Pure music with no frills at Jamz jazz club
Pure music with no frills at Jamz jazz club
By Lela Pello
JAKARTA (JP): Squeezing through the wood doors, you feel you are about to enter a dark but convivial wine cellar. Instead, as your eyes adjust, you find you're at the main bar on the upper level of Jamz. Following the hostess' greeting arm to the main seating area, you find neon lighted stairs to further guide you down to the lower level.
I comfortably slid onto a wooden bench reminiscent of those found at Oktoberfest in Germany. Directly in front of me was the stage. Soft light rinsed the stage in a rainbow hue of crimson blue as a large screen projected previous Jamz sessions of the impressive rabble of international players that have graced the stage.
The stage itself is filled with artistic and haphazard swirls of loose cords. Amplifiers, speakers and equipment that seem half packed and electronic gadgetry dangerously wired for sound fill every corner. The velvet backdrop was highlighted by a rather snappy brass logo of Jamz. The overall atmosphere was casual, like the small jazz clubs found in Chicago.
The room is in no way spacious, measuring a modest 20 metres by 10 metres. I imagine the perfect evening would see the maximum capacity of 250 people all sardined comfortably. The club certainly wins points for its fantastic ventilation system as I thankfully witnessed wisps of smoke finding their way to the ceiling vents rather than my eyes. The acoustics are world-class.
Entrepreneur Peter Gontha, the brainchild of Jamz, explains that he "saw the need for a place where serious jazz fans can listen to serious jazz artists perform in Jakarta."
Signing a very lucrative deal with GRP records, Gontha has been able to bring in a myriad of great performing artists. Since the August 1993 opening of JAMZ, the club has seen the likes of David Koz, Joe Sample, Lee Ritenour, Dave Valentine and Diane Schur.
The club is continuing to attract big-names. Anita Carmichael will perform from May 23 to 28, Peabo Bryson from June 24 to 26 and Norman Brown between July 25 and 30.
Operations Manager Agustinus "Augie" Benyamin explains that "If we don't have international performers playing, we have special local bands."
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday a Philippine band called Chorus Gold performs the Top 40 hits of the 1990s. During the rest of the week, local Funk, Blues and Soul bands perform, including B. Soul Band, Gilang R and Friends, Funky Stuff and Funky Section.
Special international performances will put you back between Rp 50,000 and Rp75,000, but a student rate of Rp 35,000 to Rp 60,000 is available. A regular weekday evening cover charge is Rp 15,000 but Saturday night commands a Rp 20,000 entrance fee, which includes your first drink.
A reasonable menu selection of nibbles and dinner treats is available. It is best to come early for the best seating and parking. Located on Jl. Panglima Polim Raya directly opposite to Blok M Plaza, Jamz is open from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. every day. Tickets can be booked directly on Jamz entertainment hot line 720-6031.