What I Heard This Morning: I Know You Well Miss Clara and simakDialog
MoonJune Records is releasing two progressively positioned jazz albums from Indonesia's I Know You Well Miss Clara (Chapter One) and simakDialog (The 6th Story). I spent some time today listening to snippets of each album and really enjoyed what I heard. IKYWMC is playing Mahavishu Orchestra straight up, but it sounds great. The Sixth Story is the exhilarating, full-throttle follow-up to 2009's critically-acclaimed Demi Masa and 2007's Patahan (one of Mr. MoonJune's favorite album on the label), from the Indonesian progressive gamelan-jazz band simakDialog. Raising the benchmark in a genre known for its brilliant artists is no easy feat, but this album is up to the task: each composition is an exquisite master-class rendering of equal parts elegance and intrigue. This is modern progressive jazz at its most original, most far-reaching and most achieving. Referencing the discernible influence of a host of the genre's most innovative voices – from the great Miles Davis, to Return To Forever, to The Zawinul Syndicate, John Abercrombie Quartet, Tribal Tech, and even the late, great Charles Mingus – the band continues to push the musical envelope: leaping boldly into uncharted territories where progressive music has yet dared venture (and precious few would be brave- or skilled-enough to even consider attempting) ... CONTINUE READING
review by Sean Caldwell posted on Letters From A Tapehead
I Know You Well Miss Clara, Chapter One On Sea Of Tranquility
Moonjune Records has done a fabulous job in recent years unearthing exciting new progressive rock, avant-garde, and jazz fusion groups from Indonesia. Their latest find is the act that calls themselves I Know You Well Miss Clara, and their debut for the label is titled Chapter One. Featuring guitar wizard Reza Ryan, keyboard phenom Adi Wijaya, bassist Enriko Gultom, and drummer Alfiah Akbar, the band play a lyrical and melodic form of progressive rock & jazz-fusion that will thrill any lover of classic Return to Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X, and National Health.
Many of the tracks here are fairly lengthy and allow plenty of room for the players to strut their stuff. Opener "Open the Door, See the Ground" is a fiery slice of ripping jazz-rock, complete with molten guitar & keyboard solos over furious rhythms, while the melodic, laid back "Conversation" sees airy electric piano from Wijaya support some tasty lead guitar lines courtesy of Ryan. Wijaya's majestic electric piano again commands on the alluring "Pop Sick Carousel", reminding of classic Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, and Joe Zawinul, and he trades some serious licks with Ryan as the piece ebbs and flows during its six minute duration, even throwing in a nifty organ solo for good measure ... CONTINUE READING
Many of the tracks here are fairly lengthy and allow plenty of room for the players to strut their stuff. Opener "Open the Door, See the Ground" is a fiery slice of ripping jazz-rock, complete with molten guitar & keyboard solos over furious rhythms, while the melodic, laid back "Conversation" sees airy electric piano from Wijaya support some tasty lead guitar lines courtesy of Ryan. Wijaya's majestic electric piano again commands on the alluring "Pop Sick Carousel", reminding of classic Chick Corea, Jan Hammer, and Joe Zawinul, and he trades some serious licks with Ryan as the piece ebbs and flows during its six minute duration, even throwing in a nifty organ solo for good measure ... CONTINUE READING
review by Peter Pardo on Sea Of Tranquility
Exploring The Boundaries Of Rock
Moonjune pulls another great band out of their Indonesian hat. This four piece with the unusual name hails from Jogjakarta in central Java, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Java, and a hub of Javanese fine art, music, dance, and culture in general. Their sound wanders freely between idioms, with a heavy jazz accent all around and blasts of avant-progressive and 70s Crimsoid rock, 100% instrumental. The mood shifts between dark and pensive to more colorful and joyful sorties into the bright lights of jazz-rock, but escapes anything that might be called fusion in the traditional 70s sense, unless we’re talking electric Miles Davis, the more laid-back elements of early Return to Forever, Allan Holdsworth when he used to play a real guitar, or early 70s Soft Machine (the latter primarily on the final two tracks that feature a guest sax player). The front line prominently features keyboardist Adi Wijaya and guitarist Reza Ryan, both commanding players that trade off in the spotlight and deliver the bulk of the disc’s seven compositions; behind them plays the formidable rhythm section of bassist Enriko Gultom and drummer Alfiah Akbar, supporting the entire effort superbly. There’s plenty of improvisational space in these compositions, and it tends to wander in the noodly direction, which is just fine with me. There are a lot of great and purely magical moments throughout this, their debut effort (in case you didn’t guess by the title!) and hopefully we are hearing the first of many chapters to come.
review by Peter Thelen on Expose August 28, 2013
Zachary Nathanson's Music From The Other Side Of The Room
It would be quite a huge risk to take both of the genres of the Canterbury scene and the Jazz Rock sound of the ‘70s to give it a heavier beat. But when you have an Indonesian band like I Know You Well Miss Clara, who has been around since 2009, you can expect the unexpected. The band came around from the Indonesia Institute of the Arts in Yogyakarta which is a college university helping students to teach them about visual aid, performance, and the media arts to show the styles of international music and the sounds of Jazz Rock fits the band perfectly. The band considers Reza Ryan on Guitar, Adi Wijaya on Keyboards, Enriko Gultom on Bass, and Alfiah Akbar on Drums. Their debut album, Chapter One, released this year from Moonjune Records, is very much a laid-back, groovy, trip to memory lane, and a fantastic instrumental album that is a magical experience. Hypnotic guitar lines, Flourishing Organ turned Rhodes-like sounds on the keyboards, and impressive drum work laying down the beats and tempos. It’s really quite a journey to go on while seeing where the quartet would take different areas of the sound. Not to mention it was recorded in 18 hours from start to finish and picking the right takes and the right notes and where they would go with it ... CONTINUE READING
posted on http://zacharynathanson.blogspot.com/ August 27, 2013
MJR presents the music of IKYMC's Chapter One:
"An unpretentious exploration into the very nature of music"
MoonJune Records continues to amaze and astonish the progressive world, as yet more musical treasures from Indonesia are unearthed and revealed, with the phenomenal debut of Yogyakarta's young progressive explorers, I Know You Well Miss Clara. Referencing a vast diversity of modern music's most visionary pioneers -- ranging from Jimi Hendrix, Soft Machine and Matching Mole, to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman (just to name a few) -- their music captures the energy and essence which characterized some of progressive jazz' and fusion's greatest and most defining artists, producing moments of sheer creative genius and uncompromising quality.
Chapter One is a profound, monumental release: an album boldly (and easily) surpassing most of the genre's recent efforts in terms of ambition and accomplishment. It's songs are full of intrigue, expressed in a vibrant, urgent manner that -- while paying homage to a host of stellar, profound influences -- never sacrifices sensitivity and reverence of the moment for the sake of showing off chops. (... and these cats have got some chops!) IKYWMC's music goes places where few have been fearless- or capable-enough to venture. Their influences are unmistakeable, yet the end result is completely and uniquely their own.
I Know You Well Miss Clara is fronted by the adventurous, imaginative stylings of guitarist Reza Ryan and the poetic, masterful artistry of the young keyboard prodigy, Adi Wijiya. Ryan's fretwork is as unpretentious as it is explosive and unpredictable; he plays with the passion and conviction of an early John McLaughlin or Phil Miller, but never flaunts his considerable capacity. Wijiya is every bit his equal on keyboards, demonstrating all of the poise, technique and vocabulary of a young Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul or Richie Beirach.
Their rhythm section (bassist Enriko Gultom and drummer Alfiah Akbar) keep proceedings on solid footing, while augmenting and decorating in equally-impressive fashion. This is a band with some serious skills, but also a decidedly adventurous, risk-taking persona.
With all four members still being relatively young and having less than three years of playing together under their belts, their music belies its circumstance -- with uncanny depths of corporate dynamics, sonic telepathy and advanced harmonic sensibilities, all clearly in evidence. This is progessive music of the absolute highest echelon, at its most far-reaching, sensitive and creative.
Notice is served: the next chapter in the unfolding evolution of progressive jazz fusion has been written withChapter One! Dark and foreboding; mysterious, suspenseful and surprising: their creations are a breath of fresh air for a genre clamoring desperately for such sincerity and authenticity.
So it is with great pride and privilege that MJR presents the music of I Know You Well Miss Clara. This "immediately essential" initial offering will remind listeners of why they first fell in love with progressive music ... it just doesn't get any better or any more real than this. Like an exotic delicacy or a vintage wine, this is music to be savored: an unpretentious exploration into the very nature of music and musical expression. For connoisseurs and afficiandos, this a feast for your ears ... don't miss this landmark debut!
Chapter One is a profound, monumental release: an album boldly (and easily) surpassing most of the genre's recent efforts in terms of ambition and accomplishment. It's songs are full of intrigue, expressed in a vibrant, urgent manner that -- while paying homage to a host of stellar, profound influences -- never sacrifices sensitivity and reverence of the moment for the sake of showing off chops. (... and these cats have got some chops!) IKYWMC's music goes places where few have been fearless- or capable-enough to venture. Their influences are unmistakeable, yet the end result is completely and uniquely their own.
I Know You Well Miss Clara is fronted by the adventurous, imaginative stylings of guitarist Reza Ryan and the poetic, masterful artistry of the young keyboard prodigy, Adi Wijiya. Ryan's fretwork is as unpretentious as it is explosive and unpredictable; he plays with the passion and conviction of an early John McLaughlin or Phil Miller, but never flaunts his considerable capacity. Wijiya is every bit his equal on keyboards, demonstrating all of the poise, technique and vocabulary of a young Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul or Richie Beirach.
Their rhythm section (bassist Enriko Gultom and drummer Alfiah Akbar) keep proceedings on solid footing, while augmenting and decorating in equally-impressive fashion. This is a band with some serious skills, but also a decidedly adventurous, risk-taking persona.
With all four members still being relatively young and having less than three years of playing together under their belts, their music belies its circumstance -- with uncanny depths of corporate dynamics, sonic telepathy and advanced harmonic sensibilities, all clearly in evidence. This is progessive music of the absolute highest echelon, at its most far-reaching, sensitive and creative.
Notice is served: the next chapter in the unfolding evolution of progressive jazz fusion has been written withChapter One! Dark and foreboding; mysterious, suspenseful and surprising: their creations are a breath of fresh air for a genre clamoring desperately for such sincerity and authenticity.
So it is with great pride and privilege that MJR presents the music of I Know You Well Miss Clara. This "immediately essential" initial offering will remind listeners of why they first fell in love with progressive music ... it just doesn't get any better or any more real than this. Like an exotic delicacy or a vintage wine, this is music to be savored: an unpretentious exploration into the very nature of music and musical expression. For connoisseurs and afficiandos, this a feast for your ears ... don't miss this landmark debut!
posted on Moonjune Records August 12, 2013
I Know You Well Miss Clara, Chapter One, Coming Soon on Moonjune Records
I Know You Well Miss Clara has found the freedom through a great US label, MoonJune Records, established by an entrepreneurial producer, tour manager and promoter Leonardo Pavkovic. The focus of MoonJune is to discover and release music by musicians from multifarious international settings by exploring the expanding boundaries of genuine, challenging “non-over-produced music” that cannot be easily categorized into any specific format. I Know You Well Miss Clara has infiltrated the abutments of music boxes, invented its own character, and evolved it to be more mature. Serving the music in the tradition of Canterbury Scene, the sound of groups of progressive rock, avant garde and adventurous jazz musicians based around the Canterbury city during the 60s to the early 70s such as Soft Machine or Matching Mole.
In lieu of their upcoming debut release on MoonJune Records, the band has stayed busy and visible - appearing at numerous jazz and blues festivals across Indonesia, while continuing to write and rehearse new material and search out new sonic terrain. The result of this visionary attitude and determined work ethic is a music that touches places where precious little progressive music has recently traversed. It is a bold, adventurous music more committed to being sensitive to the moment than following any formulas or set paths.
Theirs is a kindred spirit to that which defined the best of progressive jazz through much of the seventies and early '80's. It is expressed in a vibrant, urgent manner that, while paying homage to a host of stellar, profound influences, is none-the-less completely their own. Anyone who has followed the expanding directions of MoonJune Records over the last five or six years is already quite familiar with the wealth of amazing talent emerging from Indonesia. I Know You Well Miss Clara not only adds to this rich tradition, but they are quickly establishing their credentials as a vital new emerging voice in progressive music.
Upon first hearing them, MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic wasted no time in signing them to the label. (A fitting tribute to the enormous potential the group possesses.) Dark and foreboding; mysterious, suspenseful and unpredictable: their creations are a breath of fresh air for a genre clamoring desperately for such sincerity and authenticity. The album will be release in the mid of august 2013, titled Chapter One.
In lieu of their upcoming debut release on MoonJune Records, the band has stayed busy and visible - appearing at numerous jazz and blues festivals across Indonesia, while continuing to write and rehearse new material and search out new sonic terrain. The result of this visionary attitude and determined work ethic is a music that touches places where precious little progressive music has recently traversed. It is a bold, adventurous music more committed to being sensitive to the moment than following any formulas or set paths.
Theirs is a kindred spirit to that which defined the best of progressive jazz through much of the seventies and early '80's. It is expressed in a vibrant, urgent manner that, while paying homage to a host of stellar, profound influences, is none-the-less completely their own. Anyone who has followed the expanding directions of MoonJune Records over the last five or six years is already quite familiar with the wealth of amazing talent emerging from Indonesia. I Know You Well Miss Clara not only adds to this rich tradition, but they are quickly establishing their credentials as a vital new emerging voice in progressive music.
Upon first hearing them, MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic wasted no time in signing them to the label. (A fitting tribute to the enormous potential the group possesses.) Dark and foreboding; mysterious, suspenseful and unpredictable: their creations are a breath of fresh air for a genre clamoring desperately for such sincerity and authenticity. The album will be release in the mid of august 2013, titled Chapter One.
Band Jazz Yogyakarta
Ada hal spesial di Ngayogjazz 2012 kali ini, yang menampilkan beberapa band jazz yang berasal dari Yogyakarta. Mereka juga mencoba untuk memberikan penampilan yang tidak kalah seru dari sedulur jazz Komunitas Jazz Yogyakarta. Erwin Zubiyan, yang juga merupakan anggota dari Risky Summerbee and the Honeythief, menjadi salah satu musisi yang akan tampil. Penampilan di Shizuoka dan Osaka Jepang, Rock in Asia di Singapura, dan Java Rockin’ Land di Jakarta menjadi bukti jam terbang yang cukup tinggi dan membuat permainan gitarnya tak diragukan lagi. Erwin Zubiyan pun mencoba untuk mengeksplorasi musiknya dengan membuat proyek solo yang diberi nama Erwin Zubiyan Soul of Experience . Selain Erwin Zubiyan, ada juga Jay & Gatra Wardaya yang akan tampi di Ngayogjazz 2012. Dibentuk pada pertengahan tahun 2012, Jay & Gatra Wardaya mencoba untuk mengusung musik puisi. Namun bukan sembarang musik puisi, mereka mencoba mengaransemen puisi romantik Amerika ataupun macapat Jawa membalutnya dengan alunan musik jazz. “Membuatku Cinta” menjadi nama album yang mereka buat. Jay & Gatra Wardaya juga akan memberikan sedikit kejutan karena akan berkolaborasi dengan Tesla Manaf, gitaris asal Bandung, dalam beberapa lagu. Satu lagi band yang akan memeriahkan Ngayogjazz 2012 yaitu I Know You Well Miss Clara ... CONTINUE READING
posted on Ngayogjazz September 18, 2012
I Know You Well Miss Clara, Eksplorasi Bunyi Tanpa Pretensi
Untuk pertama kali, IKYWMC menggelar pertunjukan di ibukota, Jumat malam (2/12) bertempat di@america, The Pacific Place Jakarta, bertajuk The Art of Music: I Know You Well Miss Clara. Dimulai selepas jam tujuh malam, band ini mulai beraksi. Bagi pendengar yang belum terbiasa, mungkin akan langsung mengkategorikan pathing klenyit (bahasa Jawa untuk olahan bunyi yang mengalir tak tentu arah dan menjemukan – red.), abstrak, tumpang tindih, dan lain sebagainya. Tetapi, untuk pecinta musik progresif, hal itu justru merupakan sebuah daya tarik ... CONTINUE READING
posted by Thomas Y. Anggoro on Wartajazz December 4, 2011
Dari Yogyakarta, I Know You Well Miss Clara, akan tampil di @america
Hadir dengan sajian bunyi progresif melabrak batasan genre dan acuan musik, band asal Yogyakarta, I Know You Well Miss Clara (IKYWMC) akan manggung di Jakarta. Bertempat di @america, grup bentukan satria bergitar Reza Ryan, basis jagoan Enriko Gultom, pianis-kibordis Ady Wijaya, dan juru ritme Alfiah Akbar (drum, perkusi), menjadi penampil tunggal dalam gelaran bertajuk The Art of Music: I Know You Well Miss Clara, 2 Desember mendatang. IKYMC mengusung olah bunyi yang berbeda dari band-band kebanyakan di tanah air; berakar pada “Canterbury sound” mencampur rock progresif, avant-garde, pula jazz di dalamnya. .... CONTINUE READING
review by Thomas Y. Anggoro on Wartajazz November 29,2011
The Art Of Music Concert, Solo Concert Showcase
Yogyakarta seems to have unlimited source of talent. It’s proud to say that once again Indonesia spawned an experimentally progressive jazz band from this particular city which has a very unique named I Know You Well Miss Clara. A refreshing alternative and irresistible band to be heard, these guys will have a preferential gig, entitled “The Art of Music: I Know You Well Miss Clara” on December 2nd, 2011. Just as the title says, this is going to be not only an usual concert, but will also lead us back to a fundamental point of music as an art with freedom of creation speaks loud in every note. This band which was formed not too long ago in 2010 reminds us that music is a product and process of wittingly managing pitch, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and texture. It predisposes the human’s senses, emotions, and intellect, which is made with motive of stimulation thoughts and affects... CONTINUE READING
posted on Jazzuality November 22, 2011
MoonJune Unearths Treasure -- Yet Again -- In Indonesia!
Indonesia is a treasure trove for gifted musicians, and unique, sensational progressive bands -- a true modern-day "hotbed" of some of the most original, innovative jazz yet to be produced by anyone, anywhere. Were it possible, MoonJune's Leonardo Pavkovic could spend every waking minute there and produce 10 or 15 albums per year of just amazing Indonesian bands! (... And he loves the food almost as much as the music!)
Short of him getting cloned and following such pursuits, progressive jazz fusion fans will have to take them as they come -- and they are coming! .... CONTINUE READING
Short of him getting cloned and following such pursuits, progressive jazz fusion fans will have to take them as they come -- and they are coming! .... CONTINUE READING