Music fest kicks off in laid-back mood
Java Jazz Festival 2010 - The AXIS Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival kicked off Friday in a relaxed mood with the usual mix of jazz, R&B, soul and pop that the event has become famous for.
Java Jazz Festival - The night’s highlight, soul singer John Legend, entertained the pop-inclined crowd at the Java Jazz with hit singles from his albums Get Lifted, Once Again and Evolver.
Legend said he did not feel the need to jazz up his music, despite performing in a jazz festival.
“I feel like I was invited here to be myself, to play my music,” he said at a press conference before his performance.
While Legend entertained the soul-loving crowd with his romantic songs, jazz purists at the same time enjoyed the saxophone skills of New Zealander Nathan Haines.
“I’m here to see John Legend,” said visitor Dina Virgianti. “I like jazz, but I’m here more for John Legend than anything else.”
Jippy Kumar, who claimed to have attended every Java Jazz event, said he came to see Legend as well but was also looking forward to several jazz performances, including from jazz pianist Bob James.
He added that New York-based guitarist Chieli Minucci and his fusion jazz group Special FX had given a great performance.
Operatic pop singer Griffith Frank, who will perform Sunday, was seen wandering between the various halls at the venue.
“It’s amazing being here and seeing so many talented people,” he said while watching a guitar performance by two teenage boys.
Frank added he was looking forward to seeing Legend, Eric Benet and the Manhattan Transfer perform.
“I also want to see Andien,” he said, referring to the young Indonesian jazz singer.
Local jazz pianist Idang Rasyidi also performed on the night, at the outdoor stage, as he celebrated his 40 years in music.
“Thank you, Java Jazz! Thank you Peter Gontha!” he said, giving a special shout-out to the chairman of the festival and jazz aficionado Peter F. Gontha.
People going home from work past the festival venue at the JI Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, had to endure a jammed Jl. Gunung Sahari. The organizers moved the venue from the usual Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, South Jakarta, to accommodate more stages this year.
At the JI Expo entrance, ticket scalpers were already offering to sell tickets at exorbitant prices.
The new venue, further away from downtown Jakarta, did not seem to be a damper for the crowds flocking to see the dozens of performances lined up Friday.
The festival kicked off at 6 p.m., and by 8 p.m. most of the stages had drawn sizeable crowds. The spacious halls allowed for comfortable viewing of the performances without audience members having to squeeze up elbow to elbow.
“I like it better now at the JI Expo because it’s not so crowded,” said visitor Retno Meilia Lestari.
Festival organizers say the move to Kemayoran makes for a more comfortable festival experience.
They also say they sold more than 100,000 tickets two days before the event. The Indonesian Museum of Records claims the festival is the biggest jazz festival in the world.
The Las Vegas act The Rat Pack and the Ron King Big Band rounded out Friday night’s performances.
For those who missed out, Saturday promises a more romantic mood as prolific songwriter Diane Warren presents her new project, Due Voci, while the performance of Grammy-winning R&B superstar Toni Braxton will be the hot ticket of the night.
Nathan Haines will present his second performance of the festival, and Indonesian ethno-progressive jazz group simakDialog will be stirring up some local jazz flavor.
As for those who don’t recognize any of the jazz names, never fear – just pick a stage, any stage, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
Maret 13th, 2010 at 21:13
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