Jazz musicians seeks official appreciation

Jazz musicians seeks official appreciation

JAKARTA (JP): Jazz music is slowly receiving more appreciation
from the public and the mass media, but none whatsoever from the
government, according to one of the country's leading jazz
players.

Idang Rasidi said that his team, the Jakarta All Stars, have
won awards overseas and promoted Indonesia's name. He said,
however, there has not even an official acknowledgement or
appreciation so far, the Antara news agency reported.

"You want a concrete example, I'll give you one. When the
Jakarta All Stars went to the Netherlands for the North Sea Jazz
Festival (last year), we couldn't even get a discount for the
airfares from the state airline," Idang was quoted as telling
reporters in the Kuta Beach resort in Bali. The band instead
received a discount from a foreign airline, he said.

He said that the jazz players' sense of nationalism was just
as strong as the stars of badminton or the national soccer team.
"We are so nationalist, in fact, we donned the Solo batik."

The band returned with an award and received favorable reviews
from the Dutch and international media, he said.

Idang admitted that jazz music in Indonesia is only beginning
to be appreciated. "It's a process that takes time," he said.

The Jakarta All Stars performed at several locations in Bali
during the weekend as part of its nine city tour. (emb)