Chicago Jazz Quartet / MCO’s 10th year / Theater

When Ambassador Francis Ricciardone gave his opening remarks, he alluded to the Russian Ambassador’s confession that the last time he had heard American jazz (Dave Brubeck, et al.) was 25 years ago in Moscow – during the Cold War! Well, he would be listening to that git-up-and-go kind of music again at the Embassy ballroom, this time to the Chicago Jazz Quartet.

Its young, personable members are Matt Lewis, vocalist-trumpeter; his brother (?) Benjamin Lewis, pianist; Lorin Cohen, bassist, and Michael Raynor, drummer. They played, among many other pieces, Smile (C. Chaplin), Just One of Those Things (C. Porter), You Are the Sunshine of My Life (S. Wonder), What a Wonderful World (Weiss/Thiele), Summertime (G. Gershwin).

The Quartet would interpret each song in a straightforward manner, with the melody remaining recognizable, then go off-tangent in fantastic improvisations, each member taking his turn to show (or show off) his virtuosity. Singing in a cool voice and cool fashion, or blowing on his trumpet, Matt Lewis proved his astonishing versatility. Further, he demonstrated electrifying mastery of scatting (that is, of replacing the original words with easy-to-pronounce syllables) in amazingly rapid manner.

Pianist Ben Lewis illustrated what "tickling the ivories" really means, his nimble fingers running over the length of the keyboard in mind-boggling chordal or rippling combinations. Bassist Loren Cohen unravelled tricks up his own sleev – or fingers – exhibiting absolute command. And Michael Raynor! He virtually set the ballroom on fire with thunderous machinegun-fire beats alternating with soft rolls on a wide variety of drums. All four jazz artists make extraordinary ambassadors of goodwill.

My own field of discipline is classic music but I enjoyed the jazz concert immensely along with classic connoisseurs Raul Sunico, Eugene Castillo, Greg Zuniega who were likewise present. To my utter surprise, Public Affairs Officer Rnald Post used to play jazz on the trumpet. Jazz aficionados included Cultural Counselor Thomas Kral, Assistant Cultural Attaché Rebekah Dramé, Col. and Mrs. Mathias Velasco and Grace Trefil (I hope my spelling is right) of the Political Section. Also heads of cultural agencies: Volker Avenmarg (Goethe Institut), Javier Galvan (Instituto Cervantes), Nes Jardin (CCP), and my media colleagues Doreen Yu, "Babe" Romualdez and Beth Day Romulo.

Russian Ambassador and Mrs. Anatoly Nebogatov, French Cultural Counselor Franck Hebert and Press Attaché Benedicte Meysson represented the diplomatic set.

* * *

Twenty years ago, the eminent Sergio Esmilla, Jr. organized and conducted the Manila Chamber Orchestra at its permanent venue, the F. Santiago Hall of the PCIB. The ensemble carried on extremely well until some of its members made unreasonable demands to which Mr. Esmilla, a man of integrity and dignity, refused to agree. The group disbanded though the name MCO continued to be used by management head Armando Baltazar in uninterrupted presentations of worthy artists and groups including the first-rate Clarion Chamber Ensemble established by flutist David Johnson.

Some months ago, a concert in honor of Prof. Esmilla was held, but before then, the formerly "disgruntled" MCO members had pleaded to participate in the concert, thus doubly vindicating Prof. Esmilla for his intractable stand.

The other week, the MCO marked its 20th anniversary with its continuing "celebration of life through art", as adminsitrator Armando Baltazar announced prior to the concert. This featured violinist Regina Medina and guitarists Butch Roxas and Ruben Reyes in excerpts from Asor Piazzolla’s Tango! which is characterized by vigorous rhythms and atonalities.

Excerpts from Saludo Filipino! presented Tony Fabella’s imaginative choreography performed by ballerinas on pointes to Philippine marches with costumes by Vella Damian. Also his Magkaugnay to Joey Ayala’s music. Soloists represented lupa, laot, langit, hayop, halaman and tao moving in the closest coordination to show that "everything is inter-connected". Costumes were colorful and artistic for Vella Damian’s School of Ballet.

The Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs), which borrowed from modern dance, gymnastics, acrobatics and street dancing, was lustily applauded. Eleven-year old pianist Regina Montesclaros highly impressed listeners with her dexterity and inherent expressivity in Schumann’s Impromptu and Octavio Pintos’ energetic Run, Run from Sconas Infantis (Scenes from Childhood).

As fitting climax, the much-awarded Philippine Madrigal Singers, which garnered first prizes in Torrevieja, Spain, sang religious songs, spirituals, folk songs and international numbers under Choir Master Mark Carpio. Founded by National Artist Andrea O. Veneracion, the choir gave a seamless performance without scores, reflecting a gamut of dynamics, rhythmic changes and nuances of expression.

* * *

I missed what must have been an exciting production of Nick Joaquin’s Summer Solstic/Tatarin by the Dulaan UP under the direction of the brilliant Anton Juan, Jr. "Tatarin, " Prof. Juan explains, "is set during the early stages of American occupation, and revolves around the issues of power and gender, and of nationalistic pride in a manner that is traditionally and visually appealing."

Professional stage, TV and film actors and the student ensemble made up the cast.

For its part, the FEU President’s Committee on Culture under executive director Dr. Rustica Carpio staged in the university auditorium Joy Barrios’ translation of Lonnie Carter’s The Romance of Magno Rubio based on Carlos Bulosan’s story of Filipino migrant workers in the US. Focus is on Rubio who naively courts a scheming Arkansas woman he has met only through a "Lonely Hearts" magazine. The play on the whole reveals the loneliness, anguish and hardship of exploited Filipino farm workers. Directed by Loy Arcenas of the May-I Asian, Players in New York, it was staged last year at the CCP basement theater to critical success.