On June 1, 2025, the Ukrainian jazz quartet led by Usein Bekirov performed on the stage of one of the world’s largest jazz festivals — the Java Jazz Festival in Indonesia. This concert became an important event in cultural diplomacy, demonstrating the power of music as a universal language that unites different cultures.
The program featured original compositions by the band as well as Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian songs arranged in unique jazz styles. The blend of traditional melodies with modern jazz created a unique atmosphere that resonated with audiences worldwide.
Performers:
Usein Bekirov – a world-renowned Crimean Tatar jazz musician (pianist and composer), performing in funk, fusion, ethno-jazz, and other styles. He is a Merited Artist of Ukraine, holds a PhD, and is a senior lecturer and head of the Department of Jazz and Popular Music at the Lviv National Music Academy named after Mykola Lysenko, as well as a senior lecturer at the Composition and Contemporary Technologies Department of the National Music Academy of Ukraine (Kyiv). He is the author of a piano concerto with orchestra, 10 miniatures for symphony orchestra, and 10 jazz etudes for piano. He has collaborated with musicians such as Barry Bernhardt, Randy Brecker, Dennis Chambers, Mike Stern (USA), Hadrien Feraud (France), Sarp Maden (Turkey), Dennis Adu, and others.
Ivan Lokhmaniuk – one of the best bass guitarists in Usein Bekirov’s quintet. He graduated from the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. Since 2023, he has been a senior lecturer at the Department of Jazz and Popular Music at the Lviv National Music Academy named after Lysenko.
Victor Pavelko – jazz saxophonist and composer, author of numerous works and arrangements. Since 2008, he has participated in many recordings, including with Natalia Lebedeva’s quintet Quests inspired by the music of F. Chopin, and in the recording of two albums by the DeepToneProject group. He is a senior lecturer at the Lviv National Music Academy named after Mykola Lysenko and a lecturer at the R. M. Gliere Kyiv Academy of Music. He was named Best Tenor Saxophonist of 2009 by Do#Dj.
Artur Frolov – one of the best modern Ukrainian drummers from Donetsk, winner of the MuzTorg international competition in 2009 and 2010, and laureate of the DOJ jazz contest (1st place). He is a senior lecturer at the Lviv National Music Academy named after Mykola Lysenko.
This performance marks the first collaboration between the Ukrainian Institute and Java Festival Production, as well as the Embassy of Ukraine in Indonesia — a step towards strengthening cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Southeast Asia.
Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (JIJJF), or Java Jazz Festival (JJF), is one of the most famous and largest jazz festivals in the world, held annually in Jakarta, Indonesia since 2005. The festival is organized by Java Festival Production and attracts about 100,000 spectators and over 100 performers from around the globe each year.
In 2025, the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. This year’s event will run from May 30 to June 1 and will be an important opportunity to showcase the Ukrainian music scene to a broad international audience. The participation of Ukrainian musicians in the program will help strengthen the presence of Ukrainian culture on the global stage and expand opportunities for intercultural exchange.
