The second day of the 2014 Clear Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival was graced by musical performances from local jazz legends and award-winning international artists.

On Saturday, festival-goers at the biggest hall at the JIExpo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, witnessed the first reunion concert of the legendary jazz band, Krakatau Reunion.

Performing in their most solid formation, which comprised guitarist Donny Suhendra, bassist Prasadja Budi Dharma, Trie Utami on vocals, Indra Lesmana and Dwiki Dharmawan on keyboards and drummer Gilang Ramadhan, the band stole the night.

The crowd cheered as the band appeared onstage, performing '€œKembali Satu'€ (Back Together) taken from their Kembali Satu album, released in 1990. They continued the show with '€œKemelut'€ (Chaos).

Trie constantly interacted with the audience, telling them amusing anecdotes about the songs.

'€œThey often composed songs that were hard to sing. Can you imagine, I had to sing this song the first time I joined the band in 1986?'€ said Trie, referring to '€œCita Pasti'€ (Certain Hopes).

The band that was founded in 1985 brought the audience back in time with their classic hits, including '€œDirimu Kasih'€ (You Are My Love) and '€œPerjalanan'€ (The Journey).

Although Trie sometimes found it difficult to reach the higher notes, her energetic performance and the band'€™s pop/rock-jazz fusion sounds generally succeeded in blowing the audience away.

Krakatau Band had been the most prolific jazz band in Indonesia, selling more than 5 million records from 1986 to 1990.  

In another hall, the duet of young Swedish multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala and Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist, producer and pianist Gregg Karukas enchanted the audience at their gig.

 

Gregg Karukas & Vincent Ingala. JP/P.J. Leo

With the soulful and soothing melodies that came from Karukas'€™ keyboard, coupled with Ingala'€™s saxophone playing, they immediately drew in people milling outside the hall.

Clad in a white shirt, black jacket and a natty hat, Karukas smiled continuously behind his keyboard set, enjoying every melody that he produced and making the audience swing along to his music.

Occasionally, Ingala even did a little dance to Karukas'€™ melodies while playing his saxophone.

'€œAre you having a good time? It'€™s so great to play at the Java Jazz Festival,'€ said Karukas before introducing Ingala'€™s single, '€œCan'€™t Stop Now'€.

In the third song, Karukas, who performed with a keytar, and Ingala stepped aside from the stage and gave a chance for the drummer to put on a little solo performance.

Later in the night, Grammy-winning instrumental fusion band, Snarky Puppy, was another highlight of the second day of the festival with their fresh jazz/funk/dance-fused sounds.

The nine-piece band, which is led by award-winning guitarist and arranger Michael League started with the lively '€œStrawman'€, a song rich in rock melody.

The band'€™s loud sound continued to fill the hall with its next song, which contained a Latin hint.

'€œThis is such a great crowd; so great to be here,'€ said League.

The group won a 2014 Grammy Award for best R&B performance with its song '€œSomething'€ featuring soul singer Lalah Hathaway.

Although there was no special show on the second day, hundreds of festival-goers jammed all 17 stages, which featured, among others, Brazilian singer Tania Maria, Earth, Wind and Fire Experience, Incognito, Raisa and Tulus.

 

Tania Maria. JP/P.J. Leo

On Sunday, the performers who will feature in Java Jazz include American R&B-jazz legend Natalie Cole and India Arie.