Published on December 10, 2014
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The heritage icon of the metropolitan capital city of Jakarta, The Old Batavia-Kota Tua complex will reverberate with the groove of Jazz this weekend on Saturday, 13th December 2014, as the stage is set for the first ever Jazz Kota Tua. Combining great music and an exceptional setting, Jazz Kota Tua will take place at the Museum Fatahilah Plaza, right at the heart of the Old Batavia Complex.
As an inaugural edition of what is set to be an annual event, the Jazz Kota Tua 2014 will feature some of the most prominent names in Indonesia and international jazz scene including: Beledo (USA), Dale Barlow (Australia), Steve Thornton (Malaysia), Dwiki Dharmawan World Peace Orchestra, Krakatau Ethno, Simak Dialog, Dewa Budjana Quintet, Ligro Trio, Rio Moreno Latin Combo, Farabi Percussion Ensemble, Lantun Orchestra feat Intan Soekotjo, Ina Blues, Nial Djuliarso, Sri Hanuraga, Tesla Manaf, Eka Delly, Adi prasodjo, Armando Putra, Ivan Nestorman, and more.
In its heydays in the 16th century, Batavia was known as “The Queen of the East” and “the Jewel of Asia”. Its Sunda Kelapa harbour was abuzz with merchant vessels from Europe, China, India and from throughout the Indonesian archipelago, loading in and sailing away with precious nutmegs, pepper, tea, coffee, ceramics, cloths and other exotic products of the time. The warehouses were stacked with spices, tin and copper. The successful trade in Batavia filled the coffers of the Netherland’s Treasury.
Center of the VOC Dutch East India Company’s administration was the Stadthuis (present day Museum Fatahilah)with its wide front plaza, around which were the Court of Justice, banks and other important buildings. This entire area, covering 1.3 square kilometers is today called the Kota Tua or Old Batavia, present day part of North and West Jakarta. Today many of the original buildings are still intact, the government has designated the Old Batavia as conservation area and plans are afoot to revive the entire neighbourhood into a tourst destination.
