Musica Chiesa & other local sounds

Just what I needed, a great stress buster, I thought as the first strains of Musica Chiesa came from the machine. Soft, relaxing music inspired by verses from the Bible. It may seem like it is still too early for Lent given how the album seems to have been produced with meditation in mind. But listening to Your Heart Today by Musica Chiesa has made me realize that this is what I need now. 

After all the bustle of the Christmas Season, then suddenly being thrust into tikoy gifts and greetings of Kung Hei Fat Choi, and then getting inundated by plans on what you have to do on Valentine’s Day, I can really use the down time this CD provides. Not only for these hectic times but most of all, for everyday. These simple melodies with uplifting arrangements can make life better.

Subtitled Songs For Our Spiritual Journey, Your Heart Today features the Musica Chiesa, a chamber ensemble of talented young musicians. The group was formed six years ago under Fr. Jboy Gonzales S.J. They have since then busied themselves with Sunday Mass singing at the Church of the Gesu in Quezon City, at events with the Ateneo Community, Bukas Palad, a lot of fund-raising concerts, charity projects and recently, also choral workshops. And not to forget, also recording. Your Heart Today is the Chiesa’s second album. Stressed or not this is music that everybody will enjoy.

Manoling Francisco S.J. thought of “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us” for Your Heart Today. Hesus Ng Aking Buhay by Arnel DC Aquino, S.J. was inspired by “And He asked them, Who do you say that I am?” “Jesus said, Behold I am with you always, until the end of the age,” for Gabing Kulimlim by Jandi Arboleda and Francisco. And so on for Pagsibol also by Aquino; Pilgrim’s Theme by Johnny Go, S.J. and Francisco; Pananatili by Noel Miranda; Huwag Limutin by Aquino; and a medley of Humayo’t Ihayag by Louie Catalan S.J., Go and Francisco; and I Will Sing Forever by Francisco.

Rockin’ the Roots at Music Museum

Still in the local music scene. Here is a show that rockers out there might want to check out. Rockin’ the Roots, a rock concert, brings together Pinoy rock icons in a one-night only show at the Music Museum on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. It is a joint project between Creatvfx and Rene Garcia of Hotdog, and features Pepe Smith of Juan Dela Cruz; Rene Garcia of Hotdog; Jett Pangan of The Dawn; Lolita Carbon of Asin; Resty Fabunan of Maria Capra; Gary Perez of Sampaguita and Bassman Eggpie de Castro. Also performing will be guest bands, Bandwidth, Betrayed and Definitively Knot.

Tickets are priced at a reasonable P1,000; P1,500; P2,000; and P2,500, and are now available at the Music Museum in Greenhills. So as the great Pepe is wont to say, “Watch this and let’s rock and roll.”

Blues musicians come together

Heads up for Pinoy Blues. Local blues musicians have banded together to form the Philippine Blues Society. Their aim is to promote blues music, encourage young blues musicians and give local blues a global sound. The launch will be held at the Roadhouse on SM by the Bay at Mall of Asia. Featured bluesmen are Wally Gonzales and the Manila Blues Experience, The Jerks, The Blue Rats, The Bleu Rascals, and others. The latter will represent the Philippines at the International Blues Competition that will be held in Memphis, Tennessee next month.

Just thinking, Jett Pangan of The Dawn should be in this line-up. The guy is more blues than either rock or Broadway.

OPM albums

No matter what his haters may say, a lot of people do like Willie Revillame and they keep watching his TV show and buying his album. In fact his latest release, the EP Kendeng Kendeng is once again a No. 1 seller. Remember how his I Love You took the local hit charts by storm over a year ago. So here is Kendeng Kendeng, composed by Christian Martinez and presented in the CD with Ago-go Dancing, music minus ones and a DJ Coki Remix.

If Willie R is not your style, then here are other albums by Pinoy artists that deserve your support and truth to tell, should really not be missed. The debut CD of Someday Dream with the big hit Daydreamer; Basil S. Valdez, a collection of contemporary classics by the quintessential balladeer; Annebisyosa, the phenomenal-selling CD by Anne Curtis; and No Water, No Moon, the brilliant soft rocker by Bamboo Mañalac.