js The MoonJune label has been very active over the last few years in bringing fusion talent from Indonesia to a wider international audience, and Tesla Manaf is their latest addition to an ever growing roster of artists. Manaf had already released two albums before he joined MoonJune, so to kick things off with his new label, they decided to package those two previous albums into one compilation and title it with Manaf’s full name. Although the two albums both feature a mixture of contemporary jazz and Indonesian music, the two couldn’t be more different.

“A Man’s Relationship with His Fragile Area”, Manaf’s first album, which takes up the first eight tracks of this compilation, features a colorful quartet playing an Indonesian flavored cross between concert hall music and ‘chamber jazz’. Much of this music sounds composed, although there seems to be room for improvisation too. Although concert hall in flavor, a distinct Indonesian flavor comes through in the melodies and sometimes in the percussion accompaniment too. Creative throughout and somewhat avant-garde in places, this music sounds like nobody else, including Manaf’s fellow fusion artists. Manaf’s guitar work is virtuoso, but a lot of credit should also go to clarinetist Hulahula. A standout track is “Early Years” with its quiet meditation.

The remaining tracks on this compilation come from Manaf’s first album, “Its all Yours”, which features Manaf backed by the Balinese ensemble Mahagotra Ganesha. On these tracks Manaf’s plays contemporary light fusion while backed by the chiming bells of the Balinese gamelan. Its an interesting combination and it does not sound a bit odd to those used to Indonesian music, but I wouldn’t expect to hear this on any western jazz music stations anytime soon. The standout track in this set is the moody ballad, “Part 2” The ‘monkey chants’ mixed with post bop swing on “Part 4” is an unexpected combination to say the least. Both sections of this compilation are good, and none of this music sounds like anyone else, but between the two, the tracks from “Fragile Area” have the most for repeated listens.