Big band sounds with a Malaysian heart
The music of Tarakucha! celebrates being Malaysian with an old-world charm in a contemporary setting. Aref Omar gets the low-down from Sean Ghazi and Ida Mariana
IN the spacious split-level studio space of Banglonine Productions in Petaling Jaya, the nimble rhythm section of bass guitar, drums and percussions generate an irresistible pulse for the melodic electric guitar and piano runs to ride on. Adding colour to the musical affair is the rousing timbre of brass horns that complement the stirring movement of strings.
It’s a 10-piece big band setting with an infectious vibe that’s rendering local classic tunes like a rock n roll-driven Burung Kakak Tua and a tight delivery of the Datuk Sudirman Arshad hit Punch Card.
Singer and actor Sean Ghazi croons comfortably into the mic in this rehearsal session for his brainchild, Tarakucha!
Next to him is fellow entertainer and co-lead Ida Mariana, while Maya Tan and Ruzana Ibrahim provide vocal backing as the dependable Kuchettes.
The band’s musical director Nish Tham, who also adeptly tickles the ivories, stops midway to let them know that they have to be more “punchy”.
With a bit of tweaking this then leads to a locked-into-the-groove performance that would get even the most stoic listener’s foot tapping.
Along the way the rehearsal is punctuated by bouts of laughter, jokes and casual ribbing as the group works hard to prepare itself for an upcoming performance at the Annexe Studio of Singapore’s Esplanade Theatres by the Bay tomorrow.
“It’ll be our first show outside of Kuala Lumpur,” says an excited Sean of the concert which is part of the Pesta Raya 2018 - Malay Festival of Arts happening in the Lion City.
“We’ll be performing two intimate one-hour shows back-to-back. Singapore is hungry for Malay content,” adds the 49-year-old artiste, who has an ongoing love affair with local vintage tunes.
YESTERDAY ONCE MORE
His debut album, Semalam, was a collection of jazzed-up renditions from the classic Malaysian songbook. Released in 2006, the album won Sean an Anugerah Industri Muzik award for Best New Artiste.
The charming personality also played the late, great Tan Sri P. Ramlee in the 2007 stage production of P. Ramlee - The Musical.
“Tarakucha! is actually an extension of my album and we started it about two years ago at (the restaurant-music lounge) Bobo KL, where I’m also the artistic director. The venue has given us a platform to workshop things and the group has really resonated with audiences,” he says.
So far the big band outfit with a Malaysian twist has had six outings. Last year it was part of the DiverseCity International KL Arts Festival where the group performed at the Gardens Theatre.
“We’ve performed in various guises, from a band of four at an outdoor venue to its current proper incarnation at the moment with a 10-piece setup,” says Sean.
His collaboration with Ida is a fitting one as both share a similar retro aesthetic and passion for the classics.
The actress played Bayan in Season 2 (2006) and Season 3 (2009) of the highly popular theatre staging of Puteri Gunung Ledang - The Musical.
Blessed with a voice that has been described as lush and silky, Ida is no stranger to the local jazz circuit and has been staging shows dubbed as Kebaya Jazz.
“I always tell people jokingly that the group is a combo of the ‘Semalam’ boy and the ‘Kebaya Jazz’ girl,” says a gleeful Sean.
“Yeah, it’s like the two brands got married and gave birth to Tarakucha!” chimes in Ida.
The spicy combination certainly makes sense. After all, P. Ramlee did have the legendary Puan Sri Saloma as his perfect foil.
Last August the two even released a song together titled Gelora, which was originally recorded by P. Ramlee and Saloma for the classic movie Seniman Bujang Lapok back in 1961.
A MELTING POT OF MUSIC AND HOPE
But with a repertoire of undeniably catchy music on tap, it’s no surprise when Ida reveals that, “people always end up standing and dancing to the music.”
“I discovered that people want to get up and dance when the music is good; when we allow them that space, they actually do it,” she says.