Indra Lesmana Returns To Introducing Jazz Fusion Via Sydney Reunion

Indra Lesmana and three Australian musicians at the Sydney Reunion Project (Instagram @fikridzul)

JAKARTA - fusion Jazz as a music genre that developed in the United States in the late 1960s, entered the mainstream realm in Indonesia in the 1980s to 1990s.

Indra Lesmana is one of Indonesia's keyboardists that is closely related to the image of jazz music combined with the elements of rock, turmoil, and R&B.

Through the latest music project with three Australian jazz musicians, namely three Australian jazz musicians, namely Steve Hunter (bass), Dale total (saxophone), and Andy Gander (drums), Indra reintroduced jazz fusion through an album titled "Sydney Reunion".

"This quartet is arguably representative of a fusion jazz that has been in my opinion for a long time. It's been a long time since music like the one we made, not too much has been made," said Indra Lesmana during a virtual interview with VOI recently.

"So this is something interesting for me too, to be heard again to the younger generation, that there is a form of jazz fusion that has been around for a long time, maybe there may even be generations who don't hear this type of jazz. I think this is a good thing too," he continued.

For Indra, jazz fusion is music that greatly affects the game, both in making compositions and celebrations.

"Fusion is arguably the music I played the most at the start, even now," he said.

The meeting with Steve Hunter, Dale airing, and Andy Gander, apart from introducing jazz fusion to Indonesian music lovers, also reminded Indra of his musical early days.

I play various kinds of music. I also play progressive jazz, various kinds, there is standard jazz, there is acoustic jazz, modern jazz, contemporary jazz, hip hop jazz, pop jazz. But this instrumental fusion, I grew up with this music, I really grew up with fusion music, raised by fusion music," said the 58-year-old musician.

"I'm really happy to be able to meet friends who actually listened or grew up at the same time as me. That's also one of the things that allows us to connect directly, because we listen to the same thing in our teens," he continued.

Meanwhile, the album "Sydney Reunion" contains ten instrumental works. Indra wrote five songs, while the rest was written by Steve Hunter, Andy Gander, and Dale totaling.

The Sydney Reunion Project has held a showcase at the Sydney Opera House and performed the Manly Jazz Festival to introduce works on new albums. This music project is expected to be present through performances held in Indonesia.

So far, a work entitled 'Fairlight' has been released through a digital music platform. A music video showing live footage last May also appeared on Indra Lesmana's YouTube channel.

The launch of the 'Sydney Reunion' is accompanied by the release of a physical album in a compact disc (CD) format. Meanwhile, the vinyl forman will be presented in the near future.