'Surface' showers Jak Jazz with pop<\/p>\n
By Johannes Simbolon<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The American R & B group Surface, famous for
\ntheir hit Shower Me With Your Love, showered the Jak Jazz '95
\nfestival Friday night with pop songs.<\/p>\n
A very different atmosphere, a break from too serious thoughts
\non jazz, instantly surfaced on the second night of the festival.<\/p>\n
Surface entertained the 1,000 mainly young people for an hour
\nin the Senayan east parking plaza.<\/p>\n
The crowd knew the group's hits, and excitedly sang along with
\nmany of the songs, turning the show into a \"giant choir\" typical
\nof most pop music performances.<\/p>\n
\"Shower me with your love, shower me with your love that I
\nlong for....,\" sang Kyle \"Baby-Boy\" Thomas, the lead vocalist of
\nthe Virginia-based group. The audience sang with him.<\/p>\n
When \"Baby-Boy\" sang a number entitled I Wanna Be Close To
\nYou, a song he said would be released on their new album in
\nFebruary, the crowd sang along with the simple song in
\nIndonesian.<\/p>\n
\"Aku ingin dekat kamu...\" they gaily chanted as their own
\nversion of the chorus I Wanna Be Close To You.<\/p>\n
Since Jak Jazz began in 1988, the organizing committee has
\ntried to balance serious jazz with the festival's goal of
\nentertaining by involving pop fusion jazz groups.<\/p>\n
All the groups must still play jazz, but Surface played the
\nbare minimum.<\/p>\n
Surya Handoko from the A Mild cigarette company, the
\nfestival's main sponsor since 1993, explained that pop groups
\nlike Surface were invited to expand the festival's market and
\nattract younger audiences.<\/p>\n
\"As a matter of fact, even such prestigious jazz festivals
\nlike the North Jazz Sea always involve non-jazz groups in order
\nto bring different color to the festival,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Arturo Sandoval, who made his Indonesia debut at the Jamz pub
\nearly this year, performed on the JVC stage with his group Latin
\nTrain. He proved he was a main attraction.<\/p>\n
Sandoval showed his virtuosity during his hour show by playing
\nmany instruments, including the piano, trumpet and percussion
\ninstruments.<\/p>\n
He even melodiously sang a number, When I fall In Love.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, his turn to perform came after midnight, after
\nmany visitors had left.<\/p>\n
The Elfa's singers and big band, who performed on the Arena
\nstage, also drew many listeners.<\/p>\n
The band, lead by Elfa Seciora on keyboard, presented several
\nIndonesian songs arranged in a jazz style. The numbers have won
\nacclaim at several festivals abroad, including the North Jazz Sea
\nfestival.<\/p>\n
Two contemporary local groups, I Wayan Sadra from Bali and Ben
\nM Pasaribu from North Sumatra, tried to for a different
\natmosphere with ethnic music on the Asmat stage. They failed to
\npull in a crowd.<\/p>\n
Igor Brill and the New Generation, PIG, Drei vom Rhein, Benko
\nDixieland, Kiboud Maulana Blues Band, Krakatau, Jimsaku, Uluwatu,
\nBruno De Filippi, Simak Dialog and Pattiselano Brothers also
\nperformed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/surface-showers-jak-jazz-with-pop-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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