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In addition to the renowned Java Jazz Festival, Indonesia has an equally successful jazz-oriented event — JakJazz — which has been running for over 20 years.

The festival takes place each year in late November or early December. This year, it will be held at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno, formerly Istora Senayan, for three days starting on Dec. 4.

The festival was founded by Indonesian jazz guitarist Ireng Maulana, who has been active in the jazz scene since the 1960s.

Along with friends, who were also musicians, Ireng wanted to create a festival that would introduce jazz music to the local audience.

The first JakJazz was held in 1988 at the drive-thru venue of Dunia Fantasi (Fantasy World) recreation park in Ancol, North Jakarta. Since then, the festival has played various locations in Jakarta.

This year’s event will have the theme “JakJazz untuk Bencana Alam” (“JakJazz for Natural Disasters”) and a portion of ticket sales will be donated to survivors of the natural disasters.

This year’s performers will include American trio Triple Play. The threesome consists of pianist and band leader Bill O’Connell, flautist Dave Valentin and percussionist Richie Flores, who will play their Latin-flavored brand of jazz.

Brazilian songstress Lisa Cecato will perform her bossa nova-influenced vocal stylings. She is known for her scat style singing, as well as her ability to imitate musical instruments, such as the guitar, with her voice.

Norwegian bass player Janek Gwizdala will also be at the festival, performing a mix of electronica and jazz with his backing band, The Janek Gwizdala Project.

Foreign cultural centers in Jakarta have also invited musicians from their own countries.

Netherland’s Erasmus Huis invited Pigalle 44 Gypsy Jazz, a group formed in 1999 by guitar player and composer Reinier Voet and singer-guitarist Jan Brouwe.

The French Cultural Center has invited the Jean My Truong Quartet, led by My Truong, a prominent drummer who has been active in the French jazz scene since the 1970s.

Ireng said this year’s JakJazz has a new chairman of the organizational board, Lilik Wibisono, a 35-year old businessman, who he hopes will bring a refreshing approach to the festival.

In the past, Ireng said, the festival faced many obstacles, the biggest being the lack of funds, which he hopes that a new marketing team would remedy.

Despite this, he is confident that jazz will stay popular.

“Jazz will keep on rising, because it’s filled with youngsters,” he said.

JakJazz
Dec. 4-6
Istora Gelora Bung Karno Jakarta
Jl. Pintu I Senayan
South Jakarta
www.jakjazz.com

Festival Highlights:

Valtinho Anastacio
This Brazil-born vocalist and percussionist infuses different styles into his playing. On his latest album, “Forest Earth,” Indian influences can be heard on “Mae Ivanuza” and “Ayla & Ethan” (the latter titled for Anastacio’s children) and pop nuances on “Eastern Lady” and “Minha Alma.”
Anastacio lived in the Roponggi area in Japan for five years, where he performed with jazz mainstays, including Terumasa Hino, Kazumi Watanabe and Toki Hidefumi. He also toured with one of Japan’s best-known jazz players, Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Curtis King
This US-based singer and songwriter has worked with many big names in the pop world, including Celine Dion, Natalie Cole, Billy Joel and Madonna.
He has also performed on stage with the likes of Luciano Pavarotti , Barry White and Tom Jones, during the “Pavarotti and Friends” performance in 2001.
King is also influenced by Asian and African musicians. For JakJazz, he will perform with The Curtis King Blues Band.

M-Jazz Trio
This Malaysian-based threesome is made up of Mokhzani Ismail on piano, Albert Yap on bass and Acun on drums. Band leader Mokhzani is experienced in aspects of more classical music as he is also a composer and orchestral conductor. The trio has traveled extensively to perform its blend of old- and new-school jazz all over the world.