A NEW HOMEFrom New Orleans to Bacolod City, jazz has come a long way and finds a new, extended home.
It took awhile for Bacolod City to be recognized as a center for jazz outside Manila. Efforts from the Jazz Society of Negros working with PIJazz and its president, Sandra Lim - Viray, finally yielded fruit. With Mishka Adams, Sinosikat? and the Jazz Volunteers on the bill, it was almost unbelievable even for the cognoscenti. Added bonus was the special participation of true blue Negrenses Gabe Ascalon and his band, and the band Nancy Brew. But there they were, all at the top of their game. As the event unfolded in the midst of cheers and beers, it seems that jazz has been reunited with a long lost home.
The descending warm February sun at the roof deck L'Fisher Hotel provided a perfect backdrop as the festival was opened by saxophonist/ emcee Raul Banzon, formerly of smooth jazz outfit Working Stiffs, and presently with Deja Blues. He played a half-hour set with backing tracks, and was perfectly at home with the crowd. After all, Raul frequented the city with various JSN productions in the past. His version of Pat Metheny’s ARE YOU GOING WITH ME was hauntingly beautiful, carrying the melody on EWI. The celebration has begun.
Nancy Brew treaded along the smooth jazz / fusion highway with selections from Casiopea, Lee Ritenour, Spyro Gyra and Miles Davis. The all male quartet, despite the technical glitches of an early set, braved on. With one foot on the future of jazz and the other on the roots of the masters, Nancy Brew covered the gamut of the genre. Included in their 45-minute set is the tenor sax driven - original titled ‘Padayon’. The inclusion of the obscure track ‘Matchmakers’ from Lee Ritenour’s album ‘The Captain’s Journey’ and Santana’s ‘Song for My Brother’ marked the quartet’s of the art form. Nancy Brew is composed of Bethoven Tiano (guitar, saxophone), Jico Monte (keyboards), Butch Inson (bass) and Ronald Amoroso (drums) and has been playing together for nearly 10 years.
Darkness set as Gabe Ascalon took center stage with another brew of fusion. Ascalon is a pioneer member of Side A, and the crowd wallowed in every line he brought to the musical table. They played mostly material from Pat Metheny’s songbook, and an electrifying rendition of ‘My Favorite Things’. His rhythm section was one to kill for, all seasoned players of Bacolod. Louie Clauor (bass), Art Magalona (keyboards) and Brian Chia (drums) effortlessly breezed through hits such as ‘Bright Size Life’ and ‘(Its just) Talk’ , providing Ascalon the springboard for inspired solos.
After the first two local acts, the message came clear as to Bacolod being a jazz mecca worthy of the event.
The main acts are now ready and warmed up. Mishka Adams comes up the stage with originals and some covers. By then, everyone is aware of this half-Filipina, half-Brit chanteuse signed under Candid Records UK. Her smoky voice complements a quiet persona onstage which exudes both innocence and confidence at the same time. The evening hushes as her set travels to the roots of jazz with originals akin to standards and buoyant rhythms. Adams’ look betrays at the first, but her voice speaks otherwise. Her cover of Billie Holiday’s God Bless the Child hits home, with the word ‘BLUES’ painted all over. The rhythm section was composed of the great Simon Tan on bass, David Starck on keys and Ray Vinoya on drums. Just like slow N’awlins cooking, the music permeates the very senses. The following band was never a stranger to the Bacolod crowd, and literally - owned the music. Enter the Jazz Volunteers, a power quartet of the country’s finest with a set of originals and covers. Driven by Mar Dizon, the quartet has taken off where Adams’ group left. It was also an experience to see Negros’ adopted son Joey Benin on bass lay it down with Dizon’s melodic and inventive drumming. While the two weave the foundation, Wowee Posadas and Mike Guevarra take turns to solo, both replete with mindboggling technique and moving lines. SinosiKat? completes the package with a soulful set. After all, SinosiKat? has been on the forefront of the Nu Pinoy Soul revolution. With an onstage persona crossing from Erykah Badu to Jason Kay and everyone in between, she leads the boys into a rousing funk –rock-soul act that burned by the number. The inclusion Tower of Power’s ‘Soul with a Capital S’ came as a surprise and adoration to a relatively young band which knew their wares. SinosiKat? is Kat Agarrado on vocals, David Starck on keyboards, Noel Asistores on bass, Reli de Vera on drums and Nick Azarcon on guitar.
After the acts, Raul called for a jam – impromptu numbers with members of the different bands playing together. The first batch had The Jazz Volunteers with Gabe Ascalon and Raoul Banzon himself. The thought of seeing Side A – Then (Mar Dizon, Gabe Ascalon) and Side A – Now (Joey Benin) created great anticipation. The group topped the expectation and hit immediately with two numbers, including Jaco’s funky track ‘The Chicken’. The next jam had Simon Tan (Mishka Adams) on bass, Gabe Ascalon and Bethoven Tiano (Nancy Brew) on guitars, Reli de Vera (SinosiKat?) on drums, Art Magalona (Gabe Ascalon Band) on keyboards, and Ms. Mishka Adams on vocals on stage. They did ‘Stormy Monday’ and showed how blue blues can be. As if it wasn't enough, PIJazzfest President Sandra Lim –Viray joined in, singing and scatting on a groovy version of ‘My Funny Valentine’. SinosiKat? regrouped for another number which featured Kat Agarrado’s inspired pipes treading on spoken word territory. It was past midnight and as the people started to call the night off, Nancy Brew with Raul on alto saxophone closed the event with three cuts from Wes Montgomery, Deodato, and Miles Davis. On the last song, Miles’ ‘Jean-Pierre’, Ascalon rejoined with driven guitar fury, trading fours with Raul, Bethoven and Jico Monte (keyboards) as Inson and Amoroso laid down solid grooves.
The loud, rocking finale rang throughout the wee hours and early morning skies, as if heralding the rebirth of the cool in the arms of a new found home.
An ending truly fit for a new beginning.
BTiano
Tiano, BM
Thanks and kudos go to Bob Coscolluela and the rest of the Jazz Society of Negros for pulling the event. For shots of the 1st Bacolod Jazzfest (and other related events, courtesy of Bob C.) see
http://bcosco.multiply.com/photos/album/296/1st_Bacolod_Jazzfest_2010
