Salihara Jazz Buzz: SALnica Quartet Crossing And Climax Adra Karim!

Guernica Quartet and Adra Karim (Photo: Hansonis)

JAKARTA The Salihara Jazz Buzz 2023 event closed the good performance of Guernica Quartet with Adra Karim as a collaborator on Saturday, February 11. Guernica Quartet was chosen to be the performer through an open invitation program which is regularly held annually by the Salihara Community.

This quartet consists of Rainer James Adrian (saxophone), Luis Daniel Harris (piano), Joseph Elnando Fergiantara (bass), and Kenny total Tamadji (drums). The name Guernica Quartet itself was taken based on the title of one of Pablo Picasso's works.

Meanwhile, his collaborator, Adra Karim, is a lecturer, composer, arranger, and producer. He developed education majoring in the Jazz Organ, ArtEz Academy of Music, Enschede and Prince Claus Conservatory, Groningen, Netherlands in 2006, until finally he had the honor of representing Groningen for the Next Generation Jazz program at the International Rotterdam Jazz event in 2013.

Guernica Quartet and Adra Karim are trying to represent their works in the form of intersecting various music genres and instrumental varieties. For example, the traditional types of music of Japan, India, the Middle East, and Armenia.

In the action at the Salihara Jazz Buzz that night. Before the first song, Badaruih, was played, the audience was playing. A few minutes later, they opened the action with a sequencer which was greeted by a flickering light. The spotlight caught the wets of the players wearing a patterned robe, except for Adra who was wearing a black shirt.

The sound of the so-called elephant sounds immediately loud. Of course, the other players also played their musical instruments. The lighting is now emitting brighter in various colors.

Admittedly, in this song, Luis's keyboard melody feels very groovy. In fact, we can still clearly remember the melody until now. Improving between players also went on to captivate, adorning almost the entire song.

The nod of the legs and head of the audience on the back seat felt even more unstoppable. The appearance of the first song and continued to the second song, Sun Dance, finally reaped the applause of the audience.

Then, Adra explained the concept carried out in the song.

This concept is inspired by the chanting of Minang culture when they miss their children who are overseas. In the end, they sang during their spare time. I was indeed in Jakarta, but Minang's blood is still flowing heavily until now," said Adra.

After that, Adra stepped back to the back of the stage to rest. Now the remaining Guernica Quartet is continuing their performance.

The third song, A Waltz Around the Withered, begins with an intro saxophone that is so soft. Honestly, we almost fell asleep to hear the chants. Fortunately, we were soon maintained through a shocking bass and drum strike. Improving the piano was also present in the middle of the song, this time it was more beautiful than the previous song. Then it was greeted by other players until the end of the song, which again gave birth to applause from the audience.

The show has been going on for half an hour. The fourth song, Sigma, is fully technical. Different from the previous three songs.

Opened the flute game as the main ambience that is evaluated up to several layers directly, the players immediately enter with their respective MEka instuments. After a few minutes, they gave the code through the eyes, then the time of the escalation. A powerful drum improvization also appeared in the middle of the song.

The lighting swiftly focused on Kenny with his crazy actions. This incident reminds us a little of the scene in the film Whiplash. Kenny is seen occasionally turning his lips, while other players, standing side by side enjoying the drum improvisation.

A few minutes later, the players ended the improvisation. The action reaped applause longer than before. Even Rainer told the audience to end their applause.

After the fourth song, Adra Karim returned to the stage to play his last song with the Guernica Club. This song is titled Oliver's Changes' which was taken based on Adra Karim's final assignment and dedicated to the late senior jazz musician, Riza Arshad.

This song helps from my final task, where I apply Balinese nuances in the flow of jazz music. And of course I dedicate this song to Riza Arshad, our heroes," said Adra regarding the concept of his last song. Light set immediately dim.

Adra's keyboard game, which was a little distorted for a few minutes, began to sound. Then, when the keyboard sound changed, Guernica Quartet came in complete. The longer their game reached its climax. The audience's applause closed their action. The unique concept and the quality they displayed, managed to spark joy.