Growing roots

With an estimated 5,000 fans attending despite rain on Thursday evening, one could say that the fourth international Jakarta jazz festival, Jak Jazz 1994, has started off on a note of optimism. After all it may be noted that it was not so long ago that the musical genre that is known as jazz had about as many fans among Indonesians as western classical music -- that is to say, very few.

But of course, things have changed over the past few years. The regular crowds that can be found in the evenings in establishments such as Jamz at Blok M, The Stage in the Ratu Plaza basement and most recently the illustrious Blue Note just off Jl. Jenderal Sudirman -- not to mention the many pubs, clubs and restaurants offering floor shows -- is proof enough that jazz appears to have finally gained the appreciation it deserves as a true art form.

True, part of this gratifying attendance may have little to do with genuine musical appreciation. To some, those clubs and pubs may be no more than pleasant and convenient places for conversing and doing business. And some people may go to those places feeling that it helps to build their social image to be seen there. All of which are, of course, legitimate reasons. If musical appreciation is a concern, it may come naturally afterwards and their patronage, at the very least, helps to sustain the establishment and thus helps to keep the jazz tradition alive.

To us, however, it seems that indeed there has been a broadening of musical tastes among Indonesians lately, especially among the young. Surely this is not very surprising. The wide exposure which Indonesians are getting at present to recorded music through audio cassettes, CDs, radio and television has brought a familiarity with musical genres of all kinds -- yet another aspect of the globalization process.

Besides, it seems to be getting harder and harder these days to distinguish one genre from the other as a result of blending. Little wonder that among the first styles of jazz to gain popularity among younger Indonesians is that known as fusion, which was born of a blend between traditional jazz music and rock.

With all this in mind we believe this to be the proper place and time to thank the organizers of Jak Jazz 1994 for their dedication and untiring efforts. Steady progress seems to have been made since the first Jak Jazz was launched in 1988. Their endeavor has helped not only to put Jakarta on the world map of tourism and business, as Jakarta's Governor Surjadi Soedirdja remarked during the opening of the festival on Thursday night, it also opens up a wider opportunity for Indonesians, Jakartans in particular, to be exposed to a form of healthy, serious entertainment that we believe can only do them and the nation good.

At the same time we believe the time may have come for the organizers to think about broadening the base of support for their undertaking, such as by inviting other parties to get involved in future Jak Jazz events, so that some fresh wind may start blowing to lend greater vitality to the endeavor.