Syaharani

Syaharani has everything it takes to be a jazz singer perfect image. Deep articulation, rich tonal color, sublime voice, accurate improvisation, and many more unspeakable jazzy charms, all of which attach her appeal immaculately to jazz music. If I am forced to pick one single Indonesian jazz talent who has an opaque capacity to mesmerize people more than everybody else could, how proud I am to admit that I won’t even think twice to favor her. This album of her shows the class of a true special one. Syaharani illustrates a picture of luxury that comes out of her very vocal skill. The cannot be more correct song pick over mellow jazz tracks makes this album seem so long nonchalant, very classy in terms of ambience.


Syaharani caresses her audience of this album with A Whiter Shade of Pale where she expands drifting vocal, meanwhile retains her famous exploding voice power. However, it is not until the next song that personally can turn me into awe. 

The song I love best in this album rests in Autumn Leaves. This amazing song to me is like an epitome of cool jazz experience. Most of all, the insatiable swing in the song absolutely captures my hearing sense, more and more tempting in the improvisation session the song provides. It seems that everybody has given everything they got to play such fine tunes. Subsequently, the one and only Indonesian song, Kesan, is made of general chord composition. However, the arrangement is doing so well that the regularity could be overlooked by the groovy instrumental follow-ups. Fragile offers a cozy nuance, regarding its plain and conservative composition, simple backdrop instruments, led by Syaharani’s cool, elegant vocal style. Careless Whisper is inseparable with saxophone, one of pillar jazz instruments that have an effect of sensuous entailment. The intriguing point here is, Syaharani’s version of the particular song runs with slower rhythm but more detail chord progression. Her voice also appears deeper, then turning heavier in the chorus. You Light up My Life gives syncopated drum beats, odd as it may seem because basically they fall onto slow rhythm pace. 

A strong impression of cool jazz surfaces through two queued songs, those are Make It with You and Your Eyes. On this occasion, Syaharani sings in a steadier demeanor, avoiding skillful improvisation she used to apply in numerous forms. Talking about that kind of capability, how grateful to see such a new jazz generation as Syaharani has already found her best performance level. In other words, her skill has ripened, and so to her strong character that could make this outstanding album possible. I have every reason to label this album as picture perfect, if only Syaharani does not pick often played American jazz tracks. Somehow I am strong in my basis that Indonesian songwriters composing contemporary songs are far more rewarding. That is the message for the day. Quoting an idiom “save the best for last”, Lately has been transformed into mild bossa nova style, alongside Syaharani’s dynamic tonal stressing variations. In the end, it leaves us with a light and sweet assessment to the very white album. And how come I can’t get over that Autumn Leaves?