GIANYAR, balitourismnw.com – Jazz music lovers from Indonesia and abroad packed the stage of the Sthala Ubud Village Jazz Festival (UVJF) on Friday, August 1, 2025. Understandably, that day marked the official opening of the 12th festival at Sthala, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott in Lodtunduh, Ubud.
The first day of the festival featured a rich cross-continental jazz performance, combining performances by local and international musicians on its two main stages, the Subak Stage and the Giri Stage. The audience was captivated and entertained by the captivating music.
As the musical event opened, several key figures delivered remarks, including Heru Djatmiko (Head of Ticketing, UVJF) and Lasta Arimbawa (General Manager, Sthala).
Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Ir. Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, MSi (Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association and representative of Puri Ubud), and Ida Ayu Indah Yustikarini, SS, M.Hum (Head of Marketing, Bali Provincial Tourism Office), also officiated the festival’s opening.
“We thank UVJF for consistently organizing this festival as an extraordinary attraction for Ubud,” said Prof. Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati, expressing his appreciation to the event’s organizers.
According to Cok Ace, as he is familiarly known, Jazz has found its place here. “Going forward, events like this must always be planned and continued,” he continued.
The ceremonial opening was marked by a symbolic cymbal striking by UVJF Co-Founders Yuri Mahatma and A.A. Anom Darsana, along with representatives from the Gianyar Tourism Office.
The event continued with a fanfare performance by the East West European Jazz Orchestra (EWEJO) before a photo session and their opening performance on stage.
The first day of the festival featured eight acts, offering a diverse range of jazz expressions from diverse cultural roots.
Smokey Chamber Trio (Indonesia) opened the Subak Stage with an intimate performance featuring original compositions such as “Kesari” (Eko Sumarsano) and “Free Delivery” (Yuri Mahatma).
On the Giri Stage, German band SILK enlivened the evening with funk and soul, from “Tiki Hut Strut” (Cory Wong) to “Boogie Down” (Al Jarreau, Michael Omartian), creating an energetic atmosphere.
EWEJO delivered a powerful big band jazz performance with arrangements such as “Chega de Saudade” (Carlos Jobim) and “Street Life” (Joe Sample), featuring guest vocals from Dian Pratiwi, marking Dian’s return to the Indonesian jazz scene.
Vietnamese duo Jazz Steps presented a unique collaboration between modern jazz and traditional Vietnamese rhythms, while New Centropezn Quartet (Russia) blended their repertoire with Armenian soul and folk influences.
Returning to the Subak Stage, Astrid Sulaiman, accompanied by Soukma and Doni Wirandana, performed heartfelt original songs like “Motherhood” and “Midnight in Mumbul.”
This included Indonesian folk songs like “Panon Hideung,” reinterpreted in smooth jazz harmonies.
The Bojan Cvetković Quartet (Serbia) brought Balkan nuances to modern jazz, before the Gayatri Quartet (Indonesia) closed the evening with a mix of jazz standards and pop-soul songs, from “Desafinado” (Antonio Carlos Jobim) to “Black & Gold” (Sam Sparro).
The first day of Sthala UVJF 2025 offered the audience a dynamic musical journey, set against the lush backdrop of Ubud.
With performances ranging from intimate chamber jazz to high-energy big band orchestrations, from Southeast Asian traditions to Eastern European folk, the festival once again affirmed its role as a vibrant meeting point for music and culture in Bali. [pran]