The Wayang World Music Festival keeps the beat going on at the Kafe Wayang, on the second Friday of each month. It’s a celebration of local music blended with other styles – ethnic fusion.

I didn’t know what to expect when I entered Kafé Wayang on Friday evening. The place was still a bit empty since I came quite early to enjoy dinner as well, but by the time I’d taken my last bite, ethnic fusion fans had started to appear. After Balawan & Batuan Ethnic Fusion opened the festival last month, tonight it was Banjar Teratai Capung’s turn to woo the crowd with their unique sound.

It turned out to be mesmerizing. Banjar Teratai Capung opened the show with an instrumental song called ‘Sekar Kecepiring’ (Bali’s traditional flower), a romantic blend of Bali’s ethnic sound and jazz. Bambang Pranoto, the eccentric front man of the band appeared with his unique instrument that looked to be made of clay. While he tapped the pot like some sort of a little drum, the rest of the band supported him with killer jazz funk skills. Apart from the keyboard, bass and drums, Banjar Teratai Capung’s instruments also include rindik (Bali’s bamboo gamelan) and a traditional bamboo flute.

The band have released three albums so far, ‘The Road to the Morning of the World’, Re-Invent and Tunggah Semi. Pranoto is the ever-energetic soul of the band, introducing the songs and guiding his fellow musicians. The show continued with a song called ‘Pohon, Ranting Yang Patah’ (The Tree, The Branch That is Broken), that laments the trees lost due to modern development. The song flowed softly with an trancelike feel, then picking up again towards the end.

Almost all of Banjar Teratai Capung’s instrumental songs, such as ‘Suwe Ora Jamu’ (Long Time No See), or ‘Backyard Symphony’ gave me that kind of feeling. You’d start smooth and dreamy, and end up with an upbeat climax.

Don’t miss next month’s event – the festival continues until December, so don’t miss your chance to see some local genius. /MK