The 1st International Jatiluhur Jazz Festival is set to open at the Jatiluhur Dam in Purwakarta, West Java on Saturday and Sunday, Nov 30 and Dec 1, 2019. Presented by Perum Jasa Tirta II, the state-owned enterprise (SOE) operating the dam, the largest in Indonesia, JatiluhurJazz 2019 will feature dozens of local and international artists and jazz musicians and music of different genres, as well as jazz from West Java and especially Purwakarta
Themed ‘Green, Water, and Life’, JatiluhurJazz is part of the campaign to protect the environment and water for life, opening in one of the most beautiful spots in the Jatiluhur region, the Blue Harbor, overlooking the iconic Morning Glory Tower. Jatiluhur Reservoir has an exotic feel that isn’t shared by any other region; the 8,300 hectare artificial reservoir, largest in Asia, has a sumptuous view in the cool air of the rocky mountains, potentially a standard international tourist destination.
Festival artistic director and jazz musician Dwiki Dharmawan has drawn a diverse lineup; Dwiki himself, with World Peace Project feat. Steve Thornton, Palestinian musician Kamal Musallam, Wizzy, Syaharani & Queenfireworks, Java Jive, Mus Mujiono, Krakatau, 57kustik, Moccondoss 40, Selaawi Ethnic Ensemble, Ermy Kullit, Indro Hardjodikoro feat. Kayla Dias, Farabi Big Band feat. Ita Purnamasari, Idea Percussion, Uban Project, Marcell, Via Vallen and Zaskia Gotik.
The selection of Jatiluhur Dam as the backdrop to the annual Jatiluhur Jazz Festival was due to the success of Jasa Tirta II as sole operator of the Dam, in keeping the 52-year old structure optimally and sustainably operational, and also in featuring the Dam as the most exotic man-made tourist destination to emerge in West Java, Indonesia.
Saefudin Noer, Managing Director of Jasa Tirta II, says he created the festival to promote Jatiluhur Dam as an outdoor destination, to boost tourism and the local economy. “Ours is the only other outdoor concert setting in Indonesia fully surrounded by nature along with Bromo (The Mountain Jazz Festival),” Saefudin said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
Saefudin said that they are hopeful that their setting will inspire many of the artists and musicians to return to JatiluhurJazz in the future. But there is more to this than the music and art. As well as organizing a phenomenal jazz festival and weekend, they want to show the world and the tourism industry in particular that Jatiluhur Dam has the ‘wow’ factor to be the next big thing in Indonesia.
Erick Thohir, Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), conveyed that the Jatiluhur Jazz Festival with its ecological theme was a form of SOE synergy, giving back to society and nature.
