Java conjures up steaming cups of strong coffee in the minds of many. After last week's Java Jazz Festival, it should be jazz.
The festival is the largest gathering of jazz musicians in the world, with over 1,000 performers. This year it included artists of almost every jazz sub-genre. Jazz virtuosos like Lee Ritenour, standard jazz vocalists like Kurt Elling, R 'n' B/Soul legends like Incognito, smooth jazz artists like Marc Antoine and even pop stars like Babyface, all made appearances..
When we - the bandmates and friends I was traveling with - arrived at the Jakarta Convention Center, there was already a huge crowd and a plethora of souvenir vendors. It looked like a rock concert rather than a jazz festival. At the door, we saw the members of a young jazz band playing with skill beyond their years - and that was just the outdoor stage.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF RICHARD LI
After entering the venue there was a problem: With 20 stages, how would we ever decide which act to watch? Luckily, we found out that legendary keyboardist Jeff Lorber was playing the opening act in the Exhibition Hall and ran to hear it like paparazzi after celebrities.
Over the three-day festival, for which we had purchased passes for US$100, we often had the same problem. We did get to see some great performances, though. Joe Sample and Steve Gadd were there. Incognito reunited with Maysa in a groovy act that had the audience up and dancing. Ex-Yellowjackets drummer William Kennedy backed up Lee Ritenour. Old comrades Melvin Davis and Patrice Rushen released a fusion of Latin and West Coast jazz. Besides these renowned international artists, there were also many Indonesian bands, most of which appeared to be quite young.
Taiwan's presence was felt when Taiwanese band SiZhuKong (絲竹空) performed. The band's combination of traditional Chinese ballads and modern jazz gave a fresh twist to traditional songs.
In between shows, we did some people watching. Not knowing the popularity of jazz music in Indonesia, we had thought most of the audience would be expats. In reality, the majority of participants appeared to be young, local people. We could see their enthusiasm for jazz, as many sang along with the performers. We were surprised by this passion for and acceptance of jazz music, which often takes second stage to pop idols in the hearts of the young.
The sound systems used throughout the event ensured that the music came out crystal clear. All of the audio-visual and broadcasting equipment, as well as the hardware and software, was operated by professional crews. The overall experience was like watching meticulously edited DVDs of live gigs with a 5.1 Dolby stereo. The professional staff of 1,000 ensured that everything ran smoothly.
In a cost-benefit analysis after the event, I found that this large-scale event barely turned any profit at all, but for those who went, the benefits were off the books.
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