These days we see ten thousands of jazzfans in jakarta at the new home of Java Jazz in Kemayoran celebrating great music attending the performances of their (jazz-)idols. Many came for international top artists like John Legend, Toni Braxton or Babyface, others were there to see (almost) all of their local heroes. Oele Pattiselanno, Idang Rasjidi, Syaharani, Maliq, Andien, Bubi Chen, to name just a few, they all appear at the most important jazz event of the year. But someone was missing.
Those who were looking for one of indonesia's most captivating singers searched in vain. There was no sign of TOMPI at the festival ground.
Reason enough for jakartajazz.com to go on search. Our investigation brought us to the metropolitan city of Australia, finally we found Tompi in Sydney. Not at the Opera House or another big stage like he is used to do so many times, but performing for a small community of his indonesian fellow citizens invited by the indonesian consulate. Currently he is attending an important medical congress which happened to be scheduled at the same time as the Java Jazz this year.
Accompanied by pianist Wendy Anggerani (right) , who is a former Java Jazz performer as well, he sang some of his hits and some jazz standards. It obviously doesn't bother him whether he plays on big stages for thousands of people or in a small place for only 50 people, he entertains and connects to his audience equally effortless.
But there was another surprise.
We remember 2008. Dyah Purwitasari (left), or as she is wellknown, 'Tata', appeared in Jakarta's jazz scene. She was a rising star on Jakarta's jazz stages including JakJazz and Java Jazz. With her sultry voice and intimate interpretation of songs she took the hearts of many jazzlovers by storm. And then suddenly in May 2009 she disappeared. She left to Sydney to study vocal performances at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM).
For this special occasion she was invited by the consulate to perform a few duets together with Tompi. While he will be back in Indonesia by the end of this week, she will remain in Australia to continue her study. Everybody who whitnessed their performance might agree that it would be a great idea for next year's Java Jazz Festival to bring them on stage together again.
Until then people in Jakarta have to wait or can distract themselves by visiting the last day of this year's Java Jazz edition with Babyface, The Manhattan Transfer, Randy Brecker, State of Monc from Holland ( HOT !!!), Dira J. Sugandi or one of the 74 performances of the 21 stages at the Exhibition Centre in Kemayoran...
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