 has wrapped its sixth edition with a flourish, reaffirming its place as one of the region’s most dynamic platforms for jazz talent and cultural exchange. This year’s winners — SFG from Jakarta in the Youth Category and Smoove from Yogyakarta in the Warrior Category — embody the competition’s spirit of fearless improvisation and boundary‑pushing creativity.){kind=link}
Papandayan’s international stage celebrates young brilliance and warrior spirit.
The Papandayan International Online Jazz Competition (TPJC) has wrapped its sixth edition with a flourish, reaffirming its place as one of the region’s most dynamic platforms for jazz talent and cultural exchange. This year’s winners — SFG from Jakarta in the Youth Category and Smoove from Yogyakarta in the Warrior Category — embody the competition’s spirit of fearless improvisation and boundary‑pushing creativity.
Dozens of groups from across Indonesia joined the competition, alongside international entries from India, Italy, Kenya, Thailand, and the United States. The result was a kaleidoscope of jazz approaches — from fusion and Latin to modern and ethnic explorations — each performance reflecting unique musical identities while strengthening Bandung’s reputation as a jazz capital.
Judges praised the Youth Category for its “remarkably mature instrumental skills” and bold improvisations. SFG’s journey stood out, not only for their polished sound but also for the emergence of keyboardist Steven Ryan Priatna, awarded Best New Talent for his technical maturity and promise.
In the Warrior Category, competition was fierce. Smoove’s blend of professionalism and creativity earned them the top spot. Representing the group, Benz Rio Manurung described the win as “a tremendous honor,” adding that the band hopes the Indonesian jazz scene continues to grow “more supportive, more relaxed, healthier, and more connected.”
Winners received cash prizes, gold‑plated trophies, certificates, and the chance to perform at The Papandayan Jazz Fest 2026, sharing the stage with national and international musicians. For SFG, the victory was as much about community as recognition: “We genuinely enjoyed the entire process… winning 1st place was something we never expected. We hope jazz music will become even more popular, and that more people will come to love this tradition so it can live forever,” shared Steven, Fellita, and Gerrard.
With a judging panel featuring names like Dwiki Dharmawan, Barry Likumahuwa, Sri Hanuraga, Hari Pochang, Venche Manuhutu, and Carolina Brusse, TPJC 2026 reinforced its international credibility. Founder Bobby Renaldi reflected on how the competition has grown over the years, noting that each edition welcomes participants from around the world who bring diverse musical colors and approaches to jazz. He emphasized that TPJC has evolved beyond being a mere competition, becoming a continuously developing platform for cultural and musical exchange that strengthens Indonesia’s presence on the global jazz map.
