Successful Tour Title In South Korea, Sri Hanuraga Admires The Culture Of Her Young People

Sri Hanuraga (left) when appearing in South Korea (Doc. Ist)

JAKARTA - Sri Hanuraga has just finished her visit to South Korea in the context of a tour with Namyuol Cho Quartet. The series of shows took place from 23 to 30 August.

This is Aga's second visit, Sri Hanuraga's nickname, after presenting his latest solo album, (De)Conception (2023) at ICMC (International Computer Music Conference) which was held at Hanyang University, South Korea, last July.

On this occasion, the modern jazz group consisting of Namyuol Cho (drums), Janos Bruneel (bas), Daniel Mester (saksofon), and Sri Hanuraga played in a number of jazz processions in Seoul and Daegu: JazzxOver, Club Evans, Cotton Club, All That Jazz, Live Jazz Cafe Chunnyn, and Various Concert Hall. Their tour was closed by appearances at the Jongno in Jazz festival, in Seoul, South Korea/

Not only concerts, but Aga is also trusted to be the trust of BIC Music label to become a music and pianist in an album presented to the legendary South Korean rock music group, Sanulim. On this album Sri Hanuraga broadcast a song called It Might Have Been Late Summer which will be performed by Namyuol Cho Quartet together with a singer/producer from South Korea, Eaeon.

It's nice to meet old friends again and play music that hasn't been played for a long time. The Namyuol Cho Quartet album was bought there and there were South Korean jazz players who started studying my original games and works. Then there was one surprise, one day, suddenly one of my favorite jazz pioneers, Aaron Goldberg, sent a message on Instagram because he saw me on the festival poster (they were playing at the same festival), then he said he would come to watch. He really came and said he was very happy with my game, he even advised to arrange a duo concert in Jakarta. He also still remembers my albums that he heard at the time in Bali, "said the musician who is also a lecturer at the music lecturer.

Flashback to 2012 and 2018, he has also held shows in South Korea with Namyuol Cho Quartet. After Sri Hanuraga completed his master's studies majoring in Jazz paling Performance at the van Amsterdam Conservatorium, he was lined up by Namyuol Cho to join his group and recorded his first album, Sketches of The Old World

The tour also revealed the large amount of jazz in Seoul, South Korea. According to Aga, jazz relief is there in terms of equipment and place. Each club has a pretty good grand piano.

What's surprising is that the audience is always full even on weekdays, and they are young. They are not reluctant to pay for entrance tickets and spend money to buy food and drinks. What's interesting is also the program of their jazz club, the music that is played on average is the original work of musicians with a modern jazz style, they are not just playing cover. I think this is a growth room that is still not owned in Indonesia," said Aga.

With this tour being held, Aga hopes that his network with a national decree in South Korea will open again, because previously since 2018, he began to be active with the South Korean musician network but was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic.