Join a memorable evening of piano artistry in Bali on Sunday, 26 July 2026, when Pianist #4 brings together Erik Sondhy and Kevin Suwandhi in a unique intergenerational musical dialogue.
The bond between this teacher and student did not end in the classroom, but continued into the future on a new level of talent and artistry. Pianist #4 reunites Erik Sondhy and Kevin Suwandhi, teacher and pupil, on the same stage.
Years ago, Kevin Suwandhi studied jazz piano under Erik Sondy. On 26 July, Suwandi and Sondhy reunite as two gifted musicians. Both men have followed distinct and separate paths. Erik has been building a Bali jazz ecosystem since the early 1990s, while Kevin became a devoted jazz student in New York City after being tutored by his Indonesian mentor.
An exciting evening of musical entertainment will unfold in four acts in Bali on Sunday, 26 July.
Rudolf Dethu
- Act One opens with The Kevin Suwandhi Trio, followed by:
- Act Two, a solo performance by Erik Sondhy. Between these sets, renowned Dutch music journalist, pianist, writer, and radio personality Rudolf Dethu will host
- Act Three, an informative “Garden Talk Show” with Sondhy and Suwandi to explore the musical journeys and ideas of both men. The evening concludes with:
- Act Four, a battle of the keyboards as dual grand pianos bring together two formidable maestros from two generations in a harmonious musical dialogue.
“The Pianist #4” will take place on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Antida Sound Garden, Kesiman, North Sanur.
A very limited number of tickets are available. Secure yours now for only Rp100,000 each.
Tickets can be booked online at https://bit.ly/ASG-thepianist
Erik Sondhy
One of five siblings born to a Manadonese father and a Balinese mother, Eurysondhy Andrean John Imanuel Mangempis, better known as Erik Sondhy, was born in Bali in 1975. Recognized early as a musical prodigy, Erik’s keyboard mastery earned him the nickname “Mister Fingers.”
Erik Sondhy at Abbey Road Studios
The former keyboardist for Indonesia’s legendary Jiwa Band, Sondhy now heads The Erik Sondhy Project and is the pianist for trumpeter Rio Sidik’s Quartet.
Erik Sondhy is a well-established fixture on the Indonesian music scene, having shared stages with many leading national artists including Ireng Maulana, Mus Mujiono, Indra Lesmana, Cendi Luntungan, Dewa Budjana, Dwiki Dharmawan, Indro Hardjodikoro, Balawan, Barry Likumahuwa, Oele Pattiselano, Jeffrey Tahalele, Sandy Winarta, Monita Tahalea, Sierra Soetedjo, Maruli Tampubolon, Titi Dj, Krisdayanti, Harvey Malaiholo, Andien, Dira Sugandi, Ruth Sahanaya, Dewi Gita, Syaharani, Tompi, Superman Is Dead, and Ayu Laksmi.
Internationally, Erik Sondy has appeared at the Penang Island Jazz Festival, the Singapore Jazz Festival, the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival, and at leading jazz venues in London, including Ronnie Scott’s and Troy Jazz Bar. He has shared stages with bassist Hadrien Feraud, guitarist Toninho Horta, trumpeter Andy Davis, bassist Mark Lewandowski, and drummer Saleem Raman, and opened for Grammy Award-winning Latin Jazz sensation Chucho Valdés.
Abbey Road Studios, London
Erik is a lifelong fan of The Beatles, an admiration that drove him, even as a small child, to learn musical skills on a range of instruments, including guitar and piano. He has said, “The Beatles songs are the soundtrack of my life.” In 2015, Erik traveled to London to record and release his third album at Abbey Road Studios.
Earlier, at the tender age of 12 and largely self-taught as a keyboardist, Erik made his musical debut performing on an upright organ in his grandmother’s church.
After completing high school in 1992, Erik sought his parents’ permission to stay with his grandmother in Bandung, West Java, where his nenek sang with the church choir. There, he formed a band at Santa Maria 2 Bandung High School, with his grandmother becoming one of its biggest fans; Erik served as vocalist, guitarist, and pianist. The Beatles songbook featured prominently in the band’s repertoire.
Kevin Suwandi
Born in Bali in 1996, Kevin Suwandi began playing piano at age 9 and initially focused on classical compositions.
Kevin Suwandhi
He was later introduced to jazz by guitarist Yuri Mahatma and drummer Bogie Prasetyo through a series of free Sunday Jazz Clinics in Bali.
At age 18, Kevin relocated to New York City to study jazz at The New School, where he studied with Francesca Tanksley, Jean Michel-Pilc, Kevin Hays, Chris Crocco, Ari Hoenig, Billy Harper, Doug Weiss, Cameron Brown, Johannes Weidenmueller, and Joe Martin.
When he returned home to Bali. Kevin studied at the Indonesia Arts Institute Denpasar (ISI-Denpasar) for a period.
At age 21, Kevin formed the Kevin Suwandhi Double Trio, featuring driving bass lines from Indra Gupta and Barry Likumahuwa, and double percussion from Sandy Winarta and Grady Boanerges. He described it as representing two sides of his life: one drawn to pop and R&B with electric bass, and another to educational jazz with acoustic bass.
The vision was to bridge the gap between electric and acoustic jazz. During this period, Kevin deepened his interest in Indian, Balkan, and Balinese music, and the project yielded original compositions that crossed over between jazz and pop.
Now entering his third decade, Kevin Suwandi has become a respected presence at jazz festivals in Bali, the island’s music scene, and across the region.
Antida Soundgarden – The Musical Journey of Anom Agung Anom Darsana
Antida Sound Garden is an alternative space, recording studio, and inclusive creative hub for the art community and local musicians in Denpasar, Bali. Founded by Anak Agung Anom Darsana, the venue serves as a sanctuary for creative workers to express themselves freely and produce original work.
Antida Sound Garden
A private, family-run backyard garden adjacent to Antida Music Productions, this venue offers a blend of modern indoor and outdoor stages, backed by Bali’s most professional recording studio and event sound engineering teams.
Anak Agung Anom Wijaya Darsana established and operates Antida Sound Garden. At age 19, he moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, to study French literature and linguistics at the École de Français Modern at the Université de Lausanne. While pursuing his university degree, Anom worked as a sound engineer at a Swiss television station. He later joined the Center de Formation aux Métiers du Son for a four-year program of classroom study and hands-on studio work.
Working in Switzerland, Anom established a professional sound studio and built a reputable track record in television productions, musical events, and stage productions. His foreign sojourn included work as a sound engineer with Ballet Bejart, joining performance tours in France and Italy, and a six-month tour contract with Expo National Suisse. In 2004, Anom returned to Bali established Antida Music Productions, now home to workshops, masterclasses, recording and production sessions, and art workshops.
Anak Agung Anom Wijaya Darsana
Saturday, 26 July, will be an evening not to be missed. Bookings, while tickets last, can be made online at https://bit.ly/ASG-thepianist .
Admission is Rp. 100,000. Only 70 tickets are available. Book now while they last.
The Pianist #4 – An Evening of Piano Artistry by Kevin Suwandhi and Erik Sondhy
Sunday, July 26, 2026
Antida Soundgarden
Jalan Waribang No 32
Kesiman, East Denpasar
Location on Google Maps
Related Links
Ubud Village Jazz Festival
Goro Goro Cafe and Kitchen on Instagram
Antida Music Studio
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