Published on November 29, 2014
The electrifying groove of jazz reverberates all across the metropolitan capital city of Jakarta when the Jakarta International Jazz Festival 2014, or more popularly known by its nickname “Jak Jazz”, has been ongoing in several locations in the city. This year, the festival is spread out over 14 days from 24th November to 7th December 2014 in 20 different venues all over the city.
Regarded as one of the biggest and most distinguished music festivals in Indonesia, the annual Jak Jazz Festival has for the past years been held only in indoor arenas. This year, the festival makes a breakthrough by incorporating public open spaces as concert venues. Public spaces which have been turned into Jazz arenas are the Betawi Cultural Village in Setu Babakan, South Jakarta, the Pasar Santa Marketplace in South Jakarta, and the southern plaza of the National Monument (Monas) for the pinnacle of the festival. To be held on 7th December 2014.
Head of Jakarta’s Office of Culture and Tourism, Arie Budhiman, stated that this year, Jak Jazz brings a different touch for the festival by activating public open spaces. “The concept is an effort by the Jakarta’s Government to entertain, educate and include the general public, while at the same time empower art communities, especially jazz musicians” added Arie in the press release published on Friday, 28th November 2014.
As the pioneer of Jazz festivals in Indonesia, Jak Jazz ensures to maintain the purity of Jazz music and its sub genres. This year, the festival continues to keep the true vibe of jazz through its sub genres such as traditional jazz, straight ahead, jazz funk, jazz rock, fusion, soul, Brazilian, Latin, modern jazz, ethnic jazz, electronic jazz, crossover jazz, ragtime, and also a unique mixture with the indigenous culture of “betawi jazz”.
As usual, the festival features some of the most outstanding names in Indonesia’s jazz scene which this year include: Mus Mujiono, Ireng Maulana, Dony Suhendra, Trio Ligro, Troy Kurniawan, Rio Moreno, Lafa Green, Anto Juwono, Art Wongkar, Maliq & D Esssentials, Keith Martin, Ivan Nestroman, Rocker Kasarunk, JabalRootz, and more.
More information available at: www.jakjazz2014.com
