Following a rigorous selection and judging process, The Papandayan International Jazz Competition (TPJC) 2025 officially crowned Blue Matter Trio from Yogyakarta as the Youth Jazz Category Champion, and Kinematics from Japan as the Jazz Warrior Category Champion.
TP Jazz is a jazz music event management initiative organized by The Papandayan Bandung and Media Group, held at The Papandayan Hotel since 2013. The competition, held in a hybrid format, featured online preliminary and semifinal rounds, culminating in a live grand final at the hotel on 22 May 2025. A total of ten finalists were selected across two age-based categories: Youth Jazz (under 23 years old) and Jazz Warrior (23 years and above).
The judging panel consisted of acclaimed Indonesian musicians Barry Likumahuwa, Nita Aartsen, Venche Manuhutu, and Hari Pochang, along with international judges Henk Kraaijeveld from the Netherlands and Kostas Patsiotis from Greece. Each finalist performed two pieces: one required composition and one original. In the Youth category, the required piece was “Di Bawah Sinar Bulan Purnama,” popularized by Sundari Soekotjo, while Warrior category finalists performed “Bubuy Bulan” by Benny Korda.
As first-place winners in their respective categories, Blue Matter Trio and Kinematics each received a cash prize of IDR 25,000,000. The second-place winners received IDR 20,000,000, while the third-place winner in the Youth category, Naraya Trio, received IDR 10,000,000. This year, the judges also awarded a special “Best New Talent” award to Maximiliano Jayden of Naraya Trio for his exceptional flute performance, which came with a IDR 5,000,000 cash prize.
In addition to cash prizes, winners received gold-plated trophies and certificates of recognition. Furthermore, the two grand champions—Blue Matter Trio and Kinematics—will be featured on the main stage of The Papandayan Jazz Fest (TPJF) 2025, to be held in October in Bandung.
Now in its fifth year, TPJC continues to draw the attention of global jazz musicians through its innovative hybrid format. The 2025 edition is proudly presented by The Papandayan Jazz Management with the support of Erasmus Huis (the Dutch Cultural Center), Blue Bird, Golden Bird, RON 88, and Bank BTN.
“The TP Jazz International Online Competition is a reflection of TP Jazz Management’s commitment to elevating Indonesia to the global jazz scene,” remarked Bobby Renaldi, General Manager of The Papandayan and Founder of TP Jazz Management. “This year’s event welcomed participants from six continents and featured both Indonesian and international judges.”
Renaldi declared, “Since the competition’s inception in 2021, the top prize has consistently gone to Indonesian groups—something that makes us proud and confident in the strong spirit and outstanding quality of our participants and finalists each year.”
For more information, visit tpjazzfest.com/tpjazz-competition or check @tpjazzcompetition on Instagram.
