Ryan’s bossa nova romance

Ryan Cayabyab has caught the bossa nova fever. But then since Mr. C is not just any ordinary musician, his contribution to the current fad is also quite unique. The album is entitled Dancing in the Rain and it is made up of romantic musings set to a Latin jazz beat recorded by The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra (SMPO) with The San Miguel Master Chorale, written, arranged, conducted and at times also performed by Ryan himself.

The album actually started two years ago, long before this recent bossa nova invasion. For some unknown reason Ryan felt the urge to write music in the Latin mode. Though he has not done new music in quite a while and nothing like the bossa in many years, the work proceeded smoothly and was ready for recording within only a few days. Rendered in a stream of consciousness style, the result is a love story told with pretty melodies and bits of poetry.

Admittedly, it is difficult to associate adolescent declarations like If we could stay in love this way, I must say…feels like this love affair is gonna last forever, you and me, we were meant to be… in Feels Like This Love Affair is Gonna Last Forever, as coming from somebody whose insight into the human psyche produced Iduyan Mo and Paraisong Parisukat. Ryan probably channeled a teen-aged Jobim that memorable evening.

But then nobody really knows what sentiments lie dormant in the hearts of even the people closest to you. Ryan tapped into his store and came up with Dancing in the Rain. He filled it with music vignettes that could have come from a personal journal.

Get a load of titles like First Glance, Frap for Two on a Beach in Cebu, Photographs of You and Me Together, Like Children Dancing in the Rain with Nothing On, Alone Drenched in the Red, Orange and Gold of a Manila Sunset, Grey Clouds! Grey Clouds! It’s Beginning to Drizzle, It’s Getting More Difficult to Explain Why I Do Things the Way I Do, Almost Sunup and I Haven’t Slept, Last Trip to Boracay, This is Beginning to Sound Like An Old Song and It Isn’t the First Time Someone Left Me.

The effect on the listener is like getting a personal soundtrack to be played during magic moments or simply to reminisce with. It is just right for this Valentine season but be careful though, Ryan’s musical love story ends with a broken heart. Before taking that Last Look, the cut Letting Go says, No, I can’t recall the last time I felt like this, it must have been years / Oh no, No it isn’t the first time someone left me all alone, Now I’m all alone.

OPM for the movies

Released at the same time as Dancing in the Rain was Great Original Pilipino Music from the Movies. This is another album produced, arranged and conducted by Ryan Cayabyab featuring The San Miguel Master Chorale and The San Miguel Philharmonic Orchestra.

A good number of the most enduring compositions of recent times was created for motion pictures. This collection presents some of the best. And admit it, even the most familiar melodies attain heavenly heights when these are interpreted by a choir accompanied by a full orchestra the way they are in this album.

Leading the way is Willy Cruz’s Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas from Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas. This is followed by Pangarap Na Bituin from Bukas Luluhod ang Mga Tala; Hanggang Sa Dulo ng Walang Hanggan from Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit; Ryan’s own Iduyan Mo from Agila; plus Kahit Isang Saglit, Pangako, Pagdating ng Panahon, Kailangan Kita, Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw, Hanggang Ngayon, Tanging Yaman, Sinasamba Kita, Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin, Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and Paraisong Parisukat from the movies of the same title.

There is a Take One indication on a clapper on the front cover. I guess this means that there might be a second volume in the near future. I really hope that there will be one, plus another and another to better immortalize the great original Pilipino compositions used in motion pictures.

A gold for Basil

Incidentally, Basil Valdez’s Great Filipino Classics with the SMPO and also arranged and conducted by Ryan Cayabyab has turned gold. The market’s enthusiastic response to the album should serve as an encouragement for producers to come up with similar recordings and make people aware of our great treasury of beautiful songs now in danger of being forgotten.

The Great Filipino Classics includes masterpieces like Madaling Araw, Sapagkat Kami ay Tao Lamang, Diyos Lamang ang Nakakaalam, Mahiwaga, Ugoy ng Duyan, Bayan Ko, Bituing Marikit, Kung Nagsasayaw Kita, Bakas ng Lumipas, Babalik Ka Rin, Dahil Sa Isang Bulaklak and Lagi Kitang Naaalala.