The Premiere in Multi Stage Format, Jazz Gunung Burangrang Successfully Held

Kapanlagi.com - The fourth series of Jazz Gunung Indonesia (JGI), Jazz Gunung Burangrang was successfully held on October 19, 2024, at Dusun Bambu. This time it was held on four stages simultaneously.

Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 comes with the theme "Sora-Sora Bergembira" which is inspired by the spirit of togetherness and joy in enjoying sounds. Sora-sora, which in Sundanese means sound or noise, represents the harmonization between nature, music, and humanity. This inclusive music festival invites young people who love the freedom of jazz improvisation to older generations who nostalgia with songs that have been present in their time.

Jazz Gunung Burangrang offers an experience that connects different ages and cultures to celebrate jazz music in a fun, warm, and festive atmosphere amidst the beauty of the Burangrang mountain nature in Dusun Bambu, West Bandung, West Java.

"Jazz Gunung Indonesia always organizes music events in challenging locations. Because at each venue in the Jazz Gunung Series, there are its own challenges. Now at Dusun Bambu, with adequate infrastructure, there is a new challenge of organizing multiple stages. Without challenges, we cannot grow," explained JGI's CEO, Bagas Indyatmono.

Dusun Bambu, known as a family-friendly tourist destination with refreshing mountain scenery, aims to create a unique experience where visitors can enjoy musical performances on four open stages surrounded by lush nature. With the concept of an outdoor festival, Jazz Gunung Burangrang also presents an interactive area for children and families to enjoy other activities in between watching Jazz Gunung Burangrang.

"We started planning this since 2019, but were hindered by the pandemic. We share the same concern with Jazz Gunung Indonesia, promoting sustainability and tradition. Dusun Bambu feels honored to collaborate with Jazz Gunung Indonesia, hopefully in the coming years we can continue," said Dusun Bambu's general manager, Ari Hermanto.

1. SPIRIT OF TOGETHERNESS

Vina Panduwinata © Jazz Gunung Indonesia

This festival is not just about listening to music, but also about feeling joy together with performances from legendary musicians such as Elvy Sukaesih feat. Bandung Jazz Orchestra, Vina Panduwinata & F.I.[e].R.Y, Tohpati Ethnomission, Sambasunda, as well as young musicians like Danilla, Dul Jaelani Dewa 19 Experience, Nadine Adrianna, Ear Sun, and Benn Yapari. In addition, there are Arnando Putra & Frank Pattinasarany, Sokhi, Arumtala, Kevin Yosua Big 6 feat Mahanada, and AIB Show to create a blend of sounds across generations that fills the environment with joy.

"We elevate jazz music and related traditional music. We always bring jazz with ethnic nuances and there is always collaboration. There is Elvy Sukaesih, we collaborate dangdut with jazz orchestra. She has a very high value in West Java. Elvy was born in West Java, in the 60s she has been creating and collaborating with young people. We have several musicians from the land of Sunda, including Vina Panduwinata and Sambasunda. In addition, there is Dul Jaelani who represents the younger generation. We want there to be regeneration not only among the players but also the audience. We want jazz to keep going," continued Bagas.

In this event, BRImo also provides its support. "We both want to develop the audience, especially music listeners. BRI is trying to get involved in that. For the audience who will open an account at BRImo, there will be a top-up balance of Rp100 thousand and other prizes including the chance to win a mini cooper," said BRI Bandung Setiabudi Funding Transaction Manager, Noor Bani.

2. Celebrating the Life of Music

Vina Panduwinata © Jazz Gunung Indonesia

With the spirit of togetherness, Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 is a moment to celebrate life, music, and nature coming together in one festival. La Moon and the Jazz Ruang Putih community opened the Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 event on the Rongga Budaya stage, Dusun Bambu.

In this session, a variety of jazz songs were played. The audience was invited to jam. The concept is indeed like that. A stage that allows for interaction and contribution of musical abilities.

Senior jazz singer, Benny Kartono also contributed several songs, closing the Rongga Budaya stage together with La Moon.

The Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 event continued the performance on the 'Gending Ngibing' amphitheater stage with Sokhi. They successfully created a cheerful atmosphere. Set against the city of Bandung Barat from a height and wrapped in cooling air, the audience can be seen swaying in their seats.

Sokhi also invited the vocalist of the Bandung jazz band, Mahawaditra, to perform the song 'Cikini'. The performance became even more festive, with the level of attraction increasing on stage during the collaboration.

With 16 musicians and 1 vocalist on stage, Sambasunda performed with great energy. The arrangements of each piece they performed sounded very tight in dynamics. They opened the stage for 'Rindang Berdendang' Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024.

The red and white costumes worn by the musicians and the elegant kebaya displayed by the vocalist added to the atmosphere. The Sundanese nuances in every element of their music burst forth, marking their joy in participating in this event.

At the end of their performance, the audience stood up and swayed to jaipong along with the progressive music that was rich with the sounds of kendang and angklung in the song Bambung Hideung. They also invited one of the audience members onto the stage to dance jaipong.

Opening with a rhythmic full of drums and kendang, along with the traditional pelog atmosphere, Tohpati Ethnomission delivered a "blitz" from the start. Their guitar playing is more powerful due to the distortion compared to Tohpati's other projects.

Their presence at the Jazz Gunung Burangrang strengthens the traditional atmosphere they carry. Thanks to their skillful performance, it is clear that the composition is not something commonly found. Very dynamic and full of surprises!

As we approached the break at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024, the 'Gending Ngibing' stage at the Dusun Bambu amphitheater was accompanied by Ear Sun, which is the moniker of Muhammad Irsan, a male singer who is also a businessman and an educator.

"Seagull!" said a little boy with his grandmother just after mama Ina, as Vina Panduwinata is affectionately called, asked the audience what song they wanted. Moments later, this song was performed. In fact, it was not on the setlist we received. However, it was delivered very beautifully by FI(E)RY.

"Thank you!" shouted the little boy, and mama Ina immediately called him to the stage and kissed him. "The creator is Iwan Abdulrachman, a person from Bandung! So you have to know," said Mama Ina to a cheerful and enthusiastic boy named Bara.

The sparkling black and white dress adorned with sequins was Vina Panduwinata's appearance at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024. She performed hit songs such as Di dadaku Ada Kamu, Dia, Cinta, Surat Cinta, and Aku Makin Cinta.

Interestingly, Mama Ina often tells stories about the creators at the end or beginning of each song performed. This is something to be emulated by anyone. It shows a high appreciation!

A different atmosphere was felt on the 'Gending Ngibing' stage with Arumtala. The crucial hours of hunger and cold air. Especially as the rain began to fall.

Clearly, the culinary specialties of Bandung like batagor and cuanki became a meal while enjoying music from Arumtala. The song Naik-Naik Ke Puncak Gunung was sung together with the audience, creating a choir! Arumtala provided a sweet ambiance marking the transition of time after the first session break at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024.

Nadin, wearing a black outfit full of sparkling small beads like her performance. Her playing skills should be considered as the next rising star of jazz pianists in the country.

Her piano performance was accompanied by bass, saxophone, and drums. Enjoying it in a "silent concert" way was a different experience. The sound that entered the ears was so intimate, focused, and detailed.

Benn Yapari also performed on the Senyap Berirama stage. Benn, a multi-instrumentalist and jazz vocalist, used the contrabass and trumpet for his set. Eight songs were completed. 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' was certainly not absent as the opener. Benn closed his performance with 'Bas(s)ically'.

Vocalist Mahanada Putra Yapari along with Kevin Yosua Big 6 delivered the night of Jazz Gunung Burangrang with such a poignant yet still masculine feel. This time Kevin prepared a series of compositions called 'Indonesia Song Book'. "We have great Indonesian composers like Ismail Marzuki and Sam Saimun," Kevin explained while introducing his band members.

Guruh (trombone), Indra Dauna (trumpet), James Rainer (saxophone), Rio Manuel (piano), and Hansen Arief (drums) played alongside Kevin and Mahanada, warming up the night while enveloping the cold stage of 'Rindang Berdendang' Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024.

An incredible energy was poured out by Dul Jaelani in the Dul Jaelani Dewa 19 Experience project. Since its formation in 2019, this project was performed again for the first time at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024. The Dusun Bambu amphitheater, which that night became the stage for 'Gending Ngibing', heated up even more due to the energy exerted by Dul and his band, along with the contributions of Dewa 19's songs. The audience sang along throughout the songs performed. Dul also presented a composition he referred to as Jazz Grunge!

"I follow Jazz Gunung wherever they are. When I got the chance to play here, I was very grateful; this is an event I personally admire, and finally, I can play here. For the Jazz Gunung Burangrang event, we prepared a semi-jazz arrangement, but not a calming jazz. genre jazz grunge," Dul said.

Meanwhile, the talented guitar duo Arnando Putra & Frank Pattinasarany showcased their skills. Their guitar playing sounded more detailed thanks to the "silent concert" presented by Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024. 'His Spirit' and 'Blessing in Disguise,' which are their duo format works, became the two closing songs, marking the end of the event series on the 'Senyap Berirama' stage.

3. Danilla Performs Special Songs

Vina Panduwinata © Jazz Gunung Indonesia

Fortunate are you who came to Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 and witnessed Danilla on the 'Rindang Berdendang' stage. In addition to the string format presented, she also wore a beautiful blue dress. In her setlist, Danilla intentionally performed the song Dan Bandung for the first time since it was recorded in 2019.

Her elegant performance last night felt so intimate. Especially the songs from the album Telisik, which are being re-recorded and "revived" in celebration of a decade of creativity since the album was first released in 2014, were also performed, such as Buaian and Senja di Ambang Pilu.

Ade Avery, YoIqball, and Bani, who are part of the AIB Show, closed the performance on the 'Gending Ngibing' stage at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024. The session players for many top Indonesian singers combined various unique musical influences in their works.

The rhythm, full of groove and funk, was delivered very lightly. Their demeanor on stage, joking with one another, made last night's performance so interactive.

Opening with 'Gula-Gula' on the 'Rindang Berdendang' stage, umi Elvy, as she is affectionately called, was the highlight performer among the series of acts presented at Jazz Gunung Burangrang 2024 last night. Umi Elvy appeared so enchanting in a black outfit, patterned with gold tiger skin, and adorned with plenty of sparkles on her attire.

Together with the Bandung Jazz Orchestra (BJO), the arrangements of umi Elvy's hit songs felt different yet did not lose the essence of their dangdut roots. Especially in the song 'Mimpi Terindah', the swing composition created by BJO is so harmonious. It doesn't sound merely cosmetic. 'Bisik-Bisik Tetangga' and 'Cubit-Cubitan' were also performed.

Umi Elvy also invited her daughter, Dhawiya Zaida, to duet together in the song 'Pecah Seribu'. The audience looked engaged, swaying and singing along in their respective places.

Just like Vina Panduwinata, Umi Elvy also enjoys introducing the song's creator. The name Fazal Dath often comes up throughout the performance. Umi performed excellently last night.

This performance also serves as one of the anchors for the mission of musical and traditional collaboration that each event of Jazz Gunung Indonesia aims to present.

(kpl/phi)