Due to Perform at Java Jazz Festival 2010... Gugun Blues Shelter

Previously called the Bluesbug, Gugun Blues Shelter is an Indonesian blues power trio that is a breath of fresh air in the seemingly dying Asian blues scene these days. Influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Bettie Davies, and Led Zeppelin among others, the band forced many music fans to take notice of its powerful, flawless genre-crossing blend of blues that incorporate influences from rock, funk, and soul. Led by guitarist/vocalist Gugun, Gugun & Blues Shelter has released two albums under the Bluesbug m o n i k e r " G e t T h e Bug" (2004) and "Turn it On" (2007) that has been gaining praises from music critics and fans alike.”Turn It On” was voted as one of the best Indonesian album in 2007 by Roll-ing Stone Indonesia Magazine and Gugun was noted as one of the most promising local guitar player by the same magazine. In the same year, Indonesia's Trax Magazine also voted Gugun as the best guitar player in South East Asia. Gugun Blues Shelter is not only drew the attentions of local music lover only. The band also received attentions from European fans, thanks for years of playing for expatriate fans during its pub-playing days. As the result, Gugun Blues Shelter was participated in Belfast Big River Blues and Jazz Festival 2008 and played several dates in a four-weeks UK tour at cities like Burnley, Scarborough, and Crewe. Due to the good receptions, the tour was extended to other cities like Leeds, Oxford, York, Rotherham, and culminated in another festival,”Colne Great British R n' B Festival” at the Manchester outskirt. In Asia, recently Gugun Blues Shelter played several dates in Malaysia in 2008, participated in Singapore Art Festival at the same year, as well as in Indonesia's big festivals such as Java Jazz Festival and JakJazz Festival. Recently, Gugun & Blues Shelter embarked another European invasion by participated in Skegness Rock and Blues Festival and finished recording another new album, titled “Set My Soul On Fire”.

Gugun Blues Shelter's Myspace

Gugun Blues Shelter's Website

Check Out Gugun Blues Shelter's Youtube Video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Jazz Festival 2010... George Duke

George Duke showed a great deal of promise early in his career as a jazz pianist and keyboardist, but has forsaken that form to be a pop producer. Inspired early on by Les McCann, he worked with a trio in San Francisco during the mid-'60s. In 1969, Duke accompanied Jean-Luc Ponty, recording with the violinist. After eight months with the Don Ellis Orchestra, he joined Frank Zappa for much of 1970. Duke spent 1971-1972 with Cannonball Adderley and then returned to Zappa for 1973-1975. In 1975, he worked with Sonny Rollins, co-led a group with Billy Cobham, and then formed a funk band (the Clarke-Duke Project) with Stanley Clarke. By the late '70s, he was completely outside of jazz, playing R&B and producing projects for pop artists. Although he has since expressed interest in returning to active playing, little of George Duke's post-1976 work is relevant to jazz, but he has kept himself busy with projects. Dukey Treats appeared in 2008 from Heads Up Records.

George Duke's Myspace

George Duke's Website

Check Out George Duke's Youtube Video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Jazz Festival 2010... Dave Koz

The latest contender for the instrumental pop saxophone throne, Dave Koz came out of nowhere after his self-titled 1990 release made it onto the Billboard contemporary jazz charts and stayed there several weeks. He has more fire and intensity in his work than Kenny G, and often sounds like a reworked David Sanborn. Koz also played on Arsenio Halls show, which increased his popularity among the urban contemporary, light jazz, and pop audiences. Koz plays instrumental pop covers, some upbeat tunes, and generally sticks to the fusion production formula: background vocalists, synthesizers, and drum machines, a minimum amount of solo space, and so on. His sessions are available on CD and have been regularly released since his first appearance on the scene. Highlights include 1993s peppy Lucky Man, 1999s collaboration-heavy Dance, 2001s holiday treat A Smooth Jazz Christmas, and 2007s film music-themed At the Movies.

Dave Koz's Myspace

Dave Koz's Website

Check Out Dave Koz's Youtube Video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Jazz Festival 2010... Bubi Chen

Bubi Chen is the "Art Tatum of the East"; hands down, he is one of Indonesia's greatest jazz virtuoso. A self-taught jazz musician, he was also the former student of Teddy Wilson. Residing in Surabaya, Bubi Chen was the founder of The Circle, a group comprising of musicians such as Maryono, F.X. Boy, Zainal, Tri Wijayanto and Koes Syamsudin. Alongside Jack Lesmana, Maryono, Kiboud Maulana, Benny Mustafa and Jopie Chen, Bubi Chen was also a member of Indonesian All Stars, a group which performed at Berlin Jazz Festival in 1967.

Check Out Bubi Chen's Youtube Video HERE

Due to Perform at Java Jazz Festival 2010... Adonis Puentes

Music reflects the present and Adonis Puentes is a Cuban Sonero for our times. Its a role he was destined to play. On March 29th, 1974, Adonis was born into an atmosphere charged with Cuban music. His family lived 45 miles southwest of Havana, Cuba in the town of Artemisa. Father, Valentin Puentes taught music and played guitar, and he wasted little time before passing on his gifts to Adonis and his fraternal twin brother, Alexis (aka Alex Cuba). Already at the age of 6, Adonis was playing with a Childrenʹs Guitar Ensemble formed by Valentin. By the time he was 14, he was singing and writing his own music. Though his musical talents were undeniable, his ability to shine as a performer emerged later still. 

At 21, Adonis entered and became one of the finalists of ʹMi Salsaʹ, a Salsa/Son singing competition that was broadcast throughout Cuba on television. His performance caught the attention of the nation and his notoriety began to soar. Three years after an initial tour of Canada with his brother and father in 1995, Adonis came back to start a new life as a proud Cuban‐Canadian. Along with his brother Alexis (now an accomplished multi‐instrumentalist), The Puentes Brothers would record their first CD called Morumba Cubana. The disc caught the ears of the Canadian music industry that rewarded the brothers in 2001 with a Juno Award nomination (the Canadian Grammy), as well as a West Coast Music Award and a Canadian Independent Music Award.  

After such a warm reception in his adopted home, Adonis was ready to take a giant step forward toward the realization of his personal musical vision. In 2005, he released his first solo album called ʹVidaʹ or ʹLifeʹ. Containing a diverse and dance‐friendly collection of original, contemporary takes on Cuban tradition, radio programmers nationally began spinning their favorites and Vida ended up on many Top 10 charts. The video single for ʹCommercianteʹ entered Much More Musicʹs Top 5. In his West Coast home, Adonis received the Island Music Award for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. 

Canadaʹs National broadcasting service, the CBC, recorded Adonis LIVE for a national audience. And, his growing reputation as a gifted singer spread South as well as he continued to tour and perform on radio, television and in concert in the USA. The work has been done; the skills have been learned and now is the time for Adonis Puentes to add a fresh voice to the list of great Cuban soneros. As if to receive one final, ringing endorsement, Adonis recorded lead vocals with Legendary Percussionist Orestes Vilato whose album ʹItʹs About Timeʹ received a Latin Grammy Nomination in 2009. Even Juan de Marcos, one of the masterminds behind the Buena Vista Social Club project and leader of the groundbreaking Afro‐Cuban Allstars calls Adonis, ʹVerdadero Sonero,ʹ ʹA True Soneroʹ. To date, Adonis has shared stages with illustrious Latin music legends like Celia Cruz, Oscar De Leon, Juan De Marcos and The Afro Cuban All Stars, Paquito De Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Orlando Valle ʹMaraca,ʹ Cuban Timba All Stars, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pianist Hilario Duran, Jane Bunnett and Pancho Quinto, as well as Jazz greats Hubert Laws, and Kenny Burrell. Adonis thrives on the growth and acclaim for his original sonero sound. As he puts it, ʺI feel like a messenger of my roots and tradition, blessed that with me I have taken my music and heritage to many different places in the world; from Cuba, to Canada, USA, Mexico, Europe. My mission is to make you dance and enjoy my melodies and rhythms.ʺ His music bridges generations and cultures with a charisma and delivery that shines brighter than life in intimate or full‐blown arrangements, from solo performances with piano or guitar accompaniment to fronting orchestras. 

Throughout history, these traits have been characteristic to the great soneros and this is the time for Adonis Puentes.

Adonis Puentes' Myspace

Adonis Puentes' Website

Check Out Adonis Puentes' Youtube Video HERE