface.
Azfansadra Karim (keyboard/organ)
This outstanding pianist/keyboardist/B3 organist has started playing piano since early age and found his passion in jazz in early 2000s. He learned from many musicians in Jakarta and attended a pre-college program in Institut Musik Daya Indonesia. He decided to continue his study to Netherlands in 2006 to learn Organ Jazz at ArtEZ School of Music, Enschede and Prins Claus Conservatorium (PCC), Groningen. In 2013 he got an opportunity to represent Groningen in Next Generation Jazz at Jazz Dag Festival in Rotterdam. In the same year, Adra finished his magister program in PCC which was focusing on the influence of Balinese music in jazz arrangement and composition. He’s the personnel of infectious avant funk band Tomorrow People Ensemble and the quartet Tuslah. Other than that, he’s been doing many side projects. One of them was when he pinned the works of Thelonious Monk with fellow pianist Sri Hanuraga.
Johanes Radianto (guitar)
Johanes took guitar at the age of 11, inspired by pop, rock, blues, and bluegrass players. He attended Universitas Pelita Harapan but after one year he decided to go abroad and study Jazz Music. He graduated from Prins Claus Conservatorium in Groningen (Bachelor Degree) and Koninklijk Conservatory in Den Haag (Master Degree) and before that, a certificate from Summer Jazz Program in Slovenia. All of his study years was inspired by he jazz giants including: Brian Lynch, Steve Grossman, Don Braden, David Berkman, just to mention a few. He recorded with many musicians in Europe and Asia. He also performed in many festival and giving workshops in many institution. In a recent year, his distinctive playing has grown him opportunities to collaborate with some of Indonesian Musicians such as: Indra Lesmana, Oele Pattiselano, Margie Segers and many more. Lately he’s busy with his Duo Project together with pianist Dhani Syah.
“Trying to rest in advance before we go and take 14 airplanes to 12 different cities in Australia, New Zealand and Asia within 20 Days starting October 10th… it’s going to be mind warping!” says Benny Lackner in his official website http://bennylackner.com. Two cities of Indonesia will get the chance to see them. First they will land on Bandung at the monumental Aula Barat (West Hall) of ITB on October 15, 2014 and then you guys in Jakarta can have this package just a day after, on October 16, 2014 at GoetheHaus Jakarta. Both shows will start at 7:30 pm.
He’s excited, we are excited. Are you too? This is going to be a nutricious concert that you don’t get to see so often. So when you can have it, make sure you don’t miss it. Serambi Jazz is going to spread its distincitive jazz concert. Pick the nearest one and be there.
“Benny Lackner has a distinctive compositional voice that sounds lucid and fresh. He’s found a cool way to write for this trio.” – Brad Mehldau
SERAMBI JAZZ 2014: Benny Lackner Trio feat Azfansadra Karim and Johanes Radianto
Benny Lackner Trio are:
Benny Lackner (piano)
Matthew Chazarenc (drums)
Paul Kleber (bass)
featuring:
Azfansadra Karim (keyboard)
Johanes Radianto (guitar)
BANDUNG
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Time: 07:30 pm-onwards
Location: Aula Barat ITB, Jl. Ganesha 10, Bandung
JAKARTA
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014
Time: 07:30 pm – onwards
Location: GoetheHaus, Jl. Sam Ratulangi 9-15, Menteng, Jakarta
FREE EVENT