simakDIALOG

Compelling Indonesian electro-acoustic progressive jazz-fusion with a distinctive cultural bent. For its first international release Jakarta-based simakDialog delivers Patahan, a live recording that suggests how Pat Metheny might sound were he from the Far East rather than the United States. A combination of electric and acoustic instruments, the 14 year-old group is innovatively propelled by two percussionists rather than a conventional drummer, but the result is no less powerful. Keyboardist/composer Riza Arshad, guitarist Tohpati and bassist Adhhitya join vocalist Nyak Ina Raseuki and percussionists Endang Ramdam and Emy Tata for five lengthy, episodic and finely detailed compositions that create a unique nexus of jazz and less-traveled ethnicity. Expansive solos, rich harmonies, telling interplay and propulsive rhythms make Patahan a genre-busting album that demands to be heard.

ARTIST PROFILE:
Formed in 1993 by pianist/composer Riza Arshad and drummer Arie Ayunir. They started the band together with guitarist Tohpati and bassist Indro Hardjodikoro as a group of a few most prominent young Indonesian musicians. simakDialog music is influenced mostly by the global jazz style with an exotic mixture of Indonesian environment. The instrumentations are a blend of acoustic and electric idioms. As the richest-land and culture state in the world, Indonesia treasures a vast variety of art and music forms that endures many new inspiration around the world. As for its music, the eastern - Indonesian music, rhythm and culture in particular - and the western idioms blend naturally in the exploration of simakDialog's creative works. The Band has released four albums entitled "lukisan", "baur" and "Trance/Mission" and "patahan/faults". simakDialog won 2 awards from Anugerah Musik Indonesia (Indonesian Music Awards 2003) – Best Jazz/Contemporary Jazz Album (Trance/Mission), and Best Jazz /Contemporary Jazz Producer (Riza Arshad – Trance/Mission). Recent formation – Riza Arshad on piano and synth, Tohpati Ario Hutomo on guitars Adhitya Pratama on fretless bass and Endang Ramdan on kendang and Erlan Swardana on kendang, toys – is carrying a new form of music in different textures, harmonies and sounds that could expectedly be heard on their latest album “Patahan” (=fault) And now in the process of completing its 5th. The band has performed extensively in its own country and various jazz and music festivals in Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal.