The Ubud Village Jazz Festival 2024 officially kicked off with a dazzling start on August 2, 2024, at Sthala, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Lod Tunduh, Bali. Over two days, the festival showcased outstanding performances featuring jazz musicians from around the globe on three iconic stages: Padi, Giri, and Subak. Each stage was designed with a unique concept crafted by Klick Swantara and renowned young architect Diana Surya of Achimetriz, creating a mesmerizing atmosphere in every corner.
"We intentionally made several differences in the sequence from the festival entrance to the various booths. We designed it so that visitors would have a new experience entering the festival grounds compared to last year. The stages remain the same—there are three stages—but what excites me most is working on Subak; I truly feel my soul and spirit are there," said Klick Swantara during the festival.
The festival's opening was filled with joy, accompanied by speeches from several key figures, including Lasta Arimbawa (General Manager of Sthala Ubud, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel), Heru Djatmiko (representative of the UVJF 2024 team), Anom Darsana & Yuri Mahatma (Co-Founders of UVJF), and Aram Rustamyants from the New Centropezn Quartet, who signed a cooperation agreement between UVJF and the Rostov Festival. The event was officially opened by Gianyar's Head of Tourism, I Wayan Gede Sedana Putra, who expressed full support for the festival, followed by a dance performance from the Tanzer Dance Company.
Over the two-day event, the festival attracted approximately 3,000 visitors who were captivated by the performances of nine international and local jazz groups. The stunning performances from Collective Harmony (Indonesia), Fawr (Indonesia), Eric Chong Trio with Sinuksma & Kanhaiya (Hong Kong-Indonesia), Simon Praticco Trio (Italy), Claude Diallo Trio with Indra Gupta & Gustu Brahmanta (Switzerland-Indonesia), New Centropezn Quartet (Russia), Zagorski-Skowronski Project feat. Kajetan Galas (Poland), Uwe Plath Quartet (Germany), and Galaxy Bigband (Indonesia) added a distinctive flair to the festival.
Moreover, support from various international institutions further enhanced the festival's prestige. The Noe Clerc Trio was supported by the Institute Francaise Indonesie and Alliance Francaise Bali, the Zagorski-Skowronski Project feat. Kajetan Galas was backed by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Jakarta, the Simone Prattico Trio received support from the Instituto Italiano di Cultura in Jakarta, Claude Diallo "Situation" with Indra Gupta and Gustu Brahmanta was supported by the Switzerland Arts Council-Pro Helvetia, and the New Centropezn Quartet was backed by the City of Rostov.
Marjan from the Netherlands, a loyal visitor, shared her experience: "This is my ninth time attending this festival, and I truly enjoy it. I will continue to come every year. Each year, the festival offers a different experience."
Jazz, with all its complexities and rich meanings, transcends cultural boundaries and continues to be an unlimited medium of expression. The Ubud Village Jazz Festival 2024 has proven itself to be one of the most prestigious jazz music events in Indonesia, uniting jazz lovers from all over the world.
The festival concluded with a spirited performance by Galaxy Bigband, which successfully invited the audience to dance along to the song "Kopi Dangdut" in a jazz arrangement. This joyous final night closed with a message from Yuri Mahatma, "See you at the Ubud Village Jazz Festival next year," promising an even more festive gathering in the future.
