Jazz Goes to Campus needs fine tuning

Jazz Goes to Campus needs fine tuning

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post/Depok, West Java

It was mighty hot and humid last Sunday afternoon at the
University of Indonesia campus here, the kind of weather that not
only leaves you sweating buckets, but also brings your temper to
boiling point.

Rage test #1: Finding a good parking spot at the spacious
area, without having illegal parking attendants shake you down.

Rage test #2: How to keep calm despite the fact that many
fellow concert-goers have turned the arena into a giant garbage
bin.

And rage test #3: How to keep your shoes on your feet, instead
of throwing them on stage at the obnoxious, chipmunks-soundalike
emcees.

Welcome to the annual Jazz Goes to Campus (JGTC) -- the
biggest, the most routine and the longest-running jazz event in
the country, where jazz aficionados savor the sound performed by
who's who of the local scene from noon to almost midnight.

Marking its 27th anniversary this year, the festival has not
lose its charm, managing to attract some 15,000 spectators who
swarmed the parking lot of the university's School of Economics.

Some people, like Anton, 29, really came for the music. He has
not missed the event in the past six years, even if is a one-hour
trip from his house in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

"I wasn't into jazz, my friend is. At first I didn't enjoy it,
but the music got me later on. But not those (numbers) that are
too complicated," Anton said, adding that he kept a collection of
tickets from the concerts.

He also admitted he was lured to the event by the prospect of
meeting young college girls who, by the looks of them, did not
care too much about the activities on stage.

Indeed, about two thirds of the audience were young people who
come to meet up with their friends, flocking the stalls selling
food, clothes and cute accessories, or even a small photo studio.

While the event might have looked more like a high school
bazaar, its two stages still provide jazz performances from top
notch musicians.

Early performers last week included noted singer Ermy Kulit,
who has rarely performed since her heyday in the 1980s, but who
has still got it with her husky voice.

She teamed up with pianist Bubi Chen, the grandfather of the
local scene, belting out jazz standards and her old hits.

Another highlight was drummer Gilang Ramadhan and Friends, who
brought a bit of world music style with songs in the dialect of
Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.

Also performing last week was the Singaporean jazz diva Marina
Xavier, who spiced up the event with Latin-flavored jazz, and the
Idang Rasyidi Trio, who reached out to the young audience with a
lighter sound from George Benson.

JGTC is also the place where young, rising musicians can
sharpen their music and performance skills. Among the crowd
favorites were The Pentatones -- who performed alongside trumpet
master Benny Likumahuwa, Sova band and saxophonist duo, preteen
siblings Gadis V and Bas G.

As night drew near, the crowd got more exciting and so did the
performers. The jazz ambience increased, and climaxed with
guitarist I Wayan Balawan, who gave an expressive and
communicative performance with his synthesized guitar.

He joked with the audience and asked them to mimic the
instrument, with the most off tune the winner.

However, compared to the previous two years, this year's JGTC
lacked the elements of surprise and variety. Almost all of the
top musicians and singers performed in the last couple of years,
such as guitarist Tohpati, Krakatau band, young crooners Andien
and Sherina, singer Bertha, Tjut Nyak Deviana Daudsjah and former
jazz whizkid Indra Lesmana.

They often collaborated with each other, showing the true
meaning of jazz improvisation. The young musicians also showed
incredible talent.

None of the artists mentioned performed this year, which left
the event lacking some much-needed vim.

Only absent from the concert lineup four times since
1985, noted jazz guitarist Donny Suhendra felt that the quality
of the event had declined in the past few years.

He highlighted the erratic sound system, changing performer
schedules and inadequate artist lineup.

"The performers are fewer, and this year Indra doesn't get to
perform, while he is supposed to be the jazz icon," said Donny,
who was one of Gilang Ramadhan's "Friends".

"I called Indra the other day, he said he wasn't invited.
According to the committee, Indra's fee is too expensive. Is it
really? This event, as you can see, has many sponsors."

Donny was also concerned about the lack of a music festival
ambience, with no sight of a stall selling CDs and cassettes.

"It's the biggest and most continuous jazz events. It's a pity
if the quality declines, because there are barely other jazz
events in this country," he said.

With the release of jazz records also nonexistent, Donny hoped
that JGTC could serve as an education in the music for listeners
of other genre.

Musician Dwiki Dharmawan of Krakatau said that after two
decades of running, JGTC should have been able to develop itself
as a jazz festival.

"There should be, like, three stages providing different kind
of jazz. One is acoustic, perhaps, another is for the full band,
and the last one is for the musicians to hold a workshop. The
audience would be more involved and it's also educating them."

He added that the committee should have collaborated with
foreign embassies in inviting overseas artists to add more
international flavor.

Guess it is time that JGTC works to be more professional, and
more accommodating to visitors.

The parking lot, about three quarters of the size of a soccer
field, could hardly accommodate 15,000 people and dozens of
stalls, let alone fit three stages.

You don't want to disappoint people like Anton, or Budi, 26, a
perennial JGTC viewer who brought along a video camera to record
the performances.

"I'll definitely be back next year, because JGTC is still the
greatest, if not the only jazz festival where you get to watch
talented musicians the whole day," Budi said.