Jazz Goes to Campus learning its lessons<\/p>\n
Adhi Abhiyasa , Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Unlike last year, jazz aficionados flocking to the 26th Jazz Goes
\nto Campus were greeted with cloudy skies, a cool breeze and,
\nwait, only one big stage. What happened to the other smaller,
\nless flashy yet crowd-friendlier stage?<\/p>\n
According to the organizer, for the sake of a new concept, all
\nperformers at the annual open-air jazz concert held by students
\nof the University of Indonesia's School of Economics were
\nconcentrated in one place, in order not to distract people who
\nwished to watch all their favorite musicians.<\/p>\n
However, the attempt at improvement forced the audience to sit
\nin front of the stage while latecomers had to be satisfied
\nwatching the performing musicians from the side of the stage,
\nsharing space with food and sidewalk stalls that somehow made the
\njazz festival look like a high school students' bazaar.<\/p>\n
Never mind, though; great jazz still filled the air last
\nSunday.<\/p>\n
For more than 12 solid hours, the likes of maestro Bubi Chen,
\nBenny Likumahuwa, Marusya Nainggolan and Krakatau, as well as a
\nbunch of new performers, including Jam-O-Bembe, Trio Japos and
\nCherokee, treated around 15,000 jazz lovers to probably the most-
\nawaited musical performances of the year.<\/p>\n
Even Chandra Darusman, the concert's creator, might never have
\nexpected the event, which he aimed at familiarizing the college
\nstudents of the '80s with the do-bee-bop of jazz, to have
\ndistinguished itself as the only event of that musical genre
\nsurviving here.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, it has become an event to gauge the
\ndevelopment of the jazz scene in this country.<\/p>\n
The concert's theme, Create the Emotions, was clearly
\nreflected in the audience's enthusiastic cheers and applause
\nevery time the musicians came up on stage, whatever kind of jazz
\nthey played.<\/p>\n
Among early, enjoyable performances that day was one from Jam-
\nO-Bembe. The new group, which was established by young musicians
\nfrom several local pop bands, energized the afternoon by belting
\nout four upbeat numbers of acid jazz and bosssanova.<\/p>\n
Vocalist Rika managed to bring a Latin flavor to their music
\nwith her joyful voice, while still giving room to the drummer and
\nbassist to show off great jazzy solo performances.<\/p>\n
Not wanting to be outshone by their younger counterparts, the
\nnext performance of Bubi Chen and Benny Likumahuwa, who presented
\nmainstream jazz tunes including those of Herbie Hancock, was as
\nworthwhile as those of Marusya Chamber Music and Jam-O-Bembe.<\/p>\n
Bubi's piano skills, among the most celebrated in the country,
\nfound a true soulmate with the explorative sounds of trumpet and
\nflute by Benny. They were relaxed and seemed aware of what the
\naudience really wanted from their play; some mainstream standards
\nthat could bring up an atmosphere of good 'ol jazz that swings
\nthe mood. Maybe this is what helps the festival draw bigger
\naudiences each year.<\/p>\n
\"I never care about what theme the organizer comes up with
\nevery year,\" said Budi, a perennial visitor to the festival.<\/p>\n
\"All I know is that the festival always satisfies me with all
\nsorts of jazz from the best musicians, all in one day.\"<\/p>\n
One really full day it was, too. Even after a few hours,
\npeople kept on streaming onto the grounds, knowing that the best
\nwas yet to come in the second half, collaborations of young
\ntalent and celebrated Indonesian jazz musicians continued.<\/p>\n
If the trio of Fariz RM, Sherina and Syaharani gave a taste of
\npop that entertained, it was vocalist Bertha that really
\nhighlighted the second session. Her Ella Fitzgerald-like vocals
\nsoared high and low, in addition to her collaboration with a
\nyoung pianist performing Alicia Keys' A Woman's Worth that will
\nsurely make many a young diva out there feel ashamed for not
\ntaking serious vocal lessons.<\/p>\n
If making the festival an unforgettable and exciting jazz
\nexperience for its audience is what the organizer really aimed
\nfor, then they succeeded on all counts. The event never lacks
\nsponsorship, with banners from various companies and media
\npartners everywhere, and brochures, flyers and other promotional
\nmerchandise littering the venue the whole day.<\/p>\n
But is that all after 26 years?<\/p>\n
\"As the musicians ourselves, we feels that it's time for the
\njazz festival organizer to progress further,\" said Dwiki
\nDharmawan, whose ethnic jazz flavor of his Krakatau band rounded
\noff the concert sometime before midnight.<\/p>\n
He signaled a message that musicians would be more than
\nwilling to do whatever they could to get the event ranked among
\nrenowned international music concerts. Having jazz musicians from
\nvarious countries as regular performers instead of making mere
\nguest appearances is not an impossible dream.<\/p>\n
The festival could actually be more prestigious and stand out
\namong current music events, which boast DJs spinning discs until
\nthe wee hours.<\/p>\n
And, hey, no need to have an inferiority complex anyway, as
\nyou're only a year younger than North Sea Jazz Festival!<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jazz-goes-to-campus-learning-its-lessons-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}