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.
That US assistance was a model for Taiwan’s spectacular development success was early recognized by policymakers and analysts. In a report to the US Congress for the fiscal year 1962, former President John F. Kennedy noted Taiwan’s “rapid economic growth,” was “producing a substantial net gain in living.” Kennedy had a stake in Taiwan’s achievements and the US’ official development assistance (ODA) in general: In September 1961, his entreaty to make the 1960s a “decade of development,” and an accompanying proposal for dedicated legislation to this end, had been formalized by congressional passage of the Foreign Assistance Act. Two
Despite the intense sunshine, we were hardly breaking a sweat as we cruised along the flat, dedicated bike lane, well protected from the heat by a canopy of trees. The electric assist on the bikes likely made a difference, too. Far removed from the bustle and noise of the Taichung traffic, we admired the serene rural scenery, making our way over rivers, alongside rice paddies and through pear orchards. Our route for the day covered two bike paths that connect in Fengyuan District (豐原) and are best done together. The Hou-Feng Bike Path (后豐鐵馬道) runs southward from Houli District (后里) while the
March 31 to April 6 On May 13, 1950, National Taiwan University Hospital otolaryngologist Su You-peng (蘇友鵬) was summoned to the director’s office. He thought someone had complained about him practicing the violin at night, but when he entered the room, he knew something was terribly wrong. He saw several burly men who appeared to be government secret agents, and three other resident doctors: internist Hsu Chiang (許強), dermatologist Hu Pao-chen (胡寶珍) and ophthalmologist Hu Hsin-lin (胡鑫麟). They were handcuffed, herded onto two jeeps and taken to the Secrecy Bureau (保密局) for questioning. Su was still in his doctor’s robes at
Mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the fairest Disney live-action remake of them all? Wait, mirror. Hold on a second. Maybe choosing from the likes of Alice in Wonderland (2010), Mulan (2020) and The Lion King (2019) isn’t such a good idea. Mirror, on second thought, what’s on Netflix? Even the most devoted fans would have to acknowledge that these have not been the most illustrious illustrations of Disney magic. At their best (Pete’s Dragon? Cinderella?) they breathe life into old classics that could use a little updating. At their worst, well, blue Will Smith. Given the rapacious rate of remakes in modern
RSS