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.