1st Philippine International Jazzfest

For two days (Jan. 21-22, 2006), the Philippines will host its first ever International Jazz Festival. The featured shows will be held at the amphitheater of the Casino Filipino, while there will also be simultaneous concerts at the  Harbor Square of the CCP Complex.

The international cast will be spearheaded by American jazz songstress Kevyn Lettau and her Crescendo group. Kevyn might not be popular here in the States, but in Japan and the Philippines, she is considered a superstar. Also staging a comeback to Manila is my hero of the 70's, Eumir Deodato. When you speak of jazz fusion, Eumir is one of its pioneers, blending jazz with rock and classical music.  A welcome treat is the presence of Fil-Am singing sensation, Charmaine Clamor. Based in California, she is one of the founding members of JazzPhil-USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Fil-Am jazz artists in the States.

The local talents scheduled to perform include Verni Varga, Richard Merk, Lynn Sherman, Isha, Cookie Chua, Cynthia Alexander, Jacqui Magno, Johny Alegre Affinity Band, and many more.

A milestone in Philippine jazz history, it is my hope that this ain't just a one-time event. Let this be the beginning of many more festivals to come. And who knows, if this turns out to be a success, we might be able to lure more notable jazz artists to visit our shores in the near future.

Is jazz finally back in Pinas? As I quote my friend, Boy Katindig, when I informed him of this .... "nabuhay ang mga boys sa Pinas" :)

The official website: http://www.drivehq.com/web/pijazzfest.