Ongoing volcanic activity on Mount Sinabung in Karo, North Sumatra, on Wednesday, did not stop Spanish jazz band More Than Jazz from performing at the 2017 International Sinabung Karo Jazz festival in Taman Simalem Resort in the regency.

The band, playing on a stage that overlooked Lake Toba, awed the audience with their hits “Summer Time”, “Blue Moon” and “Bye Bye Black Bird."

More Than Jazz also collaborated with local musicians. The band’s vocalist, Eva Maria Manso Mateo, for instance, collaborated with a local singer to sing traditional Karo song “Piso Surit.”

In addition, Yogyakarta-based musician Andy Bayou joined Eva and her band mates, Fernando Albero Domenech and Noel Honey, on the stage, bringing merriment to a tourist area that has struggled to bring in outsiders ever since the recent eruption of Mt. Sinabung.

Eva said she was happy to sing, although she admitted to being slightly afraid when she was first invited to perform at the event.

“I no longer felt afraid once I saw the beauty of Karo’s nature. I will definitely come back one day,” Eva said in a press conference after her performance.

Taman Simalem Resort general manager Eddy Tanoto said the event was held to promote Karo as a safe tourist destination.

“Tourists have been afraid to visit Karo following Sinabung’s eruption. But it [the festival] proved that Karo is safe,” Eddy said. (nmn/ebf)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Apriadi Gunawan

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