SABAH HABAS MUSTAPHA & JUGALA ALL STARS
So La Li

KART 4


Kartini
Indonesia

 

The second album from "3 Mustaphas 3" brother Sabah Habas Mustapha together with the young and excellent ensemble from Bandung in West Java, The Jugala Allstars.
Bandung is the capital of the Sunda province of West Java, four hours drive from the sweltering moloch that is Jakarta up into the relatively cooler climate of the volcanic hills. Sunda is famed for its traditions of music, art and dance. The Jugala Allstars are among a new generation of musicians working with these traditions to create contemporary Sundanese music. Leader Ismet Ruchimat, who plays the zither-like kacapi, is composer and arranger for Gugum Gumbira's internationally known Jugala Orchestra and has participated on a number of international recording projects including "Sunda Africa" (GlobeStyle) and Hariprasad Chaurasia's "Moon Magic" (BMG India).

Agus Supriawan, also a young veteran of the Jugala Orchestra, plays the khendang - a large double-headed drum played with hands and feet together with three smaller drums known as ketipung. The swooping melodic runs are produced by applying pressure with the heel on the bass-end of the drum. Asep Maung is not only the brilliant improviser on a number of bamboo flutes (suling) but also contributes a Sunda-style rap on the track "Geulis" which is also adorned with the wild whooping, wailing and chanting known as senggak. The violin weaving long lines of wistful melody like a homesick butterfly is propelled by Yadi Piteuk. Jaipongan star Tati Ani Mogiono makes her smoothly soaring voice the shiny centrepiece of four of the songs. Together with guitarist, bassist and singer Sabah Habas Mustapha they take Sundanese music forward in all directions.

English translation of "Bébér Layar"- track 10:
Faintly can the sound of the degung and the bamboo flute be heard. Accompanied by soft singing, they blend very beautifully. The sound of the bamboo flute is melancholy, it makes sad people even sadder but the sound of the degung is deep and comforts those who are upset.

Track Listing:
Di Nagara Deungeun / Bubi Chen / Malam Sunda #1 / Ningal Gunung / Geulis / So La Li / Ratug / Seuri / Malam Sunda #2 / Bébér Layar / Geulis - karaoke version