The New Minstrels, CompanY happy together

The shows have become almost a tradition of sorts that music lovers now look forward to year after year. Each year, on Valentine season, the soloists of the ’70s show band The New Minstrels get together for a reunion show where they perform much-loved oldies, much like the way they did in the old days. While watching, their fans swoon and dance and giggle and savor all those memories that their favorite songs always bring.

This year will be no different. The famous members of the New Minstrels, namely Joey Albert, Louie Reyes, Ding Mercado, Chad Borja and Eugene Villaluz are now all geared up for the latest reunion edition armed with their big hits. The ones that instantly come to mind are Buhat, Tell Me, Ikaw Lang Ang Mamahalin, Iisa Pa Lamang, See You There, Ikaw Lang, Gulong Ng Palad, Nothing I Want More, Balut and others.

Titled Happy Together and produced by Viva Concerts, this one will be held on Feb. 13 at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center on Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City. So those of you who enjoyed the previous shows, do make sure you get your tickets as early as possible. This is because the concert will be very special and you will not want to miss it.

Joining The New Minstrels on stage this time around and for the very first time ever, will be the country’s premier vocal group The CompanY. Now everybody knows The CompanY. Even those who don’t must have surely come across the group’s distinct sound through their hit songs.  And they have plenty. Among their most popular are Everlasting Love, Now That I Have You, Muntik Na Kitang Minahal, Pakisabi Na Lang, Special Memory, Nawawala Ang Puso Ko, Just A Love Song, What Would They Say, You Changed My Life In A Moment and Manila. 

Aside from the fact that the singing will be really fantastic, the idea of putting these two groups together comes with its own story. The CompanY during its early days back in the ’80s derived inspiration from the great vocal groups like the Manhattan Transfer, the Swingle Singers and most of all The New Minstrels.

The latter is so because The CompanY founder and frontman Moy Ortiz is the nephew of Minstrel Eugene Villaluz.  So it can be said that as a boy, he literally grew up with and learned singing from The New Minstrels. However, I really think that it is to the credit of Moy and the members of The CompanY that they did not end up sounding like a Minstrels copy but were instead able to develop their own, unmistakable sound over the years.

For some unknown reason and despite the closeness, these two acclaimed groups have never performed together before. That is until now. It would be very interesting to find out how The CompanY will face up against its much-admired antecedent in The New Minstrels. A vocal battle is in the offing and both groups promise to sing all the hits, especially the love songs. But no matter what happens, the audience will surely emerge the winner of a wonderful evening of beautiful music.

 The CompanY today is made up of Moy, for bass and tenor; Sweet Plantado, soprano; Annie Quintos, soprano; Cecile Bautista, alto; and original member Reuben Llorente, tenor, who is returning for the special show after years spent performing abroad.

Tickets to Happy Together are now available. They are priced at P4,500 (Flat Center); P3,500 (Flat Left/Right); P3,500 (Level 2 Center, Left/Right); P3,000 (Level 3 Center, Left/Right); P2,000 (Level 3 Left/Right); P1,000 (Balcony); and P400 (Gallery). Check these out at TicketWorld (891-9999), TicketNet, 911-5555 and Viva Live, 687-7236.

Now that we have officially entered the Valentine season with the announcement of the Happy Together show, let us take a last look at the sounds that made up last year’s Christmas soundtrack. Take note, great singing by the a cappella group Pentatonix topped the charts and thanks to the availability of old recordings on streaming sites, several classics also made the hit list.

Here they are:  All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey; Hallelujah by Pentatonix; Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee; Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms; Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano; Mary Did You Know also by Pentatonix; Have A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives; The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) by Nat King Cole; It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year by Andy Williams; and Last Christmas by Wham!