Growing roots

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.