Music
Music
The stars of the jazz constellation
Shining stars Jazz luminaries will descend on Jakarta for the legendary Java Jazz Festival
As we count down the days to one of the biggest and best annual jazz festivals in the world, Dewi Gontha, the president director of the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, shares her thoughts with Tyara Putri about the event
huge number of jazz lovers in Jakarta, so the festival speaks for itself. Over the years, the support we’ve received from various parties continues to grow. More musicians, both international and Indonesian, are getting more enthusiastic to perform at the festival. Our brand continues to receive recognition,’ she said. The festival has developed over the years, and this year, it’ll be moving to JIExpo Kemayoran. ‘At first, Java Jazz was about As most Jakartans would know, bringing a world-class international for the past five years, Java Jazz festival to Indonesia,’ Dewi said. has been held at the Jakarta ‘It has been, is and will always Convention Centre. be a place where international ‘Frankly, our former venue was musicians can showcase their skills, getting too small. Last year we had and on some occasions, marvel at more than 80,000 people attend the amazing talent we have here in over the three-day-period. The Indonesia. And of course, the event venue couldn’t keep up with the also boosts tourism in Indonesia.’ growing number of visitors,’ Dewi Jakartans are spoilt for choice said. ‘Besides, JIExpo Kemayoran this March when it comes to is the perfect venue for a large concerts, but Dewi feels confident festival, with plenty of stages that Java Jazz will attract plenty to accommodate hundreds of of visitors this year. ‘There is a performances and thousands of
visitors.’ Even though Java Jazz has moved to a bigger venue, Dewi said, visitors don’t need to worry about ticket prices. ‘The ticket prices are actually lower this year, making it more accessible to more people,’ she said. So why is Java Jazz slotted in for the first week of March each year? ‘ In terms of festival scheduling during the summer, bands travel around Europe and the US. In December, most of them are doing studio time,’ Dewi said. Preparing for Java Jazz, Dewi said, takes the whole year, and the six months before the festival is especially intense. She starts her hunt for the following year’s artists in May. This year, Dewi and her team has managed to secure artists such as Robben Ford, Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones bassist), George Duke, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, The Manhattan Transfer, Toni Braxton, Eric Benet and Kenneth
‘Babyface’ Edmonds. ‘Of course, several Indonesian jazz bands and musicians are also Java Jazz highlights,’ she said. And what makes Java Jazz so special this year is that US country and pop singer Diane Warren wanted to do the festival for free. ‘No charge at all. So it’s a great pleasure for us, as I hope it is for the audience too,’ Dewi said, excitedly. And if you’re not a big jazz fan, Java Jazz includes a bunch of other genres. ‘Jazz is the unifying factor to the cross-genre acts presented, including R&B, pop, rock, Latin, hip hop, rap, reggae, world, gospel, electro and others,’ she said. So whether you’re into blues from the deep south of the States or R&B from just around the corner, there’s bound to be something for you at Java Jazz. Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, JIExpo Kemayoran, Fri 5-Sun 7, 6pm-1.30am.www. javajazzfestival.com
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