Can't Stop Swaying at Java Jazz Festival 2015

The celebration of Java Jazz Festival 2015 brought Jakarta to life on March 6-8. It was held at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran. I got the chance to come for two days (unfortunately not on the Special Show day, which was Jessie J's peformance! ). This annual event never fails to amaze me. As a fan of jazz, I've truly enjoyed every single moment there. Great performances,lighting, and atmosphere! We swinged and swayed along the jazzy tunes and applauded vigorously. 

Personally, the show I love the most is by Chris Botti! His playing is really intriguing,soft, and romantic. We stood during his last song, gave a big and long standing ovation. Wanting for more, we shouted for the encore. He replied with a final song "Hallelujah". Though I'm not a Christian, I know and love this legendary song. A perfect piece for ending the show. 

These are perhaps some OK pictures I got during the festival. This year I decided to not snap a lot and just enjoy the performance. The joy and essence of music are much more better when you feel it through your own sense. 

Overall, the music are beyond words!

3 Diva on The Opening Show

Chris Botti on his first day performance

The One and Only Chris Botti playing Hallelujah for the encore 

Kenny Lattimore 

Michael Lington feat. Kenny Lattimore 

Michael Lington 

LIVE" (or not so live, since you watch it through the gadget)  performance 

Glenn Fredly with Yamaha Music Project 

Marcell Siahaan with Yamaha Music Project 

The Graceful Steps in Prambanan

Coming to Central Java is not complete without visiting Prambanan Temple. Located in Jogjakarta, the center of Javanese culture and its exotic art, Prambanan Temple is the biggest Hindu Temple site in Indonesia.

My friends and I arrived in the afternoon. Prambanan Temple was full of visitors, just like always. I started walking around and looking for a nice spot to wait for the sunset. Beautiful pictures of Prambanan Temple are everywhere to be found, but I couldn't keep my urge to portray its glory in the midst of golden light.

After posing together with the temple, we left for having dinner, preparing an extra energy for the night show. Yup, we were back to the temple to watch the Ramayana Ballet. It was adapted from a Hindu epic poem and mixed with Javanese music and cultural style. We were on the right side of the stage. There was just some viewers below my seat, so I sneaked until close enough to the stage ( all I've got back then and until now are a lens kit 18-55 mm and a tripod. And that was a large stage, hiks ).  

It began with Sinta, the wife of Prince Rama, was abducted by giant Rahwana because of her beauty and she was believed as the reincarnation of Rahwana's former lover. Rama saved her wife with the help from Hanoman, the white monkey. The dance was slowly getting intense till the climax of story, showing Hanoman succeeded burning Rahwana's kingdom and Rama won the fight against Rahwana.

Silhouette of A Temple

The Beautiful Sinta 

Prince Rama received the help from Hanoman, White Monkey 

Sugriwa, The Monkey King, joined Hanoman for the rescue
  

The Action of Hanoman

Hanoman burnt down Rahwana's Kingdom 

Rama sent his brother Laksmana for the fight against Rahwana

Rahwana beat the monkey troops with his mighty power
( this is my favourite scene )

Rama's beating down on of Rahwana's alliance.

It was a massive performance on an open air theatre with more than 200 crews total and Prambanan Temple as the background. It was quite windy that night but the heat on the stage made me didn't feel cold at all ! And I still can rewind the graceful steps of the dancers in my mind.

*taken on August 2012, copyright: Dian Permatasari

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