Java Jazz 2010 "
Update: March 2010

A couple of major changes brought with it a different look to the annual Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JIJJF). Despite its announcement in the year before, the move to Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran (JIE) as the venue, for one, was initially deemed an unwise suggestion due to its suburban area, compared to the previous Jakarta Convention Center at Senayan, the heart of Jakarta’s business district. Nonetheless, the assumption proved wrong since the total audience relatively increased. From around 57,800 people in 2005—the inaugural year—it soared gradually to 87,000 in 2009 and over 100,000 in 2010. Certainly, Jakarta is looking pretty good to be the ultimate jazz concert venue in Asia for more years to come.

In accordance with the move, the second change was emblazoned everywhere, from small pamphlets to huge banners. The name of the event now incorporates the biggest sponsor, which was Axis telecommunication company this time. This was also one among many points mentioned by Peter Gontha, the Chairman of JIJJF, during the press conference of 2009 JIJFF. The telecommunication company has braved itself to bundle up with JIJJF for a total of three years.

The year’s headliner was the diva Toni Braxton. She made her appearance on Saturday night, which caused long queues of thousands three hours prior to her show time. While her spectacular performance was called successful, the Indonesian President who was present at that night apparently opted for Dianne Warren’s exclusive appearance in Hall D2. It was such an enchanting show that swept away the hearts of the audiences. But when it comes to sound quality, many FOH engineers complained on the acoustic condition the venue renders. “JIE is improving to be a concert venue, but still need to be improved for the acoustic” Sumber Ria, the pro audio rental in charge, commented. “But it fits perfectly to accommodate the burgeoning number of the audience. What we have to do now is to present the best audio system that can cover up the lacking acoustic quality of the building.”

Owing to its 20 years of experience in the pro audio scene, Sumber Ria was confident that the set up they served was supreme enough. Both Hall D1 and D2 were the main focus of their top notch sets, which consisted of DiGiCo D5 at FOH with Steinberg’s Cubase plug-ins. and recorded the concerts individually through Madi Card using Merging Technologies Pyramix software. Of the PA loudspeakers, EAW line-array KF760 configured in LR clusters of 12 cabinets per side was the ultimate choice. 20 SB550 custom-made subwoofers covered the low frequency. On monitor, Yamaha PM5000s 52 channel were combined with a Soundcraft Series 5, connected to Meyer MJF212 monitor speakers. Shure and AKG microphones took over the vocal and instrument pieces on the stage, along with DPA capsules for drum overheads. In Hall A2 and A3, Sumber Ria slightly altered the set ups, having ten EAW KF670s with two DiGiCo SD8 consoles at FOH.

On the other hall beside Hall D2, D1, A1 and A2, Sumber Ria also supplied C1 with Digico D5 board and Semeru with Dgidesign Venue with side cars front of house console recorded with Pro Tolls HD2 and Meyer Sound Melodie, that the semeru hall was measured the best sound amoung all of the stages

Overall, the sets did their job pretty well. The very best performances that took place in those halls went superb without complaints from the audience. According to Jonathan Steiner, the FOH engineer for the opening night at Hall D1, a minor compromise had to occur because of the temperature adjustment, but the show went on brilliantly, possibly better than ever. Not bad at all for JIJJF that has taken great risks in adapting to a new venue in its relatively young age.

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