The Lounge at Le Grandeur Hotel in Mangga Dua, North Jakarta, offers live jazz music every day, including weekly shows by Ireng Maulana.?(JG Photo; courtesy of The Lounge)

The Lounge: Jazz Hotspot in North Jakarta

There’s no need to argue: When it comes to the nightlife experience, Jakarta offers many possibilities for those who want to go out, meet their friends, hang out and have a good time. As a South Jakarta resident, however, I tend to stay in or close to my neighborhood. My preferred bars and cafes are in Kuningan, Kebayoran Baru and Kemang, and Central Jakarta is usually as far afield as I go. I choose those places mostly out of convenience, and to save money, since I normally get around by taxi. That’s why, when my cousin invited me to check out a jazz lounge in Mangga Dua, my initial reaction was, “Mangga Dua? That’s so far away.”

But then I thought, why not try something new? So there we were on Friday night, in the back of a taxi making our way through Jakarta’s traffic jungle to Le Grandeur Hotel in the northern part of the city. The first thing that caught my eye in the bright and sparkling lobby was a poster of Ireng Maulana, one of Indonesia’s most famous jazz musicians. He was scheduled to play in The Lounge, which just happened to be our destination that night.

Located on the ground floor of the hotel, The Lounge offers live jazz music daily. Mondays through Saturday, a jazz band takes the stage, while things quiet down a bit on Sunday evenings, with just a lone jazz pianist in charge of entertaining guests.

“When we came up with the concept for The Lounge, we thought about establishing a venue for our guests who enjoy jazz music,” said Yudi Yahya, the food and beverage manager at Le Grandeur. “In North Jakarta, there wasn’t any place that offered only jazz music, and we are still the only one. That makes it unique.”

The Lounge’s reputation as a swinging jazz venue has been cemented by the long list of celebrated artists who have performed there: Tompi, Maliq & D’Essentials, Glenn Fredly and Ireng Maulana, who since November 2009 has performed every Friday night.

In addition to being the only jazz venue in the area, The Lounge has a unique interior design, which keeps both the eyes and ears occupied.

The circular bar, manned by bartenders dressed in black suits, sits in the middle of the room, while waitresses wearing peach-colored blouses deliver drinks and food. Guests can sit either at the bar, in comfortable red-cushioned chairs, or they can opt for a table, which are also circular and can seat up to six people.

But the most impressive feature of The Lounge is undoubtedly the elevated stage on top of the bar — the heart of the whole venue. It offers space for at least four musicians and their instruments, and thanks to its position, allows the artists to easily interact with the audience.

In a separate room, there are two pool tables for those who want to take a break from the music or simply are in the mood for a game. The TV screens on the walls air sports events.

In addition to the entertainment, The Lounge also looks after the stomachs of its guests.

“We don’t offer heavy meals, but focus more on light snacks,” Yudi said. “When we created the menu, I was thinking of and inspired by Spanish tapas.

The cocktails in The Lounge are named after popular songs. Drinks and food are both reasonably priced.

After enjoying Ireng Maulana’s first and second sets, and shooting a couple of games of pool, my cousin and I decided to head for home. The friendly staff at Le Grandeur called a taxi for us, and only 30 minutes later we were sitting on the terrace of my house. It turns out The Lounge is not that far away after all, and more than that, it is definitely worth another visit.

Paxton K. Baker is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of BETJ, BET’s complementary network targeting the African American and multicultural adult. Baker is also President of BET Event Productions, which produces music festivals, TV specials and concerts throughout the world. He has produced numerous television shows and home videos, and released over 30 DVD titles.

Hisao Ebine has a long and well-respected career in the music business starting from CBS/Sony Records (currently Sony Music Entertainment) in 1972. He had been instrumental in operations of international artists relations at CBS/Sony and building the foundation of then-newly-operated Sony Creative Products, Sony Music’s merchandising enterprise. With the establishment of Pioneer‘s LaserDisc Corporation in 1981, he headed its entire LaserDisc programming until his departure to co-found The Company. In 2002, he has acquired all the stocks of the Company and has been heading the Company ever since.

The addition of both notable figures in the Board of Patrons will significantly contribute to the cause of Jazz and music to foster peace and harmony in Asia and the world.

The Asian Jazz Festival Organization (AJFO) is a regional organization consisting of members from countries that regularly hold Music Festivals that lean towards the musical genre of “JAZZ”. As of July 2009, music festivals across 14 countries are listed as members.

The truth is no special trick is needed to enjoy a jazz music presentation, be it live or through a recording. Enjoying jazz is an individual appreciation. Interpreting its beauty is the ear of the beholder. For that reason, despite the numerous debates in relations to jazz as a music genre, as an art form or how it ought to be enjoyed, jazz is merely an outlet for freedom of expression. So, one may stick to one’s opinion as one wishes.

One thing for sure, jazz is an amalgamation of various musical approaches by diverse cultural backgrounds. As human beings evolve, influence and be influenced by changes from time to time, jazz also evolves. Jazz evolves through time, although some people remain devoted to its ‘genuine’ form, when it was first conceived.

Perhaps that is the cause of jazz popularity all over the world, its capability to be modified. Some people consider the ability to revel and comprehend jazz is a prestige of its own. It is no wonder that the space of Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JJF) is always packed solid.

The Jazz Music of Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival There is no end to the diversity of jazz music at Java Jazz Festival. Even after four years after it was first established in 2005, Java Jazz Festival still has yet to feature the various forms of jazz’s developments in Indonesia and the world. From year to year, the name Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (known widely as Java Jazz Festival) continues to gain popularity, even amongst foreign musicians.
Over the years, more and more artists continue to stage their enthusiasm and desire to perform at Java Jazz Festival. However, Java Festival Production (the organizer of the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival and Jakarta International Soulnation Festival) could not always fulfill all these demands. One of the reasons is the limited capacity of the venue (Jakarta Convention Center, or JCC) and also limitation in scheduling (it’s only a 3-day event). In addition, too tight of a schedule might also impede the audience capability to enjoy the well-designed program.

A Tribute for Indonesia

In 2005, Indonesia was in the midst of a financial crisis. The tsunami disaster ravaging the western part of Indonesia further enhanced less than stellar publicity on Indonesia, especially in the international world.

Java Festival Production, however, carried on with its plan to hold the first Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival on 4, 5 and 6 March 2005. Carrying out mission “Bringing the World to Indonesia”, the Festival aims to draw different kind of perspective to Indonesia. The language used, Jazz.

In reality, the review from the international musicians and public in general who attended the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival was positive. They were satisfied and were not doubtful in stating their enthusiasm to return to the festival. A number of American musicians were even not shy in stating how different Indonesia was from the way it was portrayed by the international mass media.

In mid-2008, the financial crisis returns. This time, its effect is more widely-spread. For that reason, Java Festival Production is required to be more diligent in order to actualize the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009, established as one of Indonesia’s method of diplomacy whilst at the same time presenting quality jazz music performances for jazz lovers in Indonesia and those from all around the world.

Since the beginning, Java Festival Production aims not to be an organizer of just a regular festival, but a world-class festival, as means to promote Indonesia. Despite the many obstacles, Java Festival Production continues to persevere to hold Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009, a concrete contribution to the nation’s diplomacy to the world.

JAKARTA INTERNATIONAL JAVA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009
On 6, 7 and 8 March 2009, Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival will be held for the fifth time. For Java Festival Production and the line-up of workers behind it the festival’s success, the fifth edition of the festival is a special occasion indeed as it was not an easy feat to organize a festival as sizeable as Java Jazz Festival.

Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009 will be slightly different from the previous years. One of the special treats this year is lower ticket prices. This way, the festival becomes more accessible to all enthusiasts of Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival.

Java Festival Production also wishes to improve the quality of the performances by providing an opportunity for the performers to conduct proper sound check, to guarantee a maximum performance.

This year, Java Festival Production plans to feature, among few, Swing Out Sister, Brian McKnight, Roy Ayers, Ledisi, Simon Philips, New York Voices, Matt Bianco, Isao Suzuki, Dianne Reeves, Mike Stern, Oleta Adams, Peabo Bryson, dan Regina Carter at Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009.

Start marking your calendars! Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival, 6, 7 and 8 March 2009. Take part in the Festival’s fifth celebration at Jakarta Convention Center. Attending the Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival is a part of a lifestyle.

“Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival 2009, it’s a lifestyle.”

Regarded as one of the key members of the English acid jazz movement, Their debut album, Jazz Funk, was released in 1981, with twelve more albums following, the last of which, Tales From The Beach, was released in 2008.

Throughout the band’s history, it has been led and driven by composer, record producer, guitarist and singer, Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick. Other notable band members have included the singers Tony Momrelle, Jocelyn Brown, Pamela Anderson, Imaani, Maysa Leak and Kelli Sae.

The band has had intermittent success in the UK Singles Chart, with their breakthrough hit a cover version of the Ronnie Laws tune “Always There”, featuring Jocelyn Brown, which made #6 in the UK. The group’s 1992 single, “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” saw similar success, reaching #19 in the UK. They have also been a favourite of various re-mixers, including Masters At Work, David Morales, Roger Sanchez and Jazzanova, and have released several albums consisting almost entirely of remixes.

Incognito debuted with the single “Parisienne Girl” and released the 1981 LP Jazz Funk. With 1992′s Tribes Vibes + Scribes, Maunick added a more established vocalist, the American Maysa Leak. A cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” became another Incognito hit, and the album ascended Britain’s pop charts even as it rose on America’s contemporary jazz charts. The third album, Positivity, became the group’s biggest album success, with much attention across Europe as well as Britain. Incognito later expanded its discography with 1996′s Remixed, 1998′s Tokyo Live, and 1999′s No Time Like the Future. 2001′s Life Stranger Than Fiction and 2003′s Who Needs Love, which featured Brazilian vocalist Ed Motta and 2006′ album which was a mix of cover versions along with re-recordings of four Incognito classics.

“Incognito will add a different and unique flavor to the festival due to the amazing style that would be evolved on the closing night” declared Anthony Younes, founders and organizers of the festival.

On-stage too, Incognito have retained a massive fan base from their “Not To Miss” live shows. Their style is not about playing the tune just to get applause; it is about communicating, making sure people get it. 25 years on, the Bluey and Incognito story remains a one-off and a uniquely Great British adventure.

Okura’s virtuoso violin playing gracefully fuses lexicons from different styles of music into her own unique lyrical signature sound that incorporates influences such as disciplined structure, savvy refinement, and polished precision from Viennese era classical, vivid impressionism, dramatic expressionism, and moving emotional projection from Romantic era classical, 20th century tonality, harmonization, meters, rhythms, and swing, as well as other elements from contemporary jazz and popular music spanning from Joe Venuti to Gershwin to Coltrane and beyond.

The intricate arrangements are mesmerizing; The unorthodox and unprecedented changes are breathtaking; The seamless fluidity within the diverse arrangements is beguiling; Okura’s firm grasp on and absorption of genres, styles, and characteristics of epochs from the musical continuum into her exquisite musical form is nothing short of amazing! The vision is radical but the flawless execution and inspired delivery make it seem natural. If you have broad musical experience and are not content to be confined to a single genre or style of music, you are going to fall flat on your back when you hear this.

Meg Okura defies convention by breaking through all boundaries with her revolutionary vision that is redefining our understanding of and perspective on modern music. Okura’s music is so innovative that it is surreal to experience it. The music is refined, sophisticated, emotional, progressive and hip all at the same time. Check out Meg Okura.

This is real world fusion!!! This is the future of instrumental music.

More at http://cdbaby.com/cd/megokura

Workshop Details

Fats Waller, Nat King Cole, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horn, Harry Connick Jr, Diana Krall, Peter Cincotti.

What do these jazz singers have in common? They are all excellent jazz pianists, who most of the time accompany themselves on piano while singing.

Didi Mudigdo (www.didi.com.au), jazz singer/pianist at Nine Muses Club for December – February will present a free workshop discussing the art and craft of the jazz singer/pianist.

The musical material covered in this workshop will be of interest to not only jazz singer/pianists, but also to jazz pianists who accompany singers, and singers who play with jazz pianists.

As a self-managed artist who has performed in Australia, Japan and China over the last 10 years, he will also discuss self-promotion and self- marketing.

This material will appeal to any jazz artist wanting to improve their self-promotion and self-marketing.

Open audience participation will be expected as springboards for workshop discussion, so before arriving, singers please warm-up your voices, pianists please warm-up your fingers, and please bring in your promotional material, photos, biography etc. for discussion.

Topics include:

FOR PIANISTS:
Dealing with singers holding down the groove/basss taying out of the singer’s way transposing skills awareness of vocal repertoire.

FOR SINGERS:
Dealing with jazz musicians approaches to learning theory learning repertoire selecting repertoire selecting keys creative approaches to well-known standards developing your own sound FOR BOTH: building repertoire awareness of jazz vocal styles intros and endings colla voce/rubato intros publicity/promotion getting gigs dealing with overseas agents

Didi Mudigdo
jazz vocals & piano
www.didi.com.au www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=7770182540

The festival will take place at 3 different venues including the Amphitheater at Dubai Media City, The Dusk Terrace at Radisson SAS Hotel DMC, and Marina Square at Dubai Festival City.

The line-up will include more than 250 international artists and performers, jamming sessions, and many new activities.

Soon will will be announcing the full line-up, however tickets for some of the nights are already on sale online. More info available via http://www.dubaijazzfest.com/

More info will be posted as soon we get some details.
For reference please click http://www.pijazzfest.com/

To be held on May 9 and 10, 2008, next year’s edition will see inclusion of new things to infuse change for the festival. The performers’ line up will also see more varieties in jazz genre, to spice up the already exciting festival.

Promised to be another signature attraction for Miri’s tourism calendar, MIJF 2008 will be liven up by renowned jazz performers from Australia, Philippines, Korea, Cuba, Japan, Holland, USA, France, UK and Canada. Nearer to home, we will see performances from bands from Sarawak and Sabah, taking centre stage among the foreign performers. Their genre of jazz include blues and fusion jazz with a tinge of Latin, Caribbean and oriental music.

Habana Sax, one of the performers from this year’s line up will also make a come-back at next year’s festival, after the crowd voted the band as their favourite.

Parkcity Everly Hotel in Miri will still play host for the venue of the festival, which had attracted more than 4,000 guests over the two nights last year. Last year’s crowd turn out had increased by almost two folds as compared to more than 2,000 guests in 2006.

Looking at the steady increase in the crowd turn out, MIJF is set to become an icon for Miri and in line with STB’s aim at boosting the city’s tourism industry.

Parkcity’s management has also indicted its plan to expand the Pavilion where the main stage is located, to provide more room for the increasing number of audicences.

Looking at the steady increase in the crowd turn out, MIJF is set to become an icon for Miri and in line with STB’s aim at boosting the city’s tourism industry via events and festival.

Ticket the festival is priced at RM60 per person per night and RM30 per child between three and 12 years old, is available online at www.TicketCharge.com.my from December 12, 2007.

Apart from enjoying the good music, guests can also savour the wide variety of food and beverages at the stalls set up in and around the venue.

For further enquiries, kindly contact the Visitors’ Information Centre at Lot 452, Jalan Melayu in Miri (tel: 60 85 434181, fax: 60 85 434179) or log on at www. Mirijazzfestival.com. Email contact: info@mirijazzfestival.com.

Miri is located in Northern Sarawak and has, in 2005, gained its Resort City Status. Often known as the Northern Gateway to Sarawak, the city is a popular base for visitors to explore the nearby National Parks including the Niah, Loagan Bunut and Lambir Hills while Mulu is only a 45- minute flight away.