Prodita Sabarini , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Thu, 03/04/2010 9:42 AM
The much-awaited AXIS Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is set to rock Jakartans from Friday to Sunday.
More than 1,300 international and local musicians will perform at the festival. Among the big names are John Legend, Toni Braxton, Dianne Warren and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.
Organizers have moved the venue from the Jakarta Convention Center in Senayan, where the last five annual festivals were held, to the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran to accommodate 21 stages.
The festival has grown into a mammoth music show, with the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) recognizing it as the “largest jazz festival in the world”.
“It’s kind of narcissistic to be name-dropping the awards that we’ve got, but yes, we do have a MURI award,” festival chairman Peter F. Gontha said Wednesday.
At Wednesday’s meeting with the press American R&B singer Eric Benet performed the Rolling Stones’ (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction, accompanied by the Ron King Big Band, after 21-year-old Griffith Frank sang Unusual Way from the soundtrack of the movie Nine.
Later, local sensation Dira J. Sugandi wowed the crowd with a smooth jazzy tune.
Organizers said 100,000 tickets have been sold while Legend’s performance Friday is already sold out.
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said at the press conference the Java Jazz Festival had become an Indonesian branding exercise.
“Jazzin’ up remarkable Indonesia is true because Indonesia is remarkable,” she said, referring to the festival’s slogan for this year.
The Trade Ministry has been one of the event’s key partners over the last three years because it supports the creative industry, Mari said.
Program coordinator Eki Puradiredja said visitors would be able to enjoy special programs.
Among others Idang Rasjidi will celebrate his 40 years in music at the festival.
Eki added new talents would include German-based Indonesian singer Sandhy Sondoro and Dira J. Sugandi.
Jazz purists will have a smorgasbord of performances to choose from, including by big names such as Hubert Laws, George Duke, Ivan Lins, Emilio Santiag and Jeff Lorber; Jimmy Haslip, Soulbop Special Edition, Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Novello B3 and Jeff Kashiwa with his Sax-Pack and David Murray.
JP/RICKY YUDHISTIRA
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