From: Rock Drilon
Date: Sun, 25 May 2008 21:43:45 +0800
Subject: Jazz Night in High Street
3 Generations of Jazz at Mag:net High Street
"The Philippines is not automatically thought of as being a hotbed of jazz -young or old", Alan Bates, CEO of Candid-UK, observed 3 years ago. "That there is a jazz scene at all in Manila might surprise more than a few. The fact is however, that due to the long political and cultural association between the Philippines and the US, many musicians have studied in the US jazz colleges such as the University of Texas, University of California and Berklee and there has long been an interaction between visiting American and native Filipino musicians and singers."
It's true, there is a contemporary jazz scene in Manila and it's thriving once a week every Wednesday in Mag:net Katipunan. Like its poetry nights which humbly begun as a Monday groupie event but has today expanded into a large literary community and still growing, something to be celebrated upon and emulate, jazz Wednesdays have also always been a component of Mag:net programming in the last 3 years. Mag:net lost some mainstays like Mishka Adams who left for further studies in the UK, Mon David and drummer son Paolo who have migrated to the US, Michael Young who moved to showbiz(?) and Koko Bermejo former drummer of Affinity who is back in LA but new and fresh groups have also emerged.
Take the case of Extrapolation, a high school jazz band from the Ateneo composed of teenage musicians Carlos Jesena on guitar, EK Santamaria on bass and Serge Gabriel on drums. At this early stage their unusual musicality is the prime reason why they've chosen to play jazz even if they are very much aware "it's outright alien to their age group". Well, seems like not anymore. Based on their last 2 performances in Mag:net Katipunan, a group of teenage girls much bigger than before have taken up all front seats and were seen wildly cheering Manila's new teenage music sensations.
Another emerging group the jazz community should cherish is Four Corners. Composed of a powerhouse of young professionals, music teachers, composers and world-class musicians, whose roots trace back to the UP College of Music and Berklee College Music, Four Corners is a brand new jazz quartet composed of Junji Lerma on guitar, Francis de Veyra on bass, Jay Gapasin on drums and Anthony Morris on saxophones. With each member having the ability to compose and arrange music, every piece they play is a result of a very dynamic collaboration that makes even the most familiar tune fresh to the ears. Every musical piece is arranged in a way that it has structure and organization, just like in an orchestra, yet, always reinventing itself, as it should be in jazz improvisation. The result is an orgasmic musical high to the music lovers and even to unmindful spectators.
Four Corners and Extrapolation together with Johnny Alegre Affinity, longest jazz band mainstay in Mag:net are billed to play at Mag:net High Street this month. Affinity, "Manila's jazz superband" and "jazz on the fringe of danger" is composed of Johnny Alegre on guitar, Dave Harder on bass and Paolo Manuel (who replaced Koko Bermejo) on drums. Composer and guitarist/leader Johnny Alegre himself had studied at the University of the Philippines College of Music and was a founding member of the UP Jazz Ensemble. He brings to Affinity more than 25 years of experience, having participated in countless live bands and record sessions here and abroad.
A big crowd is expected to attend this special Jazz event called 3 Generations where in Affinity who are in their 40s, Four corners who are in their 30s and the high school band Extrapolation perform in the same venue for a special night of good jazz music. The evening will prove as well that contemporary jazz is alive in this country and is not just a music for the old but for the young as well. After all who was it that said? "Every good musician is a closet jazz musician."
3 Generations of Jazz will be held on Thursday, 29 May and starts at 9:30PM. Gate entrance is at P150 (P75 is consumable). Mag:net Café serves dinner so aficionados and supporters may come much earlier for better seats.
For reservations call 8563400 or email magnetcafe@gmail.com
Mag:net in May 2008
http://bandscapes.multiply.com/calendar/item/10801
