Zahra Salsabila
Jul 14, 2025
Marking the official start of the Road to The Papandayan Jazz Fest 2025, Italian funk trio Savana Funk delivered a captivating and high-energy performance at Suagi Ballroom – The Papandayan, on the evening of Friday, July 11, 2025.
Savana Funk is known as one of the most energetic live groups in Europe, blending funk, rock, blues, and African rhythms into their music. The band consists of Aldo Betto on guitar, Blake Cory Sawyer Franchetto on bass, and Yousef Ait Bouazza on drums. They have performed at renowned international festivals such as Sziget Festival, Jova Beach Party, and Firenze Rocks, and have collaborated with musicians like Jovanotti and Willie Peyote. Their latest album, Ghibli, has made it onto global playlists and received a warm welcome from music fans around the world.
That evening, the Suagi Ballroom was filled with high enthusiasm as the event kicked off at 7:30 PM, opened by MC Soni Bastian and followed by a warm performance from the David Manuhutu Quartet as the opening act.
At 8:10 PM, an exclusive interview session with Savana Funk was hosted by the MC. The trio shared stories about their creative process, experiences performing on global stages, and their first impressions of Bandung and the atmosphere of Road to TPJF.
At exactly 8:45 PM local time, the main stage of Suagi Ballroom at The Papandayan erupted in cheers as Savana Funk took over. The Italian trio launched into their set with electrifying energy, taking the audience on a musical journey that lasted over an hour. Performing signature tracks such as Ghibli, Ayat, Il Ghepardo, Timbuktu, Zahra, Lipari, Fuga da Goree, and Tindouf, they delivered groove-filled harmonies wrapped in wild improvisation and unexpected dynamics.
Every bass drop and guitar riff sent waves of excitement through the room, pulling the audience into the rhythm. Many stood up, danced, or simply nodded along to Savana Funk’s distinctive and authentic groove. The ballroom atmosphere instantly transformed into a space of celebration — warm, free, and full of life. This performance was a testament to why Savana Funk is hailed as one of the most explosive live bands in today’s European music scene.
On this occasion, Bobby Renaldi, Founder of TP Jazz Management, shared his appreciation:
“We at TP Jazz are truly grateful to kick off the Road to TPJF 2025 with Savana Funk, a band from Europe with extraordinary Italian jazz energy, presented to all of us here in Bandung through our collaboration with Forum Jazz Indonesia. This marks the beginning of the program leading to our 10th TPJF, a celebration not only of jazz music but also of Indonesian jazz identity and the global cultural connections that TP Jazz has fostered over the past decade.”
The event officially ended at 10:00 PM, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. The presence of Savana Funk through the Road to TPJF series sets a strong tone in welcoming the 10th edition of The Papandayan Jazz Fest, which will be held on October 4–5, 2025.
Early bird tickets for TPJF 2025 are now available at: https://goers.co/tpjf2025. For more information, visit www.tpjazzfest.com or follow @TPJazzFest on Instagram.
The Papandayan Jazz Festival 2025
Jl. Gatot Subroto No.83, Bandung
