Java Jazz Festival.

A big event in jazz music, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JJF) has taken place again  from 4 until 6 of March 2011 at Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran.

Sponsored by one of cellular providers, this time the jazz festival take the tagline “Remarkable Indonesia, Harmony Under One Nation”. The tagline implies that through jazz people of various races, ethnic groups, countries, backgrounds, cultures, religions and political views, all gather united by jazz. The festival has taken place 7 times so far and gained acknowledgement as one of best and largest jazz festivals in the world considering that Indonesia is located far away from the country where jazz music originated, USA, in term of the number of musicians which is more than 1500 taking part in the event, the number of audience coming to see the shows, and the quality of management and committee in organizing the event.

There were around 40 international jazz performers from other countries and 1500 Indonesian jazz musicians embellish the festivity this year and that was much bigger than the 6th JJF in 2010 in which 1300 musicians participated and that broke the world’s jazz event ever held.

Jazz maniac were really grateful to watch jazz celebrities they dreamed of watching in person showed their best performances just in an all-in-one event like this. Those International jazz figures were among others Santana, George Benson, Santana, Corrine Bailey Rae, George Duke, Kenny Loggins, Charlie Haden, Joey DeFrancesco, group Fourplay, Sondre Lerche, Rhoda Scott, Jamie Lidell, Kamal Musallam, Ernie Watts, Steve Smith, group Acoustic Alchemy, Ed Motta, Jose James, Brian Culbertson, Kai Eckhart, group Juan de Carlos Afro-Cuban All Stars, group Bauchklang, Maurice Brown, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini, group Rasmus Faber & RaFa Orchestra, Vinny Valentino and Robert Glasper Experience.

Besides those foreign performers, many local talented musicians also took part, some of them are familiar names and have gained international reputation and others are rising jazz stars in the country. Those names are Benny Likumahuwa, Maliq 'n D'Essentials, Glenn Fredly, Sandhy Sondoro, Andien, group Shadow Puppets, group Notturno, Dira Sugandi, Dwiki Dharmawan, group Simak Dialog, Fraya, Ade Irawan, group Indonesia Nu Progressive, Idang Rasjidi, group Tohpati Bertiga, group Indra Lesmana-Barry Likumahuwa-Sandy Winarta (LLW), GIGI Big Band, group Chamber Jazz (Iwan Hasan, Andien, Enggar, Merry Kasiman), Jopie Item, Oele Pattiselanno, Nial Djuliarso, group The Husbands & Wives feat. Otti J., Yance M., Endah N Rhesa, RAN and Nikita Dompas will perform their best for the audience of AXIS Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2011. Johanes Radianto, Dhani Syah, Elfa Zulham and Sri Hanuraga.

Magenta Orchestra is one among the names on the list who collaborated with George Benson in the Special Show titled "George Benson's Tribute to Nat King Cole with Magenta Orchestra".

With the crowd of more than 60,000 spectators the ambient of jazz was really felt around the arenas and the Mexican guitarist,  Carlos Santana, absorbed his own fans. In front of around 10,000 audience he showed his performance and communicated the importance of love with them too. He didn’t change much and still showed his fitness and hypnotizing guitar play amidst his 63 years of age .

Here are some testimonials about JJF made by prominent figures in jazz world :

When I think about Java Jazz, I feel at home (Michael Paulo)

Some fellow artists said to me, You should go to Java Jazz Festival (Bobby Caldwell)

In United States, we hear more and more often about Java Jazz. (Tim Hauser (Manhattan Transfer)

This festival is huge, it's crazy! And here in Indonesia, I've found very delicious food. I love them. (Walfredo Reyes Jr).

Even in US and Europe, you would rarely find young people watching jazz festivals. In Indonesia, there are a lot of young people attending the festival. That's the most special element of this festival (Andy Suzuki)

You should name this country, 'The Smiley Island'. Everybody here is so nice (Marc Antoine).

I dont just have friends here in Indonesia, I have families (Tony Monaco).

I felt so touched and even cried when I saw the audience sang along with Renee. They knew every lyric, including her new song (Rebecca Olstead (Renee Olstead's mother)

 Java Jazz Festival is a big funk! (George Clinton)

We’ve been treated so nicely here. Truly a treatment for world class musicians. We stay on the same floor with those superstars. And we have breakfast and lunch together. I saw Steve Gadd and Joe Sample. That's really nice (Maysa Leak).

The most genius festival ever! (DSound)

Java Jazz is a positive change. For musicians.  For music lovers.  For everybody (Dwiki Dharmawan)

Jazz is thriving in Indonesia! (Brian Simpson)

Please keep the music going strong! (Lenny Castro)

Gracias por el amor y la luz (Omar Sosa).

This festival is great, a major achievement (Michiel Borstlap)

This will soon be the largest festival in the world.  Congrats! (Harvey Mason).

Java Jazz this year are OFF THE CHARTS! Congratulations (Dave Koz)

I was extremely impressed with how smoothy everything was handled and hope that you will strongly consider me to be a part of next years festival (Jefrey Osborne)

"It's a wonderful thing to bring the world to Indonesia through this event" (Bob James-Musician )