'Surface' showers Jak Jazz with pop

'Surface' showers Jak Jazz with pop

By Johannes Simbolon

JAKARTA (JP): The American R & B group Surface, famous for
their hit Shower Me With Your Love, showered the Jak Jazz '95
festival Friday night with pop songs.

A very different atmosphere, a break from too serious thoughts
on jazz, instantly surfaced on the second night of the festival.

Surface entertained the 1,000 mainly young people for an hour
in the Senayan east parking plaza.

The crowd knew the group's hits, and excitedly sang along with
many of the songs, turning the show into a "giant choir" typical
of most pop music performances.

"Shower me with your love, shower me with your love that I
long for....," sang Kyle "Baby-Boy" Thomas, the lead vocalist of
the Virginia-based group. The audience sang with him.

When "Baby-Boy" sang a number entitled I Wanna Be Close To
You, a song he said would be released on their new album in
February, the crowd sang along with the simple song in
Indonesian.

"Aku ingin dekat kamu..." they gaily chanted as their own
version of the chorus I Wanna Be Close To You.

Since Jak Jazz began in 1988, the organizing committee has
tried to balance serious jazz with the festival's goal of
entertaining by involving pop fusion jazz groups.

All the groups must still play jazz, but Surface played the
bare minimum.

Surya Handoko from the A Mild cigarette company, the
festival's main sponsor since 1993, explained that pop groups
like Surface were invited to expand the festival's market and
attract younger audiences.

"As a matter of fact, even such prestigious jazz festivals
like the North Jazz Sea always involve non-jazz groups in order
to bring different color to the festival," he said.

Arturo Sandoval, who made his Indonesia debut at the Jamz pub
early this year, performed on the JVC stage with his group Latin
Train. He proved he was a main attraction.

Sandoval showed his virtuosity during his hour show by playing
many instruments, including the piano, trumpet and percussion
instruments.

He even melodiously sang a number, When I fall In Love.

Unfortunately, his turn to perform came after midnight, after
many visitors had left.

The Elfa's singers and big band, who performed on the Arena
stage, also drew many listeners.

The band, lead by Elfa Seciora on keyboard, presented several
Indonesian songs arranged in a jazz style. The numbers have won
acclaim at several festivals abroad, including the North Jazz Sea
festival.

Two contemporary local groups, I Wayan Sadra from Bali and Ben
M Pasaribu from North Sumatra, tried to for a different
atmosphere with ethnic music on the Asmat stage. They failed to
pull in a crowd.

Igor Brill and the New Generation, PIG, Drei vom Rhein, Benko
Dixieland, Kiboud Maulana Blues Band, Krakatau, Jimsaku, Uluwatu,
Bruno De Filippi, Simak Dialog and Pattiselano Brothers also
performed.