March 4/5th & 11th 2017 - BNI Java Jazz Festival Jakarta and guesting with PB Underground in Bal

Sunday's audience rush to their seats in 3 minutes flat!

I've just returned from a highly enjoyable two weeks in Indonesia. Week one was spent in Jakarta in preparation for the Java Jazz Festival with Incognito. My first Incognito show was at this same festival in 2005 and I think this has been my fifth visit. The line ups are always incredible and there are always some familiar faces with world class legendary musicians just wandering about the place it seems! This year we were treated to Bebel Gilberto, Kirk Whalum, Dira Sugandi, Nik West, Richard Bona, Ne-Yo, KING, Naughty By Nature, Mezzoforte and the Chick Corea Elektrik Band with special guest Nathan East on bass standing in for John Patitucci (and I was lucky enough to see both their excellent shows.) I missed out on a lot of great acts: it can be frustrating not getting to see all the acts you want to see when you have to get to your own concerts on time! Tony Momrelle was with his own band as well as with Incognito, it was great to see him perform from the audience perspective for a change.

Imaani and I with drummer Harvey Mason 🇺🇸

Without this man there would be no Java Jazz Festival, Mr. Peter Gontha 🇮🇩

Saturday and Sunday night's venues, soundcheck at JIExpo Convention Centre

Robin Leggett has been working on a new board for me that would fit in my hard case. The board includes two new additions: the Line 6 G50 wireless system and the Rupert Neve RNDI, a phantom-powered, active transformer DI box that adds a subtle and very desirable growl and depth to my bass signal. I'm using my Boss LS2 Line Selector to give me quick access to either a wired or wireless operation, my TC Electronic PolyTune 2 and it's all powered by the Cioks DC5

New board & Atelier Z M245 above

W/one of my favourite bass players of all time, Nathaniel Phillips. If you don't know the music of Pleasure you should check them out, one of the most innovative Funk bands of the 70's, Nate is always in demand 👑🇺🇸

W/the beautiful and talented Dira Sugandi aka 'Dimples' 🇮🇩

Long time no see! At the jam session with the incredible organist Tony Monaco. I could listen to Tony play all day! First hung out with him at maybe seven or eight years ago (or was it longer?) at Java Jazz when he was here with Pat Martino and Harvey Mason. He plays with such intensity, passion and skill 🇺🇸

W/Dr Lonnie Smith, unfortunately I didn't get to see him perform this time, another wonderful organ player 🇺🇸👳🏾

F, T & T 😂

Always a pleasure to see Francesco Mendolia so excited at getting to meet and play with so many other great musicians and make new friends. Off to the jam again... 🇮🇹🐎

Imaani takes centre stage 🇱🇰🇯🇲♛

Bluey's turn 🇲🇺👑

Stills from bass solo Saturday and Sunday's live streams

The four photos above were taken by Mieke Suharini (thanks hun! x)

Fooling around... actually Tebs is pretty tasty as sodas go!

The day after the festival ended, Matt Cooper, Jim Hunt, Alistair White and myself left the rest of the Incognito tour party to travel to Bali. The following day we were joined by the rest of PBug, formerly known as PB Underground, Pete Ray Biggin's Funk collosus that's been going for about 10 years now (time flies!) We played a very short set at The Orchard in Seminyak and followed this up at the Double Six Rooftop at the weekend to play to about 800 people. FH