Life and Leisure

Dutch duo takes fusion to new heights

By Chen Nan (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-03 16:24

The term "crossover" has become synonymous with music in this age of fusion and cross-cultural elements. Musicians nowadays love mixing genres, and combining old traditions with new trends.

Moluccan folk, fused with modern jazz, is the particular appetite of Dutch duo Boi Akih, comprising Monica Akihary and Niels Brouwer.

At their debut show in Beijing on Sept 10, the two - who are also life partners - will show what they have inherited from their Moluccan background and what they have learned from other Asian and European influences.

The name Boi Akih, or Princess Akih, is inspired by a legend from the Moluccas (a group of Indonesian islands) called Boi Ratan (Princess Rotan).

Both guitarist Niels Brouwer and vocalist Monica Akihary were born in the Netherlands. Akihary, who started the group, sings almost exclusively in Harakunese, a local language used in Indonesia. Brouwer, her musical and life partner for 12 years, is a trained jazz guitarist.

Their musical style is a mix of Indonesia, South Indian and European classical, besides jazz, but the two musicians are also likely to describe their music as folk. Akihary's debut album Boi Akih (1997) topped the charts in France and set her status as an influential jazz figure in European jazz circles.

The duo will present music from their fifth album, Yalelol (the non-physical being), which makes good use of many influences ranging from Indonesian traditional music to blues, Arabic rhythms, West African songs and more.

Tabla player Sandip Bhattacharya, a well known figure in Indian classical music, jazz, and world music, will share the stage as a special guest.

If you go

When: 9 pm, Sept 10

Where: Starlive, 3F, Tango, 79 Heping Xijie (50m north of Yonghegong subway station), Dongcheng district, Beijing

Tel: 010-5165-0798, 010-6425-5567

China Daily