JAZZHOLIC

ay_link July 23rd, 2008

It has been a while since I talked about my fave lounge, fusion jazz artists. Unfortunately, during the server crash a few months ago, all the jazz artists’ profile got deleted. And so I thought I’d start again, and once in a way, I’ll pop in either with a song or an album of an underrated yet very talented group of musicians. Like this one, Bali Lounge.

Personal recommendation: (especially when you’re a jazz lover, or just simply like to groove with such great music composed by talented musicians)
“Something’s wrong” (1st album), “Used to” & “Dogol Street” (2nd album)

Bali Lounge - Something’s wrong [DL LINK]

Something’s wrong when I can’t seem to think straight
Something’s wrong when my heartbeat comes a bit late
Oh so wrong, ’cause you are standing too near
Awfully wrong, the truth is all too clear

I have chilled my heart, i have cooled my blood
My love life’s in a deep freeze, a never opening bud
My comfort is in a silence, you must not make a sound
Solitude is so hard to keep up whenever you are around

Something’s wrong or maybe it’s so right
That I just don’t feel so strong
Something’s wrong how can i be grounded
When my minds on the higher ground

Oh so wrong… cause I feel but cannot hear
The rhapsody of our song…

I can rule my head, I can’t control my soul
But I won’t stay in this state ’cause I just can take the cold
My comfort is in silence, you must not make a sound
Solitude is so hard to give up whenever you are around, you’re around…

Something’s wrong when I can’t seem to think straight
Something’s wrong when my heartbeat comes a bit late
Oh so wrong, cause you are standing too near
Something’s wrong… let’s make it right…

BALI LOUNGE

Style: Lounge, Fusion
Country: Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia

Bali Lounge was the vision of Gita Wirjawan, a professional banker originally trained as a pianist, who wanted to promote musicians in his native Indonesia. He was introduced to Singapore-based American guitarist Rick Smith by their mutual friend noted photographer Russel Wong.

The idea was to give Indonesian players a chance to work with international players and produce a kind of world music as unique as its varied roots.

Rick introduced Bruno Le Flanchec from France, a talented pianist and flautist who graduated from Berklee School of Music Suma Cum Laude in arranging and composition and Lewis Pragasam the Malaysian-born Indian drummer considered widely to be the finest in South East Asia. Gita recruited Tompi and Harry on vocals and bass respectively from Jakarta to complete the group.

A period of intense interaction followed with songs and ideas from all of the members. The gifted sound engineer Nicolas Rastoul was brought in to mix and oversee production. Thus, Bali Lounge was born.

{Reference: Bali Lounge @ last.fm}

Bali Lounge - Used to [DL LINK]

You caught me today
You needed someone
Wouldn’t have said no
If things weren’t the same

it’s a matter of time
It’s a matter of choice
We should all let it be

You caught me today
You pleaded me back
I said what I said
We’d go separate ways

What conveyed to do
0:58 ??? (For the life of me, I can’t make out what she’s saying)
We should only carry on

Chorus:
Used to make me smile
We used to dance
Used to make me laugh
We used to play

Used to make me sad
We used to cry
Used to make me shy
We used to fly

As the time goes on by
As the leaves fall on by
We should part our ways alone…

(guitar interlude here… *omg, so good!*

THE PEOPLE BEHIND BALI LOUNGE

Teuku Adi Fitrian (Tompi) - Singer, Songwriter
His hobby in performance arts is apparent since childhood. He was actively involved in traditional Aceh music and dance performances. This hobby is an inseparable part of him. Tompi gains confidence in performing, especially after he seeks professional guidance from Bertha and Tjut Deviana. After his busy day learning medicines and biology, he transforms into a soulful singer, singing in first class clubs and lounges around Jakarta. Aside from singing and performing, Tompi found another musical talent that has been hidden, that is song writing. He always carries a small recorder or his cell-phone to record tunes that pop up whenever he is inspired by his surroundings.

Brune Le Flanchec - Pianist, Flutis, Composer & Arranger
(Member of SACEM - French Copyright Association)
A truly talented musician in many facets, Bruno graduated from the Berklee School of Music in arranging and composition. Before and while teaching music at the French School in Singapore, Bruno has performed with various artists including Bill Hardman, Roger Guerin, and Guylenn Delassus.
Lewis Pragasam - Drums, Fullbright Scholar, Educator
Lewis Pragasam is one of the most accomplished and sought-after drummers in Asia and has become an icon and is hailed as a music legend. Lewis has garnered international and critical acclaim as one of Asia’s leading drum/percussion exponents and an innovator of new trends in World Music. Lewis the founder and moving spirit of the pioneering ASIABEAT project, started in 1979, whose recordings and performances are now legendary in the merging of Asian and Contemporary music styles.

Aside from his ASIABEAT project, he has toured/recorded with major internationally renowned artistes – John ‘Kaizan’ Neptune, Jeff Berlin, Paul Jackson, Randy Bernsen, Ernie Watts, Bob James, Nathan East, Tony Levin, Ottmar Liebert, Torninho Horta , amongst others. He was invited for a Royal Command Performance for HRH PRINCE CHARLES (Prince Trust Concert) in Edinburgh.

Pragasam received the prestigious ‘Fulbright Scholarship’ from the US government in 1990. He served as ‘Artiste in Residence’ for two years at East Carolina University as well as lecturing at various academic institutions all over the USA.

Lewis travels extensively presenting lecture/workshops at music institutions around the world. Major US music publisher MEL BAY will publish and distribute his first set of educational products – a testament to his outstanding caliber as an internationally recognized music educator.

Nicolas Rastoul - Sound Engineer
An accomplished bassist, Nicolas has also become one of the best sound engineers in Singapore.
He has been involved in many projects in the Southeast Asian Region

Rick Smith - Guitar
Rick Smith is an accomplished jazz guitarist who has recorded and played with many international artists on stage in the United States, Asia and Southeast Asia. His resume of activities in the United States is as follows: Anchorage Sheraton, Anchorage, Alaska, Carl Sally Band (1979 to 1981); Anchorage Sheraton, Anchorage, Alaska; Chuck Conelly Quartet (1981 to 1982); Tiki Cove, Anchorage, Alaska; Rick Smith Trio/ChromaZone Instructor, Adjunct Music Faculty, University of Alaska (1982 to 1985).

In 1992 Rick joined the Monteiro Music in Singapore as Associate Music Director. In this capacity, he again worked with many Singapore musicians such as Christina Ong, Jacintha Abisheganaden, and visiting foreign artists such as Ernie Watts, Teramatsu Hino and Eugene Pao.

Harry Toledo - Bass, Composer & Arranger
A virtuous bass player, Harry has performed with many of the Indonesian prominent musicians and bands, including Idang Rasyidi Quartet, Ireng Maulana Combo, Hentriessa Band, and the Groove. Rich in funk and swing, Harry has helped accentuate Bali Lounge’s beat. His other project involvements including Bali Lounge and “OPP and Friends” have reflected not only his virtuousity but also his added diversity as to dwell into other genres of music.

{Reference & Credits}

Bali Lounge 2 - FULL ALBUM [DL LINK]

Track listing:
1. Bali Lounge 2 - Intro (0:27)
2. Bali Lounge 2 - Dogol Street (4:54)
3. Bali Lounge 2 - Get happy (3:32)
4. Bali Lounge 2 - Used To (4:29)
5. Bali Lounge 2 - Samba Sunda (5:02)
6. Bali Lounge 2 - Tell Me (4:19)
7. Bali Lounge 2 - Mean Curry (4:32)
8. Bali Lounge 2 - Free (3:57)
9. Bali Lounge 2 - In Doubt (3:49)
10. Bali Lounge 2 - Cukup Tak Mengapa (4:33)
11. Bali Lounge 2 - Jimbaran Jive (3:10)

Guests:
Jalu D. Pratidina: Sundanese Percussion on “Free” & “Samba Sunda”
Saat: Bamboo Flute on “Free” & “Samba Sunda”
Demas: Balinese Percussion on “Intro” & “Mean Curry”
Iwan Abdie: Lead Vocal on “Get Happy”, “Tell Me”, & “Free”
Lou CP: Lead Vocal on “Used To” & “Jimbaran Jive”
Menu’: Lead Vocal on “Cukup Tak Mengapa” & “In Doubt”
Irsa Destiwi: Piano on “Cukup Tak Mengapa” & “In Doubt”
Chandra: Backing Vocal on “Get Happy”, “Tell Me”, “Used To”, “In Doubt”, & “Cukup Tak Mengapa”
Uci: Backing Vocal on “Used To”, “In Doubt”, “Free”, “Cukup Tak Mengapa”, & Jimbaran Jive

Musicians:
Harry Toledo: Bass
Lewis Pragasam: Drums & Percussion
Chris Wright: Guitar (Lead Vocal on “Jimbaran Jive”)
Alvin Loebis: Piano, Keyboards & Programming
Executive Producer: Gita Wirjawan

(ref: tantosjazzcompany)

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• Jazz , Songs & lyrics
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