Our very own greatest jazz festival in the world, Java Jazz Festival 2009 has just ended. Although to some, the artists lineup didn’t come up as big as the past Java Jazz couple of years back then, the festival itself actually comes bigger and better. The whole 3 days filled with more stages, more daily performances and even more attendance which reached the target of 72.000 audience. For a jazz extravaganza, this all you can eat – jazz hypermarket now offers 210 performance and about 2200 local and international personnels. There were 6 special shows for this year, it was double amount compare to years before, and it’s hard to deny the organizers could handle the tight schedule almost perfectly well.

THE JASON MRAZ HYPER-HYPE

In that special show area, comes Jason Mraz, Brian McKnight, Swing Out Sisters, Dianne Reeves, and Laura Fygi, but the most noted hype this year comes from the most happening Jason Mraz with his hit single “I’m Yours”.

Jason’s tickets got sold out long before the early bird ends, and resulted hysterical panic at the office, thus the organizers tried everything they could to held the second show for anyone who doesn’t get the tickets. The second show later was scheduled on Saturday, and again, got the hyper-hype that the organizers had to limited the ticket selling only at the Java Festival Production office.

PEABO BRYSON AND MATT BIANCO

Beside the special shows, the other highlights includes Ivan Lins, Tom Scott, Dave Valentin, The New York Voices, Chielli Minucci & Special EFX, Chuck Loeb, Harvey Mason, Eliane Elias, Bobby Lyle, Oleta Adams, Simon Phillips, Mike Stern, Dave Weckl, Kirk Whalum, David Garfield, Ledisi, the Java Jazz Festival inhouse residence (Michael Paulo, Brian Simpson, Everette Harp) and many others but the crowdest audience this year belongs to Peabo Bryson and Matt Bianco. While Peabo Bryson’s romantic atmosphere has been very famous in Indonesian audience, Matt Bianco paid their dues for the failure performing in last year’s festival. The longwaiting for their fans has now also got paid with Matt Bianco’s two times performance on Friday and Saturday.

THE TRIBUTES

This year’s festival also featured two tributes concert to the late legendary artists, one for the great Luther Vandross which collaborated Kirk Whalum, Everette Harp, Chuck Loeb, Ledisi, Paulette McWilliams, Rex Rideout, John Stoddart, Hans Zermuehlen, “Little” John Roberts, Darrell Crooks and Kevin Wyatt, and the other for the Indonesian’s music treasure, Chrisye, brought by Glenn Fredly. Both the shows worked majestically bringing the memory of those two greatest talents in music history. It touched every hearts, and our hearts should be, too.

INDIAN ATTACKS!

In the world music area, as before, Java Jazz Festival still features jazz artists from other parts of the world. One noted themes of this world music now comes from India, which offers performers from upcoming 2010 India Jazz Festival. Taaq, Purple Circle, Prasanna, Dhruv Ganekar, Something Relevant and Moon Arra were the bands that showing us jazz also happening in India, with their very own style of mixing this genre still with India’s traditional touch. It’s different, It’s huge, and It’s something you must have not missed.

SLANK GOES JAZZ

This year’s festival puts the surprise in rock phenomenon Slank goes jazz, and not only successfully transforming their edgy folkrock music into the touch of jazz, but also got a very special suppport from the international performers like Tony Monaco, Michael Paulo, and Ron King, all rolled into one great shows ever held in Java Jazz Festival.

THE GREAT LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES

Beside Slank, the other local lineups includes the reunited comeback of KLa Project, Humania, Emerald, Chaseiro, some most happening bands like Maliq n d’Essentials, Afgan, RAN, Ecoutez, Syaharani & The Queenfireworks, and also two new sensation Vidi Aldiano & Gruvi that we should be thankful for hyped the jazz genre in Indonesian music for the youngsters.  Java Jazz Festival 2009 even puts a contest to other local regions to introduce another sub genre of jazz by blending their very own traditional taste within, and the one who got this opportunity was Medan Jazz Community from Medan, North Sumatra. Combining modern instruments with the traditional Gondang Batak (traditional North Sumatra’s percussion) and Serunai (traditional bamboo flute) in various international and local folksongs, this community band has done their attractively solid performance on the first day of Java Jazz Festival 2009. Don’t forget the great collaboration between Norway and Indonesia in Gamelan Shockbreaker.

Overall, this is the festival you’ll always be looking forward to, and be glad to ever experienced it in your lifetime. Our best regards and respects to the whole organizer who successfully arranged it even better in years.  With many different colors offered, it was truly a festival for all. Prepare yourself for the even bigger Java Jazz Festival 2009 next year at its new venue, and SEE YOU AT JAVA JAZZ 2010!

Reporter:  Riandy Kurniawan, Daniel Irawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com), Aldi Mahdi (jazzuality.com)

After a long wait, Swing Out Sister finally performed in Indonesia, at Java Jazz Festival 2009. This show were on everybody’s wishlist, since they have millions of long time fans in Indonesia. This time they brought different way, they played acoustically. Swing Out Sister’s performance was also the last special show, as well as the closing show for the whole Java Jazz Festival 2009.

They opened the show with the popular song “Surrender”. People popped and jived together with Swing Out Sister. Some unforgettable ballads were presented too such as “Love Won’t Let You Down”, “Twilight World” “Am I The Same Girl” and many more. With the sweet and cozy voice of Corinne Drewery, the songs delivered beautifully. They also communicated with the audience in some Indonesian languages like “Terima Kasih” (thank you), “Anda bersenang-senang?” (are you having fun), and so on. Those were loved by the audience.

They ended the show but the audience kept asking for more. Then they brought their signature hits, “Breakout” in a different style, acousticly. “Terima Kasih Jakarta, Sampai Jumpa” (Thank you Jakarta, see you again), Corrinne said to the audience. What a nice special show!

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan, JazzLova (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)

Two climactic show closed the Java Jazz Festival 2009. The free but same intensity with the special one, Tribute To Luther Vandross brought Everette Harp & Kirk Whalum (sax), Chuck Loeb & Darrell Crooks (guitar), the new generation of Chaka Khan, Ledisi, Paulette McWilliams & John Stoddart (vocals), Rex Rideout & Hans Zermuehlen (keys), Kevin Wyatt (bass), “Little” John Roberts (drum) all together based on the best selling tribute records, For Ever, For Always, For Luther. It includes the last Vandross hits, “Dance With My Father”, which is written by his life-long best friend, Richard Marx and won 4 Grammy Awards during Luther’s last days, and off course, Luther’s most famous “Never Too Much”. In the memory of one of the greatest talent in music history, this is the show that touched its every audience’s hearts and remained there forever and for always.

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan, Daniel Irawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Lani Novianda, JazzLova

Quasimode is a great 4 piece jazz band coming from the land of Rising Sun, Japan. They have a really nice style, basically playing the 60’s and early 70’s jazz rhythm into the modern day. With some house techno and latin sound, they made a very great performance at Java Jazz Festival 2009.

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)

Maliq n d’Essentials proved to be one of the most favorite band for teenagers today. Really fun and energetic performance, very attractive and entertaining. They grooved the whole fans at Java Jazz Festival 2009. Fully crowded room? You bet!

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Aldi Mahdi (kantorberita.com)

Great smooth jazz night happening at Eric Darius‘ stage at Java Jazz Festival 2009. Eric Darius made another come back this year. He is a young generation of saxophonist who is getting bigger and better, improving in everything. His play, his stage act, he entertained all his fans perfectly. He brought Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, a song that you’d never think to be delivered in jazz. But he did it amazingly, or if I may say, unbelievably. Alicia Key’s hit, “If I Ain’t Got You” came out really sweet through his sax. This new generation of smooth jazz is really promising in the future!

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)

Abdul and the Coffee Theory, a nice groovy band with Medan heritage gave an entertaining show at Java Jazz Festival 2009. What a unique name for a band, you say, but whatever their name is, they’re surely entertaining.

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)

Nice performance of the beautiful Lala at Java Jazz Festival 2009.  The audience adored her voice, her guitar playing and also her beautiful face. Sweet blends of RnB, indie, pop, folk and jazz defined Lala’s style of music. It was a lovely performance.

Reporter:Riandy Kurniawan, Gerthoyadus Sihombing (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)

The special stage for a special event at Java Jazz Festival 2009, atExhibition Hall B to be exact. The nuance of Ambon was felt right after you stepped in front of the hall. It was a tribute to the beautiful Molucca island, and the theme was called Amboina. Many Ambonese artists joined forces together on stage. Andre Hehanussa, Benny Likumahuwa and his son Barry Likumahuwa, Yopie Latul, Moluccas, Gerson Rehatta, Oele Pattiselano and Bob Tutupoly were there having good time on stage. They brought the evergreen Ambonese folk songs like “Goro-Goro Ne”, “Panggayo”, “enggo Lari”, “Nusa Niwe” and “Mo Pulang E”.

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (jazzuality.com)

The senior keyboardist and entertainer, Idang Rasjidi had a very special time at Java Jazz Festival 2009. Accompanied by his son, the rising bassist Shadu Rasjidi, guitarist Agam Hamzah and Matthew Sayersz, the vocalist. It was nice, playing out the skill in a very entertaining show.

Reporter: Riandy Kurniawan (jazzuality.com)
Photographer: Praditya Nova (kantorberita.com)