Indra Lesmana (born 28 March 1966) is an Indonesian arranger, composer, songwriter, and jazz musician. He is the father of an Indonesian actress and singer-songwriter, Eva Celia Lesmana.
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Biography
Lesmana grew up in a house of music and musicians. His father was jazz guitarist Jack Lesmana and his mother Nien Lesmana was a singer. He began playing piano when he was nine. A year later, he played in his father's band. He attended the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music in Australia.
In 1981, he and his father formed the Jack and Indra Lesmana Quartet with Karim Suweileh and James Morrison. The album Children of Fantasy was recorded in Indonesia and released by Queen Records. When he returned to Australia, he formed the Latin jazz fusion band Children of Fantasy with Jack Lesmana, Steve Brien, Dale Barlow, Tony Thijssen, and Harry Rivers. In 1982 he started Nebula with Andy Evans, Vince Genova, Carlinhos Goncalves, Steve Hunter, and Ken James. The album No Standing, with four compositions by Lesmana, was released in Australia by Jasmine and in Indonesia by Jackson. In 1983, he joined Tony Buck, Sandy Evans, and Steve Elphick to form the modern jazz band Women and Children First and recorded their first album in 1983.
Zebra, an affiliate of MCA signed him to a contract and released No Standing as his solo album. The album was remastered by Bernie Grundman before being released in the U.S.
Lesmana moved to California in 1985 and recorded For Earth and Heaven (1986) with Vinnie Colaiuta, Charlie Haden, Jimmy Haslip, Tootie Heath, Michael Landau, Airto Moreira, and Bobby Shew. His singles "No Standing" (No Standing) and "Stephanie" (For Earth and Heaven) entered the Billboard magazine jazz chart. He formed a 17-piece big band in March 2002. He wrote his first big band arrangement for the soundtrack to the film Rumah Ke Tujuh produced by his sister, Mira Lesmana.
Audio engineering
Lesmana has deep interest in audio technology. His album Tragedi (1984) was first as a sound designer. In 1998 he produced Sabda Prana album by Java Jazz. In 1999 he decided to establish a mixing and mastering house specializing in jazz. He has mixed and mastered more than 20 albums by Indonesian acts such as Andien, Dewa Budjana, Chlorophyl, Delon, Simak Dialog, The Groove, Humania, Ermy Kullit, Maliq & D'Essentials, Rieka Roeslan, Donny Suhendra. He was nominated for Best Mixing Engineer for the album Rumah Ke Tujuh at AMI Awards 2003.
Other work
In early 2004, with his wife Hanny Trihandojo Lesmana and Aksan Syuman, organized a weekly program in South Jakarta to encourage young people to explore music and dance. In March 2004, Lesmana was hired by Fremantle Media and RCTI to be a judge on Indonesian Idol. He was a judge in the first Asian Idol held in Indonesia.
Discography
1978 Ayahku Sahabatku
1981 Children of Fantasy
1982 No Standing
1982 Nostalgia
1982 Latin Jazz Fusion (Special Edition)
1983 Women and Children First
1984 Tragedi
1984 Yang Pertama Yang Bahagia
1986 For Earth and Heaven
1986 Karina
1986 Gemilang
1986 Jack & Indra Lesmana Various
1987 La Samba Primadona
1987 Semakin Menawan
1988 Ekspresi
1989 Titi DJ 1989
1989 Kau Datang
1990 Aku Ingin
1990 Dunia Boleh Tertawa
1991 Adegan
1991 Cerita Lalu
1992 Selangkah Di Depan
1992 Hanya Untukmu
1993 Biarkan Aku Kembali
1994 Tiada Kata
1994 Waktu Berjalan
Awards
Best Jazz/Pop Keyboards Instrumentalist – Gadis [1989]
Best Pop Selling Album: Aku Ingin – BASF Awards [1990]
Diamond Achievement Awards – De Beers Diamond [1995]
Best Jazz/Fusion Album – producer: Ermi Kullit – Saat Yang Terindah – 4th AMI Awards [2000]
Best Jazz Vocalist – News Music Awards [2001]
Best Keyboardist – News Music Awards [2001]
Best Instrumental Song: "Reborn" – 5th AMI Awards [2001]
Best Jazz/Contemporary Jazz Album – producer: Andien – Kinanti – 6th AMI Awards [2002]
Best Score/Soundtrack: Rumah Ke Tujuh – Festival Film Bandung [2003]
Best Jazz/Contemporary Jazz Artist – 7th AMI Awards [2003]
Best Jazz Song: "Mimpi & Rumah ke Tujuh" – 7th AMI Awards [2003]
Best Jazz Arranger: "Mimpi & Rumah ke Tujuh" – 7th AMI Awards [2003]
Best Jazz Producer: "OST Rumah ke Tujuh" – 7th AMI Awards [2003]
Most Radical Musician: Nokia 7600 [2004]
Rolling Stone magazine Indonesia – 41st Best Indonesian Album of All Time: Reborn [2007]
Most Favorite Jazz Player: JAK JAZZ [2008]