Candra Darusman's View On The Development Of Ethno Jazz And Traditional Music In Indonesia

Candra Darusman at the launch of AMI Ethnic. (VOI/Ivan Two Men)

JAKARTA - Indonesian jazz music group, Karimata can be said to be one of the groups that has played a major role in the development of jazz ethno in Indonesia.

Membering Candra Darusman, Aminoto Kosin, Budhy Haryono, Denny TR and Erwin Gutawa, Karimata once released their Jezz album in 1991.

Combining Indonesian jazz and music, the Jezz album even involved many jazz musicians from the United States, such as Bob James, Don Grusin, Ernie Watts, Lee Ritenour, and Phil Perry.

Reflecting on the recent development of jazz in Indonesia, ethno jazz is no longer a foreign thing. Many groups and musicians carry the music genre.

Lebih dari itu, beberapa festival dan komunitas jazz bahkan terbuka-betul mengusung ethno jazz dibandingkan jazz standard

For Candra Darusman, this phenomenon is something encouraging. He saw positive things about the presence of ethno jazz in the community and music festival.

"I don't know how much it affects us at that time. But it's encouraging, many jazz festival centers in Indonesia," said Candra Darusman when met in Kemang, South Jakarta last week.

The existence of jazz ethno is also seen as having a positive impact on the development of traditional Indonesian music itself.

"In fact, there is a gap for Indonesia to be able to speak internationally. Because without local wisdom or local components, we are the same as those ( jazz musicians from the United States)," said Candra.

Reflecting on the success of Japan and South Korea in building the music industry to be known around the world, Candra also invited the Indonesian music industry to appreciate traditional music more and dare to show its identity without having to follow it to other countries.

"Indonesia, we are not confident enough," said Candra Darusman.

"The success of Japan and Korea is because they don't forget the past, don't forget history. The traditional arts in Japan are very expensive. In fact, we want to run out, we want to go extinct," he concluded.