After 5 successful years, the Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) is back for its 6th edition, August 10th & 11th, 2018. This year, the local-community-based event is more than ever open to artistic expression, as the theme is FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, welcoming many legendary figures, from the archipelago and abroad, who come to perform and share their most recent arrangements with the public.
In the heart of Ubud, The Arma Museum Garden is, once again, hosting the 2-days’ festivities, from 3pm-11.30pm, where all types of jazz can be heard! Over the years, UVJF has gained a serious reputation, both locally and globally, among musicians, jazz addicts, and sponsors, as one of the most versatile and evolving stage, or, as our media partner Bali Live Stage said: Optimistic, intuitive, avant-gardist, universalist and intimist festival ever organized in Indonesia and probably in South-East Asia”. For Ubud residents, it’s one of the most enjoyable event in the calendar.
Associated to dozens of volunteers, we are delighted to receive the trust and assistance of the Ministry of Cooperatives & SME’s Indonesia, and the precious support of the Embassy of Austria, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Institut Français d’Indonésie and Goethe-Institut, among others, in accordance with the Ubud Royal Family and community, to make this event a universal jazz reunion.
UVJF has been created by Bali based musicians, to encourage and promote national jazz artists, giving a platform to perform for a global audience and, above all, among jazz legends such as Indonesian Idang Rasjidi Syndicate and American Benny Green Trio, this year headliners. “We’re so excited for Benny Green and Idang Rasjidi to take the stage, they are huge names in the jazz world and beyond, some remarkable musicians and entertainers!” UVJF’s co-founder Yuri Mahatma said.
On the program: a selection of talent that blend together legends and rising stars, regulars and newcomers, under one banner; Jazz! No one describe it better than the festival co-founder Anom Darsana: “The great thing about jazz is there are so many types. Our goal is to spread the love of jazz in all its expression”. Bringing 20 diverse jazz performance acts in downtown Ubud weekend-long jazz festival, the town will groove to the rhythm of these sunny artists. Salamander Big Band, from Bandung, with no less than 30 musicians; the Latin jazz pianist, Nita Aartsen Trio, back just on time from her European tour; Ito Kurdhi, the master of groove in Bali and afar; the 2017 “Inspiring Blind Jazz Pianist Award” winner, M Ade Irawan, to name a few from Indonesia.
As mentioned beforehand, the luminary pianist & multi-instrumentalist Idang Rasjidi, and his Idang Rasjidi Syndicate is scheduled this year, to promote a message of peace, unity in diversity through musical interpretations. Praised by critics all over the globe, Idang’s performances, and ability to play the piano while adding vocals imitating the sound of instruments such as trumpet, trombone and even percussions, are something spectacular, energizing and unique.
From overseas, we are thrilled to present for the very first time a Korean fusion jazz band involving 4 young ladies, A-Fuzz, with their impressive and catchy style; Emilia Schnall, a composer, pianist and vocalist from Australia; Gerard Kleijn, one of the Netherlands finest trumpeter and composer; Judith Nijland, famous Dutch jazz singer who brings her “Jazz Tribute to ABBA”. She will collaborate with Astrid Sulaiman Trio. French cultural synthesis Insula, who blends modern Caribbean Jazz with Arabian-Andalusian harmonies; Vienna’s based trio Triple Ace- Colours in Jazz, with their fresh and electrifying composition and improvisation; and a few more to be added.
2018 edition has the privilege to stage the breathtaking, hard-swinging, hard-bop pianist, Benny Green Trio. Green has the history of jazz at his fingertips. He developed his mastery of the keyboard with decades of real-world experience in the star-making bands of three of the most masterful musicians of the last half century: singer Betty Carter, drummer Art Blakey, and bassist Ray Brown. More recently, Green took the stage and recorded with artists like Christian McBride and Diana Krall. Bandleader himself for over 20 years, Benny’s recording career began with two albums for the Dutch label Criss Crosswhile. Since 1990 he has recorded 7 albums for the legendary Blue Note label. According to many, nobody plays straight-ahead modern jazz piano with more swinging joy and finesse than Benny Green.
For the first time in 2018, UVJF has held a Youth Band Competition as part of International Jazz Day Celebration, which is set every April 30th by the UNESCO.
The 1st prize winner of this competition is JODA Band who is entitled to a performance slot in one of the stages in UVJF 2018 and recording session provided by Antida Music Studio. JODA Band itself is a group of teenagers with range of age of 12-17 years old.
The Sixth Ubud Village Jazz Festival is expected to draw more than 4,000 people over the two days, providing enriching and entertaining jazz performances and programs throughout a selection of numerous jazz genre’s most acclaimed artists, as well as emerging talents, and provides greater exposure for the rich diversity of musicians from the archipelago.
UVJF 2018 also provides free Wi-Fi offered, some food & beverages by some of Ubud favourites eateries such as satays, quiche, Indian dishes, burgers, and even Ice Cream!
And a VIP corner presented.
The week before the festival, pre-event concerts will be organized in numerous venues around Bali, and several post-events will be scheduled too! So, stay tuned for more info!
For more information, tickets, complete schedule and line ups, please visit:
