A Timeless Jazz and Funk Time Capsule from 1970s Malaysia!
What kind of sound emerged when Southeast Asia’s coolest and most visionary musician entered the studio in the early 1970s? The answer to this question is hidden in a spellbinding album that instantly transports the listener back half a century to a colorful universe where Eastern and Western sounds mix recklessly: Alfonso Soliano – Tiga Trombone.
It is certainly no coincidence that the legendary Habibi Funk crew—who unearthed rare funk and soul archives from dusty shelves across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arab world to gift them to the globe—fell so deeply in love with this hidden Malaysian gem that they founded a brand-new sister record label called Audible Beauty. Reborn under the Audible Beauty 001 catalog, this album creates a true feast of sound in your ears right from the very first chord.
A Musical Spell Bridging Continents and Genres
Tiga Trombone is a monumental album that completely refuses to be boxed into a single genre or geography, surprising the listener with a distinct instrumental richness in every track. Soliano and his ensemble filter all the most exciting movements of the era—from Afrobeat to psychedelic rock, bebop to cinematic funk tones—through a distinctly Malaysian lens.
Here are the standout musical layers gracing our ears:
Eastern-African Rhythm Blend: Opening the album, “Masth Chantani” merges the dizzying rhythms of Asian and African percussion instruments (tabla and talking drum) with string arrangements reminiscent of Eastern melodies.
The Contrast of Afrobeat and Hippie Flower Power: The track “Ida” kicks off with a full-bodied baritone saxophone nodding to Fela Kuti’s fiery Afrobeat legacy, only to be balanced immediately by optimistic 70s flute melodies and alluring electric keyboard solos.
Cinematic Funk and “Jungle” Grooves: “Rimba,” meaning jungle in the Malay language, brings the era’s famous crime thriller soundtracks and Shaft aesthetic straight to Southeast Asia through deep-flowing basslines and tension-filled cymbal rhythms.
Bebop and Classic Jazz Mastery: In “Rohina,” the atmosphere begins with smoky Miles Davis- and Chet Baker-style trumpets before suddenly picking up tempo and giving way to unique solo transitions reminiscent of Grant Green and Wayne Shorter.
A Musical Genius with Fezzes, Sunglasses, and a Boundless Vision
Having stepped into the music world as a child prodigy pianist at just 7 years old, Alfonso Soliano was a true pioneer who brought the bebop style to Malaysia as early as the 1940s—when it was still considered fringe even in the US. Founding his country’s first radio orchestra and never compromising his vision despite criticism for interpreting traditional Malay music through Western forms, Soliano sits at the very heart of that charismatic crew standing in front of a Bornean Airways plane on the album cover, wearing fezzes and dark sunglasses.
Tiga Trombone is an immensely enjoyable and timeless masterpiece stretching from half a century ago to the present day, where jazz, funk, Afrobeat, and Eastern instruments dance in flawless harmony.
To follow these unique musical treasures unearthed from dusty shelves by Habibi Funk, as well as new vinyl reissues and rare discoveries from around the globe, you can visit the Official Habibi Funk Instagram Page.
