Description
Testimonials
"the band gave an impressive performance, and quite attractive with proper jazz improvisation included." -The Jakara Post, Jakarata, Indonesia
"their album is definately one worth searching out" -Peter Thalen, Exposure Magazine
"...its music is the inter-regional Indonesian crossovers, the level of sophisticaion and multi cultural global spin that does allow for the music to travel to new borders." -the Star, Kaula lumpur, Malasia
"the deep rumbles of the gendang and other ethnic blended seamlessy into the sounds of jazz" -The Sun, Kual Lumpur, Malasia
Tracks
1) This Spirit
2) Throwing Words
3) Sidewalk Stories
4) Finding the Path
5) All In A Day
6) Promising Leads
7) Bright Tomorrows
8) Alternate Jeda
9) Unfaded Hopes
10) Arie's theme
11) Sempan (sailboat)
Artist Profile
simakDialog ( to listen carefully to the dialog) was formed in 1993 by pianist/composer Riza Arshad together with drummer Arie Ayunir. They started the band together with guitarist Tohpati and bassist Indro as the group of a few most prominent young Indonesian musicians. Their music could be cathegorized as jazz adult contemporary influenced mostly by the European jazz style with a mixture of Indonesian environment. The instrumentations of its music are a well blend of acoustic and electric idioms.
simakDialog has participated in many jazz events in Indonesia, especially in Java. And had also performed in Jak-jazz (the Jakarta jazz festivals) from 1994 to 1997. Also performed in Dewan Filharmonik, Malaysia February 2002.
As the richest-land and culture state in the world, Indonesia treasure a vast variety of art-forms that endures many new art and culture group/s inspiration around the world. As for its music, the eastern - Indonesian music, rhythm and culture in particular - and the western idioms blend naturally in the exploration of sD's creative works.
On the next phase, sD reforms the band. There is an undergoing process that definately bring changes on the physical and the spirit of the band. Indro was replaced by Adit/Adi Darmawan, while Arie - who recently resign and migrate to the U.S - was replaced by Jalu on sundanese kendang - and Budhy Haryono - who is also a drummer on a rock-pop base band - GIGI as additional.
Their latest latest album, Baur, sD draws an outline of a new colour in their music.
Riza Arshad
Piano, synths, accordeon, leader
Started to play piano at age of 6. He studied jazz music with one of the jazz legends in Indonesia, Jack Lesmana and his remarkable son. He's performed with several bands, orchestras and ethnic groups and plays a wide range of musical style in domestic music scene. His professional music career began at age of 15, when he joined his brother's band and was signed by a giant local record label. He once got a chance to play with David Foster during his visit to Indonesia back in 1992. He also had released his very first album as a solo artist in the US through an independent distributor, entitled Borneo (Ragadi, 1992). Today he spends major of his time as a player, composer/arranger and producer for various artists, movies and groups.
Tohpati
Electric and acoustic guitar
Joined with sD in 1993. His background as a classical guitarist reflects the musical style he plays today. He took his chance of being a correspondent student to Charlie Bonacos - one of very well known music instructors who lived in New York and had taught many famous musicians in the jazz world across America, among them are Michael Brecker and Mike Stern - several years ago. He had won several awards from many prestigious music festivals in Indonesia as a soloist, he had chances to play with two of the world's most jazz giants during their performance in Indonesia, Eric Marienthal and Kenny Garrett. He 's now become one of the most demanded session players and music directors in Indonesia and filled in many records of pop artist range from Chrisye to Sheila Madjid
Jalu G. Pratidina
His musical career begun as a dancer at age of 4, then started playing kendang at 7. Formal education in music dept. of the Jakarta Institute of Fine Arts, major in percussion, he matured his compositional knowledge. Jalu has international acknowledgement performing abroad: at Okayama expo in 1988, 3rd Indonesian - Japanese instrument exhibition in Kobe, 1991. Invited by Austrian govt. to participate in festivals and workshops, 1995. International music festival in pulau Penang, Malaysia, June 1998. His highlights locally include a solo performance of his composition, entitled kawitan which features a huge set of percussion instruments made of bamboos, steel, leather and clay along w/ other 57 percussion pieces, 1996.
Adi Dharmawan
Adi once enrolled Indonesian Institute of Art/ISI (1987), his musical talent sets a certain standard of quality more than just an ordinary 'college' musician. finding cross talents of his, versatile his rocketed career among enthusiastic young musicians.
Educational Background
1987 Indonesian Institute of Art, major in music pedagogic
1989-1994 studied harmony and composition w/ Haryo Yose Suyoto
Professional
Session player/bassist on Reza, ABThree, Baron, Gilang Ramadhan, Marusya Nainggolan, Symphony Band Workshop (Singapore), Indonesian Wind Orchestra, Yovie Widianto Orchestra, Donny Suhendra Band, Dwiki Dharmawan Orchestra. Voice and others instrument on simakDialog, Dewi Gita, Didi AGP
Achievement
1989 runner up Yamaha Classical Guitar competition
1992 best keys player at Log Zhelebour Rock Festival (national)
Adhitya Pratama
Adhitya Pratama was born in Jakarta, on March 22 1974. At the age of 7 he started studying the piano and continued his music learning by studying organ by taking course at Yayasan Seni Musik Indonesia for five years. In the year of 86,he was introduced to bass guitar by Ade Hamzah, his mentor, his 'brother', his teacher. Since then, music has become his number-one interest in life, he becomes a self-taught musician afterwards.His experience in music began in 1987. Leaving Jakarta for Bandung, he found it more helpful for his creativity in music. He had the chance to play with ITB Big Band, Apress ITB, Big Joke and several cover bands. In 1993, he formed Mathari (electric Jazz), Fortissimo - 1995 (so-called AcidJazz music), and joined Canizarro - 1997 (Fusion). On May 1, 1999 he then formed Funqadelic, a Pop-Funk band which plays their own repertoir. By playing with the bands mentioned above, he has had the opportunity to play at various clubs, campus events, TV shows, Jazz events, and many other events.
All music composed and arranged by Riza Arshad otherwise noted on CD. Tohpati and Budhy Haryono appears courtesy of Sony Music Indonesia