Dazzling Second Day at Java Jazz Festival
Jakarta. With over 60 performances from world-class artists lined up, thousands of visitors crowded the JIExpo Kemayoran on Saturday as the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, the biggest music extravaganza in Southeast Asia, entered its second day promising a night to remember.
Unfailingly beautiful, well-arranged jazz notes from various local and international bands filled the air at different stages on Saturday evening with performances from Lantun Orchestra, Ron King Big Band, Emerald Bex, Live at Wonderland and Salamander Big Band.
Solo artists from Canadian bassist Alain Caron and German-born harmonica player Hendrik Meurkens — who each brought their band of talented musicians — put up suave performances with their mastery-level jazz music.
The performance from the 10-time Grammy-winning singer Bobby McFerrin on Saturday was definitely out of this world as he treated jazz lovers with his four-octave vocal abilities.
A full-house audience was left awestruck as McFerrin harmonized poetic notes of songs like “Everytime I Feel the Spirit” and “Can’t Find My Way Home” with a touch of country-folk ambience from pedal steel guitar and accordion.
The connecting line between “jazz” and “R&B” would be “soul” and Indonesia’s pop-R&B diva Reza Artamevia has got it in her voice, she showed.
During her first performance at the festival, Reza gave one solid show treating the crowd of hundreds to jazzy renditions of her hit singles like “Pertama,” “Aku Wanita,” “Berharap Untuk Tak Berpisah” and “Dia.”
In the middle of her performance, Reza changed into a dark-red/forest green gown featuring batik patterns before performing her top ballads such as “Satu Yang Tak Bisa Lepas,” “Ketulusan,” and “Persembahan.”
She was also accompanied by rising male singer Teza Sumendra to do her duet number “Biarlah Menjadi Kenangan.”
“I hope our togetherness tonight will be remembered forever,” said the alto songstress before she closed her show with her first single “Keabadian.”
Bossanova lovers coming to the festival on Saturday were swayed by the performance of Japanese-Brazilian chanteuse Lisa Ono who performed a number of her singles, including “I Wish You Love.”
The festival’s crowd turned into a massive choir during performances from Indonesia’s male singers Tulus and Afgan who performed each of their chart-topper singles such as “Jangan Cintai Aku Apa Adanya” and “Teman Hidup,” and “Pesan Cinta” and “Katakan Tidak,” respectively.
The night carried on starring more exciting local artists such as seasoned guitarist Tohpati, Bandung’s young pop-jazz star Dhira Bongs and also retro-music-inspired band Mocca.
Bandung’s pop band Kahitna took the audience through a memory lane as they performed their hit singles like “Cerita Cinta” and “Andai Dia Tahu” with classy harmonization of the band’s three male vocalists Hedi Yunus, Carlo Saba and Mario Ginanjar.
Meanwhile, top international acts also dazzled the night with performances from Chaka Khan who collaborated with Incognito; American Idol finalist Joshua Ledet; trumpeter Chris Botti; Grammy-winning pianist Ramsey Lewis; and US multi-talent Meshell Ndegeocello.
Three world-class performances at different stages from Grammy-nominee Kenny Lattimore; Gregoire Maret Quartet; and a collaboration between Wayne Krantz, Anthony Jackson and Cliff Almond, closed the festival’s second day.
The Java Jazz Festival’s line up for Sunday promises an end on a high note as top-notched local and international artists are scheduled to perform, such as Christina Perri, Jessie J., Lea Simanjuntak, Ruth Sahanaya, Sammy Simorangkir, Snarky Puppy and Yura.
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