A listening bar concept that commits to jazz music is one that still needs to be explored in the Jakarta bar scene – let alone a listening bar that is relatively more obscure, such as a Japanese-style jazz bar. This obscurity, however, was seen as an opportunity for the twentysomethings Shawn Andrew, Geoffrey Alexander, Monty Hassan and Kara Chenoa as they swooped in and launched their take on a Japanese jazz bar named BEBOP earlier this year.

Officially opening its doors to patrons in January, the retro-chic BEBOP has, ever since, been a hit among the hipper and younger urbanites that populate the oft-glamorous Senopati neighborhood of South Jakarta. To quote the 2008 British action crime film RocknRolla, "There's no school like the old school."

'Rough and classy'

The idea of opening a taproom in the first place was rooted in the friendship that the foursome has forged together over the years. During their downtime, they often chat at bars and stop by different taprooms. At one point, they realized their shared "lifestyle" could lead to something.

"It's every young person's dream, I think," Kara Chenoa told The Jakarta Post on behalf of the founders of BEBOP on April 17. "To eventually have a concept bar in South Jakarta, where we can hang out, and our friends can shoot the breeze [as well]."

The foursome refused to settle on a run-of-the-mill concept bar, though. Their frequent trips to many bars in the city gave them insight into what would (and would not) work for their future endeavor, ultimately leading them to more specific creativity that helped their differing visions come together: a listening bar.

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