Bunaken Jazz Fest

heylou evribadeh!

I went to a "festival" on October 20th. *gee, why write now?!* right?

Been pretty busy working and stuff, thousands of records to be filled so I didn't really have time to write :(

Anyway, It wasn't really a "festival".. More like a 'show' because it doesn't have multiple stages for starters, the stage is small, and it had only 3 performers in which one of 'em is the guest performer. Not to mention it was dirt cheap!

For me, this so-called fest is historical. Told ma dad that I'll be home late, then I'm off. I look for the tickets on my own a couple of hours before it began, and then troll at the mall to kill time. This was the first time for me to attend a concert/show by myself. Normally I'd go with friends and we'd comment on the event while watching the performers, or make fun of them hahahh

But that day actually I felt pretty lonely. Heh. But nevermind. At least I get to experience how does it feel like to watch a concert solo :P

As I expected, the event began SUPER LATE. They said that the gate will be open at 5pm, but then when I asked the guy at the ticket booth, he said 8pm. I went there 7pm and I spotted a side door. So I went in.

Nobody stopped me from entering and they just stared at me. Then I got to see the guest performer doing soundcheck :) It was fun! I've learned some stuff, which is the continuation of the lesson from last time "trust the sound engineer".. In this case , I learned that the performer should be a little demanding. If the sound is still not good, then don't settle!!! Don't let the bad sound influence people's judgment towards your music. That's why it is important for the performer also to LISTEN to their own sound during the soundcheck. That time, Monita--the guest performer noticed that her mic was too 'reverb-y' so she asked the engineer to reduce the reverb level.. She also asked for one more round after they set the sound. When I was listening to them, I really wanted to go to the control table and then tell them what to increase and decrease.. Because at that time, they set it in such a way that she sounded like she was having a cold. Ugh.. I mean, why didn't the engineers do something about it?

I would recommend performers to have that wireless jack thingy... It would help when you can go off the stage and then stand at the audience's place to hear what kind of sound they might be listening to during the real show.

The opening bands were okayy. But each of their bassist and drummers were FREAKING AWESOME!!! I mean. Damn. So freaking solid. The bass lines were really irresistible and groovin'!! I've got to nail 'em ghost notes. The bassists used them a lot that time, and it sounded really good.

That guy with plaids put a small paper against his mouth and start blowing it. IT SOUNDED LIKE A MOTHERFRICKIN SAXOPHONE!!!!!!! Reaaaalllyy GOOD! Even better than the guy who played the actual saxophone that night! And that guy on the keys, He was really good as well. Reminds me of Dy. My jizzyjazzin' pal back at historical city. Dy would've kick his ass.

Howkay.

That night I've found a whole new respect toward jazz genre. I've never given it much thought or attention, because it isn't really my cup of tea, and I was too lazy to bother. :P

The main performer that night was Monita Tahalea, Indonesian Idol finalist a couple of years back. Back in the competition she was already given the label 'jazz singer' because of her vocal characteristic. Boy that was right. Because she's mainly doing jazz gigs now. Jazz is what suited her best.

Her performance was mind blowing. Damn. I never really liked any female singer, but this one is different. Monita became my favorite instantly right after she sang a few lines. I don't know whether it was because the music or the voice. But I'm pretty sure it was the voice. Difficult to describe. It was like smooth-accurate-breathless. I mean, I CAN'T HEAR HER BREATHE IN BETWEEN THE LINES!! Madness. It was soooooo smoothhh I can just lay there and sleep. I felt high. I didn't even realize that I was standing for a long time because my head was floating when she sang. Seriously. Like I was on crack. I forgot how many songs she sang, but every single one of them was.. damn.. Really intoxicating. I don't know whether all slow - midtempo jazz have the same effect. That night was verrrryyyy relaxed, and Monita managed to create that friendly and relaxed atmosphere. That is a really good skill to have for a singer. I felt close with her because of the way she interact. She didn't go like "ARRREEE YOOUU REAAADDEEEHH?!?!" Instead, she started with a smile and a simple "Good Evening." The night went magical. I guess that's really appropriate thing to do.

The band accompanying her, hat's off. It was a really balanced flow, and the upright bass sounded mighty sexy hahahahah OH! no electric guitar, but a classic one instead, and the guitar guy's really good. Wait. They were all awesome. I realized that I don't like jazz songs with solos. 30 seconds, I still can bear. But more than that... Urgh. Please. Don't. For every other genre, I never liked any band with female vocalist. Well I do like some songs, but they won't be my favorite. 2 songs I can bear, but more than that.. *vomit* EXCEPT jazz. That night I doubted that I won't be able to bear listening to her all night but boy I was wrong. Maybe because It's her singing. Other jazz female singer, erm, I can't guarantee.

Well, soon after the fest, a friend gave me a hashtag to read on and I've found out that LOTS of people were disappointed with how it turned out -- including the MC for that night, and they were all bashing the one-man organizer. But heck I couldn't care less. Monita & band brought me to cloud nine and that's all there's to it :)