Jazz enthusiasts started swarming into the Istora Senayan area at around 5 p.m. to savor the evening performances from local and international acts on the outdoor stages. As on previous days, the rain did not deter the audience from coming.

Syaharani and her band, the Queenfirework, heated up the night at the Amphitheater with their upbeat songs, cheered on by fans standing in front of the stage under their umbrellas, their spirits in no way dampened by the rain.

At the Skyline Terrace stage, Cameroon-born musician Roland Tchakount* played to a relaxed audience chilling out on cozy sofas. His blues melodies, with their taste of Cameroon, warmed up the wet night.

The Yellowjackets came onto stage with a fresh collaboration with one of Indonesia's most talented guitarists, Tohpati (right, in photo above), described before the show by bassist Jimmy Haslip as "a great musician".

The American band has traveled the world performing in leading jazz festivals for more than 25 years, living their belief that jazz is a music that transcends cultures.

"We can play with different kinds of people," Yellowjackets saxophonist Bob Mintzer said.

Special collaborations from the country's jazz icons, including festival founder Ireng Maulana, pianist Idang Rasjidi, vocalist Margie Segers, saxophonist Benny Likumahua and crooner Tompi, closed the three-day festival near midnight.

By Saturday, the festival -- considered by Ireng as the best Jakjazz festival yet -- had attracted more than 16,000 people.

"This festival turned out to be very different," Ireng said proudly, promising even more improvements and, of course, jazz in next year's festival. -- JP/Ary Hermawan

Popular

Tangerang regency to build six MRT stations as part of East-West line

New OJK regulation aims to ease MSME financing

Taiwan raises alert over cancer-causing chemical in Indomie