(Nineteenth of a series) I’ve known Skarlet Brown longer than almost any other jazz artist featured in this section. That’s probably why it took me so long to tell her story: I was too close, knew too much, and wasn’t quite sure how to frame her wild and magnificent mess. In fact, my first piece...
Tag: music
Post
Arthur Espiritu leads top artists in a concert for a cause
Internationally renowned tenor Arthur Espiritu headlines the concert “Let the Wind Blow: A Bouquet for Pablo” on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Mirror Theatre Studio, SJG Center, on 8463 Kalayaan Avenue, Barangay Poblacion, Makati City. The event is a fundraiser for ailing journalist-writer Pablo A. Tariman, author of the poetry collection “Love, Life and...
Post
UP Manila Chorale to honor National Artists in concert
The University of the Philippines Manila Chorale (UPMC) pays homage to the works of National Artists for Music in a three-part concert celebrating the ingenuity of Filipino composers whose timeless classics continue to touch Filipinos’ hearts. Under the baton of music director John Steven Verrosa and with accompaniment by Martin Sean J. Inanuran, the multi-awarded...
Post
Portraits in Jazz: Keeping up with Colby de la Calzada
(Sixteenth of a series) Age is a wonderful thing when it happens to people who embrace it as fully as they have lived their lives. Some even laugh about the exigencies of aging, admitting that the attendant forgetfulness has compelled them to keep the good ole’ CV in ship-shape. Colby de la Calzada—bassist, composer, arranger,...
Post
Yes, yes, yo, yo, rap is here to stay, to glow, to grow
The first time I heard and saw a male black rap singer on MTV, I was amazed. In the 1990s, such a performer with that rhythmic, staccato-like rendition was hardly ever seen in the local scene. It was as if he was reciting a poem by T. S. Eliot (although white), with J. Alfred Prufrock...
The joy of being JQ: playing with the AMP Big Band at the National Museum. —PHOTOS FROM JQ'S FB PAGE
Post
Portraits in Jazz: JQ and the will to chill
(Fourteenth of a series) Most everyone has a fan story. One of my own stories happens to be on keyboardist Joey Quirino (JQ to family and friends), who I hit some time ago on Messenger with a YouTube clip of Rickie Lee Jones live in concert, singing the June Christy standard “Something Cool,” which claimed...
Post
Love and a million thanks to you, Pilita
Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Song and an enduring icon in the Philippines’ Tin Pan Alley, has bid us adieu at the age of 85. The “heavy heart” with which Pilita’s granddaughter Janine Gutierrez announced her passing on April 12 is ours, too. The mourning is deep for the Filipino Spanish María del Pilar Garrido...
Post
Portraits in Jazz: Dave Harder’s moveable feast
(Thirteenth of a series) Between his sets more than a year ago at our favorite jazz bar in Cubao, Quezon City, bassist Dave Harder and I fell into a conversation about the creative life and how best to live it under imperfect circumstances. We agreed that while the creatives’ wish list was long and often...
Post
Portraits in Jazz: Isla Antinero tunes up with the best life
(Eleventh of a series) Something about trombonist Jose Aris “Isla” Antinero immediately suggests a solidity of spirit that goes deep beyond the full smile and firm handshake. His is a restful presence; with remarkable economy of movement, he holds the serene, thoughtful gaze of an apsara while waiting for his turn on stage. Off stage,...
Post
Why Filipinos are fascinated with ‘APT’
That “APT” is a global phenomenon is an understatement. Its official music video has amassed 815 million views on the YouTube channels of Bruno Mars and Rosé since it was launched in October 2024. Add another 45 million views from the duo’s live performance in the 2024 MAMA Awards. The catchy song ranked No. 1 in music streaming platforms such...