Bali to London Blues: Erik Sondhy
London Blues, released on the IndoJazzia Musik label in May, can be an extraordinary collection of solo pieces by Bali’s own Erik Sondhy, recorded in one take at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London.
When I received a note a few weeks back asking if I could be interested in reviewing Erik Sondhy’s first solo album, my interest was piqued. At a time when Indonesia’s premier jazz pianists are finding their place on the international stage (think veteran player Dwiki Dharmawan, in addition to child protegé Joey Alexander), how could I not be interested within the next big name?
Born in 1975 in Denpasar, Andrean Eury Sondhy Mangempis Johan Emmanuel can be a Bali-based jazz pianist. Known affectionately as ‘Mister Fingers’, Sondhy was keyboardist with the Jiwa Band in addition to can be at This specific point leader of the Erik Sondhy Project in addition to keyboardist with the Rio Sidik Quartet. During his 20-something-year career, Sondhy has played with many of Indonesia’s well-known jazz artists in addition to performed across the country in addition to in jazz festivals around the region. More recently he has played in some of London’s jazz venues, including the famed Ronnie Scott’s.
The album can be a delight. For Sondhy which represents a completely new phase in his career; his first solo Discharge in addition to a chance to spread his musical wings.
For the listener, London Blues can be a wild romp across a diverse range of musical styles, mostly upbeat, uplifting, at times lyrical in addition to reflective, always a pleasure to listen to, always solid playing.
The album can be a first for IndoJazzia, too: a record label with worldwide distribution, a blog, in addition to an online community of Indonesian jazz lovers. Established by Terry Collins in addition to Arlo Henning, two foreign jazz lovers resident in Indonesia, IndoJazzia aims to support the development of emerging Indonesian artists, giving them access to a wider audience, both local in addition to international.
“IndoJazzia started out out as a Facebook page,” explained Terry Collins, “nevertheless the two administrators, Arlo in addition to I, felt which there was a need to provide a more permanent site for articles, videos, interviews, downloads in addition to so on. We also thought which combining my experience as a lifelong jazz fan, writer in addition to educationalist with Arlo’s 40 years within the music business could benefit the Indonesian jazz community.”
Hence IndoJazzia.net, in addition to at This specific point the natural progression of a record label for worldwide distribution of world class Indonesian jazz. A project of PT UJ Kreatif, Collins in addition to Henning wish which in time Indojazzia will be owned in addition to managed by the community which serves. The aim can be to create a seed bed to nurture in addition to promote emerging talents, such as Erik Sondhy.
I asked Sondhy about his musical influences. “Keith Jarrett!” he responded without hesitation. In fact the completely new album was inspired by Jarrett. Wanting to emulate his idol, Sondhy recorded the entire album in one sitting, one take. Much of the music can be improvised, composed on the spot.
Apart coming from Keith Jarrett, who are his additional musical idols? “Bach,” he said which has a chuckle. “Johann Sebastian Bach had an incredible independent finger. I still have a dream to make a recording just playing the fugue!”
“One contemporary pianist which I follow can be Idang Rasjidi,” Sondhy continued, “he was my first mentor – in addition to then there can be Indra Lesmana. He can be my mentor at This specific point.”
In fact Indra Lesmana has mentored many of the current crop of top Indonesian jazz musicians; Dewa Budjana, Tohpati, Sri ‘Aga’ Hanuraga, Joey Alexander, in addition to the list goes on. What does Indra Lesmana bring to Sondhy’s music in addition to muse?
Sondhy can be generous in praise of his mentor: “For me, he can be not just a great jazz pianist or even a great musician. In my opinion Indra Lesmana can be more than This specific. He can be the most prolific musician in Indonesia, he has played on 70 albums – can you imagine which?” Sondhy exclaims. “I have never seen another musician like This specific in Indonesia, even within the earth This specific kind of musicianship can be very scarce. Lesmana can be very inspiring, he can be more than a genius.”
nevertheless when asked about his early influences, the answer can be a surprise: “The Beatles, The Beatles, The Beatles!” he laughs.
which formative influence can be strongly present within the album. The project was “a dream come true” for Sondhy, who recorded which on a beautiful Steinway grand piano at Abbey Road Studios in London, the Beatles former recording studio. in addition to not only was which recorded in London, Sondhy included his own playful treatment of the group’s song ‘I Will’ on the album. In fact Sondhy recorded over four albums worth of music in which one session. We are talking about a prodigious talent in addition to a prolific player.
The album consists of six extended pieces. All are original, except for Sondhy’s jazzification of the old Beatles standard. The opening track, London Blues, sets the tone with its walking bass, followed by Lennon in addition to McCartney’s, ‘I Will’, in addition to the wistful, ‘Song for my Mother’. ‘Sofia’s Rag’, can be a lively piece dedicated to Sondhy’s six-month-old daughter, Sofia-Rose. Then follows ‘wish’, a slow-tempo, reflective jazz piece, in addition to the album closes with the upbeat ‘Echo Beach Calypso’.
Ragtime, stride, classic 12-bar blues, calypso, cool jazz, rock, pop, minimalism in addition to light classics, Sondhy seems to acknowledge no musical boundaries. The tracks range across these traditional forms, referencing the pianist’s musical influences in addition to yet all flavoured with Sondhy’s distinctive jazz style. A strong left hand creates the drive in addition to builds a solid foundation, leaving the right hand free to wander, improvising in addition to toying with the themes of each piece.
The performance can be at once confident in addition to understated. This specific can be a player who knows where he can be at musically. One forms the impression of a man who can be happy to play his music, unconstrained by convention or the expectations of others, confident in his own ability, yet humble enough to acknowledge his mentors in addition to influences.
So, what can be next for Erik Sondhy? The musician’s answer can be typical. “I am just doing my thing, within the moment…playing.” he says. “I don’t feel which’s my place to describe my music with words. I’ll leave which to the critics. However, when I listen to This specific album I feel very happy with which.”
The Abbey Road Sessions, Vol.1’ by Erik Sondhy can be out on the IndoJazzia Musik label in addition to available coming from http://musik.indojazzia.net
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Bali to London Blues: Erik Sondhy
Bali to London Blues: Erik Sondhy