Blues in Bandung : A Glimpse of Folk’s Rendezvous

Blues society in Bandung emerging in the late of 80`s. Centred in a several group

or persons, such as: Time Bomb Blues, Harry Pochang, Budi Arab, or Deddy Stanzah (one of the prominent musician in Bandung) 

Blues in Bandung is adherent, self styled as "bluesy" (meaning 'feeling blue" but later also connoting a musical sense, a "blues way" spirit and other meanings). This community expressed their uniqueness from conventional by adopting manners and vocabulary borrowed from prominent bluesman artists and Sundanese "daily" words (Sundanese : majority ethnic and language in Bandung). 

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In the late of 2000`s, I met with several Bandung bluesman (most of them used a nickname for his stage name) ; Yudi Kondoi, Farhat Iyay, and Yudi Ogoy. For them, blues sought to transform lyrics into an expression of genuine lived experience. 

For example, the Yudi Kondoi`s song to the titled "Ba pa na aya". The song frequently spoken with mumbling, mixed Sundanese and spontaneous words. Unstructured composition in which the guitar/singer put down the his thoughts and feelings without plan or revision in order to convey the immediacy of experience. Farhat Iyay (Harry Pochang`s nephew) also the member of "Bad Boy Blues" is a young promises harmonica player in the 2000`s. 

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In the mid of 2009, the blues society had begun to fade. blues live performance not showing regularly in Bumi Sangkuriang, the only proper place to jamming a blues at the time. Another place showed up, like #ruangputih. But the little movement produced a number of significant  singer/songwriter/musician blues and other genre: folk, especially. In 2015 one of the prominent folk’s musician was “born”. His name is Jon Kastella. As a Yudi Kondoi`s philosophy. Jon is an active, humble, smiley performer. Yudi and Jon In my opinion they are been a tough bohemian bluesman in Bandung until now. Yudi Kondoi, the last time a saw him, 12 years ago, he looked like happy with his thought, eat and sleep in public facility, he knows how the treat the elements of surprise, and the improvisation. 

And now he formed The Asep and Human Revival, the newest "movement" from him and friends. 

Jamming and connecting!

As the bluesman said : "A jam gotta be about the players and ease of use. Check your egos at the door and accept that it is like a potluck dinner," enjoy!

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Long live and well :) 

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August 2021

Added August, 28, 2023 to commemorate #jonkastella 

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