GengGong Sukses!

Many readers familiar with the Indonesian music scene will know of the fame of Sawung Jabo. Jabo has also had a long musical collaboration with Iwan Fals, and has been leader of well known bands, "Swami" and "Kantata". Jabo has penned many great songs and has not been afraid to criticise the social injustices of the Suharto years. His music has been woven into the fabric of Indonesian society.

Since 1992 Jabo has lived in Sydney with his Australian wife Suzan Piper and their two children Santi and Johann, but he passionately loves his homeland of Indonesia, and so his life has become that of a "comuter" between the two countries.

Ready for a change of musical direction, Jabo teamed up with Sydney-based musicians to form the group "GengGong" in 1999. Together they are exploring ethnic music in a marvellous mixture of the sounds of East and West. The band members are Ron Reeves, Kim Sanders, Reza Achman and Sawung Jabo. Frequently they invite other musical friends to join them as guest artists, when performing in various locations, around Indonesia and Australia. There is always great spontanaiety and an obvious joy in the making and sharing of the music with each other and with their audience.

Ron plays percussion (Sundanese Kendang) and Reza also is on drums and other percussion. Kim plays Turkish and Bulgarian wind instruments and Jabo sings, plays guitar, and Indonesian gongs and sometimes can be seen in traditional mask dance performance also. The combination of European and Indonesian traditional instruments combined with modern guitars and drums takes the band and the audience on a wonderful musical adventure.

From July to September 2000 GengGong have been touring Indonesia. They appeared several times at the Gamelan Festival in Yogykarta in early July, and then recorded their first CD. A successful tour of Java and Bali followed.

Sawung Jabo passionately loves his country and in recent difficult times has experienced times of despair as relations between Australia and Indonesia deteriorated. Living with the misunderstandings among the populations on both sides, was agonising for many people who have deep connections in the two countries.

Jabo has been quoted (in an article in The Jakarta Post, 18th August 2000) as saying, "The crisis had a big impact on me but I never lost my optimism or sense of humor. I kept writing music through these times because that's who I am. Indonesia is a never-ending source of inspiration for me. I am always inspired by everyday life. Anything, anytime."

Those of us who have been lucky enough to enjoy live performances by "GengGong" eagerly await release of the C.D.

For more information about "GengGong" check out their website at http://home.iprimus.com.au/wot

or email them at wot@primus.com.au