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Jazz Legend Indra Lesmana’s Sydney Reunion Revives Cultural Collaboration Through Music
While New Orleans is celebrated as the birthplace of jazz, for Indonesian jazz icon Indra Lesmana, Sydney was the muse that profoundly shaped his music career during his formative years.
The jazz prodigy enrolled at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Sydney in 1979 when he was just 13 years old. During his five years of study there, he honed his jazz artistry under the guidance of esteemed musicians, including Roger Frampton, Don Burrows, Paul MacNamara, and Judy Bailey.
“They were exceptional both as musicians and teachers," Indra recalls. "They created an environment where students learned from each other. As I was born into a musical family, studying there felt like home. What I experienced was not just education; it was the easiest way to learn and grow.”
Indra’s musical career flourished in Sydney as he explored jazz styles, techniques, and genres by forming bands with Australian musicians and performing at music festivals.
He also played at venues including The Basement and Soup Plus. In 1981, Indra collaborated with his father, Jack Lesmana—a legendary jazz musician—to produce an album titled Children of Fantasy.
He formed a band called Nebula with his schoolmates Steve Hunter, Ken James, Andy Evans, Vince Genova, and Carlinhos Goncalves. Their album No Standing was released in 1982, the same year he made his debut performance at the Manly Jazz Festival, Australia’s longest-running jazz festival.
“These bands were part of my life in Sydney,” Indra remarked.
Budding Music Career
Indra’s interactions in Sydney set the foundation for his future success. His album with Nebula, No Standing, drew interest from Zebra Records, a California-based jazz/fusion record label which released the album in the United States in 1984.
A year later, Indra moved to the United States, where he recorded For Earth and Heaven. For this album, Indra collaborated with musicians Vinnie Colaiuta, Michael Landau, Charlie Haden, Jimmy Haslip, Airto Moreira, Bobby Shew, and Albert “Tootie” Heath. Zebra Records released For Earth and Heaven in 1985. Two singles from the album were hits on the Billboard chart for jazz.
To date, No Standing and For Earth and Heaven are the defining achievements of his recording career.
Working in the birthplace of jazz further enriched Indra’s work through collaborations with world renowned jazz artists, including the late pianist Chick Corea, one of his favourite artists.
Upon returning from overseas, Indra's career in Indonesia's music scene soared. In 1986, he joined the Krakatau band as the keyboardist. The jazz band captured the hearts of Indonesian youth and became one of the most influential bands of the era.
As of 2015, Indra had released more than 75 records, including 40 solo and group albums, and had appeared on numerous albums as a producer, composer, arranger, and soloist. Apart from his many musical collaborations, Indra is a mentor to young musicians, including as a judge on the popular TV contests Indonesian Idol and Asian Idol.
"I am naturally a quiet person, so when I meet new people, it can be a struggle to start a conversation—except when it comes to music. I find it much easier to connect with others through music because it has been a part of my life since I was little,” he said.
Musical Environment
Growing up as the youngest child of Jack Lesmana, who introduced jazz to Indonesia and earned the moniker “The Godfather of Indonesian Jazz,” becoming a musician was a natural path for Indra. From a young age, he was immersed in various musical genres.
Indra recalled how their family home in Tebet, South Jakarta, became a haven for Indonesian musicians in the 1960s and 1970s. Legendary artists from all genres— like Ahmad Albar from Indonesia’s rock band God Bless, the late pop singer Chrisye, and jazz musicians Jopie Item and Benny Likumahuwa — were regular visitors.
“Our house was open 24 hours a day. There was always food on the dining table, but I consumed more music than food,” Indra chuckled.
“I’m probably one of the luckiest musicians. Growing up in such a vibrant musical environment made it easy for me to connect with other musicians, even the newer ones. Building my career never felt like a challenge.”
Australian Connection
Indonesian musicians were not the only guests at Indra’s family home. Australian jazz musicians also made regular visits.
“My father was sort of the Indonesian jazz ambassador,” Indra recalled. “When the Australian Embassy brought musicians to Indonesia, they would always come to our house for dinner and to listen to music. My father even had a set of Balinese gamelans to show them. We've had a very good relationship with Australia since the 1970s.”
It was this strong family connection with the Australian Embassy and its musical community that eventually led Indra to study in Australia.
In 1978, Indra and Jack performed at a week-long cultural event in Sydney. During their stay, Jack encouraged Indra to take an entry test to the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music. He was accepted and received a full scholarship from the Australian Government and permanent residency for his family.
Sydney Reunion
In March, Indra received the Australian Alumni Grant from Australia Awards in Indonesia to produce a documentary about his life in Sydney more than 40 years ago. In May, he flew to Sydney and met with Australian jazz pianist Kevin Hunt and Ivan Paulus, an adviser at the Indonesian Business Council (IBC) Australia.
Together, they came up with the idea of a musical collaboration called the Sydney Reunion album. The album reunites musicians who were part of Indra’s early career, including Steve Hunter (bass), who played on No Standing, Dale Barlow (saxophone), who played on Children of Fantasy, and Andrew Gander (drums).
The Sydney Reunion album, which features ten new songs, was launched at Sydney’s Opera House on 23 September. A day before the launch, Indra performed at the Manly Jazz Festival, 42 years after his debut performance there.
Reviving Australia-Indonesia Cultural Exchange
Over the years, cultural exchange between Australia and Indonesia, particularly in music, has waned as other issues have taken priority in the bilateral relationship. Indra’s Sydney Reunion project offers a fresh perspective on Indonesia-Australia relations by reviving cultural collaboration through music.
Unlike the usual focus on key issues such as development, trade and security, this project bridges the two nations in a creative and artistic context, showcasing the power of cultural diplomacy.
Indra believes that cultural exchange, especially through music, remains crucial in strengthening the relationship between Australia and Indonesia.
“Cultural exchange allows Australia to see Indonesia from more than just one or two perspectives. In jazz, there are unique aspects to learn about Indonesia that can’t be found elsewhere, such as how modern Indonesia is and the depth of intellectual development here,” Indra observed. “We can continue these exchanges—not just cultural exchanges, but also exchanges of ideas and knowledge.”
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