As the second day of the international Java Jazz festival went into overdrive Saturday night, the event received a surprise visit from the President.

In a much-needed break after the protracted Century inquiry wrapped up earlier this week, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his entourage could relax by enjoying the performance of legendary bestselling singer-songwriter Diane Warren, who performed at Hall D at the Kemayoran Fairground.
Vice President Boediono was absent from the entourage.

It seems fitting that the President came to check out Warren’s show given the composer’s penchant for writing melancholic love songs, something that Yudhoyono showed off in his latest album Ku Yakin Akan Sampai Di Sana (I Believe I Will Get There).

Heightened security measures in the vicinity of the Hall D and throughout the Kemayoran Fairground in anticipation of Yudhoyono’s visit, however, failed to deter jazz enthusiasts from swinging and cavorting to the music from among others, flutist legend Hubert Laws, vocal jazz ensemble The Manhattan Transfer and legendary top 10 R&B crooner Toni Braxton.

Hours before the evening show started, festivalgoers voluntarily surrendered their bags to security personnel and went through metal detectors.

When Yudhoyono arrived, some seated audience members cheered and called the President by his name, snapping photographs as he entered the venue and sat at the back of the music hall.

The cheers became deafening when Warren made her way to the stage and took her seat behind an acoustic piano.

The audience certainly knew her reputation. She’s one of the most productive composers in the history of pop who has penned hits, Because You Loved Me, a hit by Canadian singer Celine Dion, Have You
Ever sung by R&B performer Brandy and Christina Aguilera’s I Turn to You.

Despite the Warren mania, not everyone was having the night of their life on Saturday evening.

Several who wanted to see Warren’s show were stranded outside the hall, protesting and forcing the security guards to open the gate.

They were denied entry to Hall D because the President was already inside.

For homegrown performers the likes of R&B crooner Andre Hehanusa, trumpetist Benny Likumahuwa, Indonesian-born German Idol Sandhy Sondoro and serious jazz purveyor Simak Dialog, Saturday was a big day.

At 7 p.m., many were faced with a conundrum of choosing between  The Manhattan Transfer and Hubert Laws, who performed almost at the same time.

Serious jazz fans surely opted for the legendary jazz musician Laws, a former member of the
Crusaders group, but The Manhattan Transfer was also a must-see performance.  

Ten-Grammy Award winning Manhattan Transfer gave an astounding performance with vocal harmony and singing tracks from their latest album The Chick Corea Songbook, which marked their 40-year music career, which was their first album in five years.

The jazz magic lasted until midnight when the highly anticipated R&B singer Toni Braxton took to
the stage.

The Manhattan Transfer will perform again, while singer-songwriter Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds promised to return to the festival and promises to treat his fans to new romantic tunes.

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