Rio Sidik is Indonesia’s most famous jazz and fusion musician and singer, well known too on the International music scene. He has played in some big venues and has been the star attraction, too. From fullon Jazz clubs like Ronnie Scott’s of London to International Jazz Festivals all around Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia — he will be there again for the third time this year.
Rio goes to these international venues on his own, but he and his distinguished Quartet have played at the biggest venues within the region, Singapore, Malaysia and of course Indonesia. Whether Jakarta or Bali, Java or Ubud Jazz Festivals, he is at home on a stage with a trumpet in his hand with his outstanding eclectic fusion band backing him all the way.
To hear his distinctive sound, a mix of soulful singing interspersed with his trumpet solo virtuoso performances, come and see him live at different spots around Bali. He has several albums of his own material released, some as part of Saharadja, some too with his Quartet. His signature song is a special rendition of Santana’s “Make Somebody Happy” which has the distinctive chorus line “People need people need people. Make somebody happy . . . it’s gonna make you strong!”
He started playing the trumpet at age six and had his first live performance alongside his granddad, Dariono, a great big band trumpeter and teacher, along with his sibling players at age 11. He moved to Bali age 19. Last year this grandmaster came to Bali to see him play and gave him his biggest compliment. “He said he was real proud to hear me play. He taught a thousand youngsters; he was always strict, had never said anything like that. That meant the world to me.”
This helps to explain why Rio belts out, “Make somebody happy… it’s gonna make you strong!”