Indonesia Open Jazz 2002 aims to educate the public

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"There is no such thing as jazz development in Indonesia," claims jazz musician and long-time music teacher Tjut Nyak Deviana Daudsjah, who is also known as Deviana. She is quick to add that the jazz scene is still in the doldrums.

With that concern in mind, Deviana -- along with Yayasan Daya Bina Budaya and Institut Musik Daya -- produced an event titled Indonesia Open Jazz 2002, which started on Thursday and will run all the way to Aug. 18.

Instead of a mere jazz performance, it offers a series of events, comprising workshops, seminars and performances.

"It is aimed at spreading jazz to people through education," Deviana said at a recent media conference.

Both local and foreign musicians will be involved in this event, such as harpist Maya Hasan, drummer Aksan Syuman, pianist Marusya Nainggolan from Indonesia, and German musicians Karoline Hoefler on contra bass and Guenter Weiss on guitar.

The Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) String Chamber, The Choir Acapela, Daya Swara & Daya Bigband and Angelique Sextet will also perform.

Each of them will play familiar jazz numbers, or traditional songs rearranged into jazz.

The event started with a series of workshops, starting with a drum workshop by Aksan. The next workshops will be on Wednesday Aug. 14 and Thursday Aug. 15 on saxophone with German saxophonist Thomas Faist and an ensemble respectively.

Besides workshops, a seminar will also be held on Tuesday Aug. 13 at the J.W. Marriot Hotel, focusing on "The Influence of Music in Public Places". Speakers include Deviana, psychologist Dianti, Ade W. Said from Klub 45 cafe and Maya Hasan as the moderator.

Performances can be seen on Saturday starting at 4:30 p.m. at Panggung Pantai Indah Ancol, North Jakarta. Titled the Open Air Jazz Festival, the event will be opened by the University of Indonesia's marching band and followed by the student band of Jazz and Rockschule from Freiburg, Germany.

The musicians and bands mentioned above will also perform at this time.

Indonesian Open Jazz will wind up on Aug. 18 with Konser Kemerdekaan (Independence Concert) in the ballroom of the J.W. Marriot Hotel.

The concert, arranged and conducted by Deviana, will be a collaboration of the Daya Swara & Daya Bigband, IKJ String Chamber, The Choir Acapela, Maya Hasan and many more.

Tickets for the entire event can be obtained at Hard Rock FM Jakarta, Kosmopolitan Radio, I-radio, Ibu Dibyo Cikini, PR Records Sarinah Pasaraya and Aquarius Mahakam.

For more information, contact Yayasan Daya Bina Budaya at Jl. Taman Kemang I Kav. 11, South Jakarta, Tel. (021) 717-92331.