(JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

Trying to count how many albums Roy Ayers has recorded will leave you lost in a long discography … before starting the recount. Was that 83? Or 84?

“More than 80, for sure,” the legendary jazz-funk vibraphonist says, having lost count himself.

This extraordinary feat is the result of hard work — of recording an average of two albums a year since his first appearance in 1967.

“Check this out: I’m 68 but I still look good … feel good. I’ve been putting records out every year,” Ayers says. “I’m tripping, but still kicking,” he adds with a chuckle.

But it was only after reaching these milestones – a 68th birthday and 80-something albums – that the Los Angeles-born musician was able to visit Indonesia, turning it on for the country’s jazz lovers at the recent Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival.

“It’s great to know that despite the different audience we have here, their good appreciation for my music is just the same [as fans in other countries],” Ayers says, smiling.

Having the same “good appreciation” for his music is one thing. But his worldwide reputation is another thing altogether. Although Ayers acknowledges it is an honor when he is referred to as a prophet of acid jazz or a living jazz legend, he is happier to be considered a musician of his own style, as he breathes all kinds of tunes into his life.

“People are always defining music. And jazz has been the strongest attribute in my music,” Ayers says. “Yes, I’m motivated by jazz; it’s my formula. But I’m not caught up in defining the music that I play.”

Indeed, Ayers will tell you he plays almost all kinds of music, from jazz to soul, rock to Latin, swing to R&B, pop to hip-hop.

“It’s all about being versatile. Being able to play everything makes me unique and original. I’m one of a kind,” Ayers says with a hammed-up grin.

Certainly. Treading the line between jazz and funk, Ayers paved the way for his popularity during the 1970s with what was called “disco jazz”. Around that time, Ayers began experimenting with electronics. He started to play wildly by electrifying his vibraphone and employing devices such as the wah pedal and fuzz box. His hits “Running Away”, “Sweet Tears”, “Can’t You See Me” and “Lifeline” were on the playlists of many DJs at the time. The last of these became a jazz funk anthem, moving dance floors to this day, and has been sampled by house and garage producers.

Being “unique and original”, Ayers also puts himself into music history as one of the pioneers of acid jazz in the 1990s.

“When I was like 5 or 6 years old, my mother told me: ‘I’m gonna hear your name in lights one day,’” Ayers says of the days when his childhood piano playing impressed everyone, including the famous vibraphonist Lionel Hampton.

“Hampton gave me a pair of mallets, and my mother said that I was going to be as great as him,” he says.

His mother was right, with the exception that Ayers is more than just a great virtuoso – he’s a living legend. His music has been made timeless because of so many artists sampling it — including Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu and Tony Yayo, to name just a few.

“You have no idea how I feel about it. I love it; it’s a great compliment,” Ayers says. “I didn’t go after them to do it. They were the ones who decided to sample my music.

“It makes me feel very good inside, very respectful of them,” he adds.

He has the same deep respect for and good feeling about his audiences, throwing himself into every performance. Being 68 apparently hasn’t stopped him from being wild for his audience,  bounding from one side of the stage to the other.

“Now, that’s the thing about me. I’m always moving and dancing on stage,” he says, laughing.

“It feels great to see my audience grooving to my music. I just want them to go home and think, ‘Man, I had a great time with Roy Ayers last night’.”

And while his stage performance isn’t letting anybody down, Ayers is keeping his wife happy as he plays a loving husband. He canceled his first interview with The Jakarta Post just to go shopping for something for his beloved wife. Ayers doubled over laughing when he was reminded of this.

“All this time, I’ve been to everywhere but Indonesia. So my wife said, ‘If you’re going to Jakarta, buy me something’,” Ayers says. “That’s something I always do, you know, buy her something when I travel.”

Ayers’ love of his wife goes beyond what many of us can imagine – he will even put her photograph on the cover of his next album.

“You see, I’m working on a song titled ‘I Love You for Sentimental Reasons’,” he says, continuing, “And because I love my wife for sentimental reasons, I’ll put her picture on

the cover.

“Nobody puts the picture of his wife on the cover, but I would!” Ayers says proudly.

It’s seems no matter what role Ayer is playing – a wonderful husband, guru, virtuoso or living legend – he always does it wholeheartedly, the way he has developed his own music tradition.

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