When Java Production approved our media, we knew that it wont be like other indie festival we usually attended, with big Jazz-ers for the line ups such as Stevie Wonder, Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau and George Duke Trio, Erykah Badu, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Dave Koz to new generation act such as Mayer Hawthorne, Mamas Gun, Laura FYGI, Depapepe, and so on, this festival succeed gathered people from old to young generation to learn more and enjoy what Jazz can bring to Jakarta.

Like many other big festival, we didn’t have the chance to see every acts, but we do tried to watch as much as we could and probably that’s what you all does in the festival right? On the first day of the festival (03/02) we had the chance to see the queen of neo-soul herself, Erykah Badu. Singer who known for her hip-hop / RnB / black scent with twisted soul in her vocal sound, introduced her first appearance in Jakarta by sang “Happy To See You Again”, continued with “Hip Hop”, “Kiss Me On My Neck”, “Your Mind”, “Other Side of The Game”, and she also played her hits such as  “Love of My Life” and “You’re Mine”.

Meanwhile from another stage, Al Jarreau which already played last year to perform infront of his loyal fans palying his hits such as “Spain”, “Aqua du Beber” and “After All” and this time he played with George Duke Trio.

Not like the first day, on the second day (03/03) we had prepared to come earlier to the fest so we could possibly see as much as possible. With day 2 lineups such as Simon Grey, Mayer Hawthorne & The County, Dave Koz, Mamas Gun, Barry White Show, and also Depapepe, we predicted that it’ll be very chaos like ‘usual’, and it does!

Since we were super late the day before, so our first stage we went were A3 BNI Hall with acoustic duo Miura Takuya and Tokuoka Yoshinari. Band which famous since their songs appearance on anime tv series Honey and Clover, made really good connection between themselves and the crowd. It quite reminds us when Sondre Lerche had his appearance on last year’s Java Jazz Fest. After Depapepe we went to see Barry White Show and continued with Dave Koz. Different than his pervious performance in Jakarta, this time Dave Koz playing with several Indonesian children, which are street musicians from Bandung. All we can say is that was a collaboration between International and traditional act served with humble act.

Still at the same hall but different stage, we get to see Mamas Gun. Playing most of their songs from The Life and Soul album such as Inferno, Heavy Hands, Rocket to the Moon, Bicycle Race and also songs from their first album such hits like Finger On It, Pots Of Gold, which made most of the crowd sang along with them.

So here we came on the third day (03/04) With Stevie Wonder, Swing Out Sister, and Al Jarreau with George Duke which each of them sang wonderfully throughout the entire Hall where they had performance (too bad we couldn’t get photographs properly because of ‘some’ reason). And from the young generation we have Mayer Hawthorne and The County, which you can read about it here and Monita, Mamas Gun, and many young talented artist from each stages.. Though the crowd wasn’t as hectic as the previous day but we felt like the time and management wasn’t as good as the previous two days, seems like everything went too ‘late’ and changed ‘suddenly’. But despite of those reasons, with more than a million crowd for the entire festival, we managed to still have fun at the festival, because isn’t that what we’re looking for in a festival?

So lets see what will Java Production bring for Java Rockinland this year? Will there be any of your favorite band perform this time?

More photos from JJF’ 2012 here and here

Born as Andrew Mayer Cohen, and grew up doing everything LA artist’ possibly does: singing, producer-ing, writing songs, instrumentalist, DJ-ing, rapping (ok that’s sounds weird), skateboarding to phenomenal food eater! This might be his 3rd time in Jakarta, after the first one and second appearances for mini show and meet & greet session, but to be honest even though had listened to his album for a while few years ago, somehow we’ve always pictured him as one of Motown-style-singer who won American Idol, and unfortunately never had the chance to watch his performance when he went to Jakarta. So when we knew he’s going to play for this year Java Jazz Festival, we thought it’s about time to see the person in live.

Since there was no media pit, we had to squeeze to get to the front row among his hardcore fangirls. Well, with that kind of looks, live catchy voice and light soul music, no wonder not only girls but also dudes have been waited to see his appearance.

On his first day JJF appearance, he start with “Make Her Mine”, “One Track Mind” then continued by playing most of songs from How Do You Do album such as, “When I Said Goodbye, “I Wish It Would Rain”, “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” , he even sang his duet with Ludacris in “Gangsta Luv”, “Love In Motion” , “How Do You Do”, “Get To Know You, “Can’t Stop”, “Dreaming” -with story telling style, “Hooked”, “Finally Falling”, “You Called Me”, “No Strings”, he also showed his gently side by sang “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out”, “Shiny & New” and “I Wish It Would Rain” along with the crowd.

His second day live act was just like what they’ve told us in the morning after their sound checked, it’s way much better from the previous day, from their sound, how they dressed up to their live performances, which is more attractive! especially when he and the band perform “The Ills” by circling around the stage like a kid. Different from the previous day and because of the high demand from the crowd, this time he played “Maybe So, Maybe No” for the encore.

Singer, who also appeared on The Cool Kids’ “Swimsuits” song, ended the night of Java Jazz Festival with a big smile from his crowd. Another plus point we gave to him and the county is how they actually was just a bunch of funny peoples who love playing music and eating. Well.. surely we hope to hear more of his good tasty music in the future.

More pictures of Mayer Hawthorne from JJF’12 click here and here