Review Summary: Smooth and enjoyable!
It's hard to decide exactly what genre that Trisum carries on. However, their musical concept is not too far away from these style of genres; jazz, pop-rock, and folk. Trisum blended them altogether into freestyle of jazz. Trisum actually is just a project band. Trio guitarist Dewa Budjana, I Wayan Balawan, and Tohpati, seem want to do a guitar dialogue. And yes, they are successful to deliver the goods. Their debut album
1st Edition is worthy a listen.
There are two major 'atmosphere' of
1st Edition. The first one, the more folk-
ish but with a lot of influences from modern jazz sound. Songs such as
Cublak Cublak Suweng,
Mahabarata, and
Keroncong Kemayoran are fine examples. While
Mahabarata is a more 'Bali' with its kinda mystical taste,
Keroncong Kemayoran and
Cublak Cublak Suweng are a bit more 'Malay' and 'Batavia' with minimal Keroncong influence - Keroncong is an Indonesian folk sub genre that took influences from old Portugal music. These three songs, if were delivered in a pure folk-style with local instruments, probably they would be a bit boring, monotonous, and kinda oldish - especially for many young Indo music lovers. However, Trisum has managed them all with a new character and soul; something that make the songs a more fresh and smooth.
Then, second major atmosphere. Songs such as
October Rain,
Guitar In The Midnight, and
Mainz In My Mind, are quite tasteful, smooth and jazzy. Something that people usually could find in smooth-jazz acts such as Fourplay or Lee Ritenour. Sometimes, it's pretty fair to say that those three songs are slightly pop-rock or whatsoever! Overall, Trisum did a great job with awesome musicianship. The album is quite enjoyable and easy listening. The only real flaw or problem that people should concern about, possibly it was kinda lack of space for each guitarist to show of a more skills. With eight songs and about 40s minutes of music, the album is quite damn short, considering this trio guitarist has virtuosity play inclination.
In closing, this is awesome release. The stuff is well executed with great musicianship capability. Not only the trio guitarist that makes this album worth a listen, but also other great session members; Indro Hardjodikoro (bass guitar) and Sandi Winarta (drums). Coming from different background of music experiences, this trio's release is more than good enough. Dewa Budjana, in context of Indonesia and South East Asia is well-known as a capable pop-rock guitarist with his band, Gigi. I Wayan Balawan is famous with his jazz fusion group, Balawan & Batuan Ethnic Fusion - a group that combine Western jazz with Balinese ethnics music. And Tohpati, he is music producer and all at once also songwriter for many Indonesian divas or pop-rock singers, beside that, Tohpati is also still active in both Krakatau and Tohpati Bertiga - both of them is jazz groups.
