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Pop legends kick off jazz festival
Sax appeal: Saxophonist Michael Lington performs with Grammy-nominated singer-song writer Kenny Lattimore on the first day of the Java Jazz Festival 2015 at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Friday
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span class="inline inline-center">Sax appeal: Saxophonist Michael Lington performs with Grammy-nominated singer-song writer Kenny Lattimore on the first day of the Java Jazz Festival 2015 at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Friday. JP/Awo
Three Indonesian pop divas opened this year's Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival on Friday, giving solid performances at the JIEXPO in Kemayoran, Jakarta.
Titi DJ, Ruth Sahanaya and Kris dayanti ' billing themselves under the moniker 3 Diva ' sang a medley of their respective hits ' 'Ekspresi', 'Bawa Daku Pergi' and 'Mahadaya Cinta' ' to open their set at the D2 main stage.
Dressed in black-and-silver vintage schoolgirl apparel, the women showed that they had not lost any of their charm, wittily and humorously engaging with an audience of hundreds.
Titi even subtly asked people in the front to sit so that those in the back could also enjoy the concert.
'It is a great honor to finally be able to perform here,' Kris said.
Titi told the audience that the women had trained hard to perform at the jazz fesitval.
The second medley was the payoff, as the women sang in harmony, presenting Nat King Cole's timeless classic 'Love' followed by 'The Lady Is a Tramp', receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.
Meanwhile, jazz saxophonist Michael Lington, who performed at the festival in 2006, took the stage to mesmerize the audience with an energetic performance.
Lington opened his set with a new song, 'Uptown Groove', before launching into 2006 hit 'Twice in a Lifetime'.
On Saturday, Grammy-award winning singer Chris Botti is slated to perform, along with prominent names such as vocal stylist Bobby McFerrin, famous for 'Don't Worry ' Be Happy'; Japanese-Brazilian bossanova singer Lisa Ono and British jazz/funk/soul band Incognito.
The 55 international acts slated to take the stage at Java Jazz include R&B singer Kenny Lattimore and the jazz/funk/rap singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello, as well as youth-oriented pop acts, such as Jessie J and Christina Perry.
Eighty-seven local acts will also perform, including Benny Likumahuwa, Gilang Ramadhan, Afgan, Kahitna, Lea Simanjuntak, Mocca, the Oele Patiselano Quintet, Petra Sihombing, Tohpati, Tulus, the Idang Rasjidi Quintet, Dewa Budjana and Benny Mustafa.
Some festival-goers who watched 3 Diva on stage on Friday thought that the group did a great job.
'I think they did superbly in trying to perform jazz music,' Anisa, a human resources employee who has watched three Java Jazz festivals, said.
Meanwhile, Sergio, a student who was having his first experience with Java Jazz, said he could not expect a better experience.
'I think the festival has been cool so far,' he said.
The festival ends on Sunday. For more information, visit javajazzfestival.com.
