Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Bantul, Yogyakarta
In Indonesia, jazz music has long been thought of as the preserve of the wealthy middle-class.
That is probably why jazz festivals and performances are generally held at comfortable venues like star-rated hotels, cafes, pubs and executive clubs.
This image, however, was totally turned upside down here in the ancient city of Yogyakarta, where a jazz festival, ""Ngayogjazz 2007"" was held in the heart of a traditional Javanese village on Sunday.
Musician Djaduk Ferianto came up with the idea of staging the festival in a rural setting in a bid to bring jazz music to the wider community.
""Music, including jazz, will only survive when it is accepted by the community. The more people who come to accept it, the stronger its chances of survival,"" Djaduk told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of Ngayogjazz.
So, he chose the arts center of his late father, Bagong Kussudiarjo, in Kembaran village, Kasihan, Bantul, on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, as the venue for the jazz festival.
The festival program included some traditional music and performing arts in an effort to appeal to the broader public.
""So, this is what they call jazz, huh? I think I'll like it,"" a visitor said, adding that he was only really there out of curiosity.
To add to the color and vibrancy of the festival, the organizing committee decided to hold it in conjunction with the village's traditional cleansing ritual of Merti Dusun.
Ngajogjazz 2007 opened with a parade of villagers wearing traditional dress around the village as part of the cleansing ritual and a Jathilan ""trance dance"".
A bazaar involving local traders selling food, ornamental plants, handicrafts, T-shirts, CDs and magazines helped bring the festival together.
The festival provided a dynamic platform for dialogue between jazz lovers and the local community. Stallholders were not charged and there was no entrance fee either.
The eight jazz groups and many singers who performed also did so for free.
""We all had the same idea and mission: To make jazz more accessible,"" Djaduk said.
He is optimistic jazz will eventually be embraced at a grassroots level in Indonesia, especially considering the music has its roots in poor, black, urban American society.
Quoting Dutch author Allard J.M. Moller, Djaduk said jazz was first introduced in Indonesia in 1922. Yet the music was performed mainly at venues frequented by expatriates like cafes, clubs and bars.
""Although regular people have come to appreciate jazz, the image of jazz as the music of the elite remains,"" Djaduk said.
He said jazz bands in Yogyakarta had been very enthusiastic about the festival. Six of the groups that performed were from Yogyakarta, including Travels, Living Room, Caravan and Gudeg Jogja, and two -- Attilion and Academie of Farside -- from Jakarta. Singers Iga Mawarni, Syaharani, Tri Utami and Viki Sianipar and contemporary kendang (traditional wooden drum) player Sujud Kendang also put in appearances.
""We hope to invite more participants and guest performers next year. 'Santa Claus' will hopefully also be there to financially support us next time,"" Djaduk said wryly.
Gudeg Jogja said the festival had encouraged them to explore the connection between people and jazz music.
""It's really great being a part of this event. We do hope there will be another one next year, with more bands participating,"" Rezka Tri Nugroho of Gudeg Jogja said after performing.
