Reunion? No, it’s a Dance Concert!

This was one of those once-in-a-lifetime events. Two of the most popular show bands in Philippine music history got together at the PICC Plenary Hall in Manila for one spectacular night of song and dance billed as The Greatest Hits Reunion. Get ready. It’s three and a half hours long! A musical production of epic and historic proportions.

The Circus Band (1972-1975) was represented by OPM legends Basil Valdez and Hajji Alejandro, veteran soloists Tillie Moreno, Jacqui Magno and Pat Castillo. In its heyday, the band included well-known vocalists like Pabs Dadivas, Didith Reyes, Richard Tan, jazz legend Boy Katindig, composer Gerry Paraiso and drummer Walter Calinawan.

I am familiar with a few of its singers and musicians who’ve had successful solo careers, but I have never before seen or heard The Circus Band until this concert. According to its founder, Atek Jacinto, “The music of the Circus Band was heavily influenced by funk, gospel and rock.” Read: 70s American music. As its members went solo, the Circus Band was elevated to legendary status due to the individual successes of its alumni. The band remains fondly remembered by many and its reunions are eagerly anticipated.

The New Minstrels (1974-1980s) was known for its smooth, sophisticated rendition of Top 40 hits and the kundiman (classic Filipino songs) that the show band successfully revived. The pop version of Mike Velarde’s Buhat catapulted the group to the top of the charts and established itself as a dominant force in Philippine music. As the members began embarking on solo pursuits, the band kept up the pace by recruiting new singers who came to be known as the second through the nth generations.

Joey Albert, Louie Reyes, Chad Borja, Ray An Fuentes, Eugene Villaluz and Ding Mercado represented the New Minstrels.

Sure enough, Circus opened the show with a gospel number and sang a funky tune halfway through the evening. But that’s it. Over half the concert was devoted to disco and dance music, not funk, gospel or rock. The Minstrels followed suit with its rendition of 70s pop music, but omitted the classic Filipino songs. So folks like myself who expected the original repertoires didn’t experience the real Circus Band or the real New Minstrels.

Each of the artists performed a duet and a solo number, many of which were from their OPM (Original Pilipino Music) portfolios. These duets and solos provided a welcome relief to the 70s disco and dance music. Notable was Hajji Alejandro’s interpretation of Nakapagtataka, composed by The APO Hiking Society’s Jim Paredes. This is the first time that I’ve seen him live. I had forgotten how awesome his voice was. He is a versatile performer regardless of genre and a terrific tap dancer to boot.

Joey Albert and Ding Mercado sang the Minstrels’ love anthem Smile to the delight of the audience. Joey is hot! . . . and proves that her star still shines while Ding exudes an exceptional stage presence that enables him to command the audience’s attention.

Tillie Moreno and Ray-An Fuentes belted out their signature Umagang Kay Ganda, one of the finalists in the 2nd Metro Pop Music Festival in 1979, which elicited a strong audience response. Throughout the evening, Tillie lives up to her reputation as the Queen of Soul. Ray-An was at his best with this song, though he’s better known for his mean dance moves as a regular cast member of the 70s hit TV show Penthouse Seven, which he gladly displayed all night long.

Basil Valdez crooned his haunting 1985 hit ballad You with Pat Castillo as a tribute to the late Gerry Paraiso, a former Circus Band member and composer of the popular OPM ballad. This was vintage Basil, though not quite as high pitched as he used to be. Pat was the perfect complement for the duet. In this concert, one gets to see a more playful and adventurous Basil.  He has managed to reinvent himself throughout his 40-year career, with his repertoire metamorphosing from funk and gospel to OPM to movie themes to Broadway tracks and liturgical hymns to American standards. Now he’s gone full circle, back to his Circus Band roots with 70s music.

The highlight of the evening was a duet by Louie Reyes and Eugene Villaluz for which they received the loudest and longest standing ovation from the audience. The song, Nothing I Want More, was an entry in the 5th Metro Pop Music Festival in 1982 that won the grand prix at the 1982 Seoul International Song Festival. Both Louie and Eugene possess powerful vocal cords. Yet Louie manages to produce the sweetest and most soothing sound whether she’s belting or simply crooning.

It appears that the female songbirds did a lot more work than their male counterparts, as the women sang more than half of the songs in the show. Disco, which I don’t really care for, dominated the evening. Thank god for Jacqui Magno, the diva who can jazz up any melody. According to the VERA Files, “The jazz circle concedes that Jacqui Magno possesses a versatile vocal range that enables her to move breezily from Alto to Soprano.” Man, at 60, the lady still has it!

To showcase their penchant for harmony, the six Minstrels rendered an impromptu a cappella number with a few former members in the audience.  The five Circus Band alumni countered with a funky a cappella tune. Says Atek Jacinto, “When Circus (Band) was active in the 70s, we were singing Cold Blood, Graham Central Station and Tower of Power. We were the baddest band in town. The Minstrels never wanted to play on the same stage with Circus (Band).”

The two show bands had been bitter rivals in the 70s. The New Minstrels had a longer tenure that lasted through the 80s and bred more generations than any other musical group in the country while The Circus Band produced the most number of successful solo artists than any other band in Philippine music history. In this production, both bands share the same stage.

The show started forty minutes late at 8:40 p.m. A normal concert lasts about 75-90 minutes. However, eleven vocalists each singing a solo and a duet makes 22 songs already. Add to that the group performances – trios, quartets, five or more songsters in various combinations (all male, all female, male and female singers) . . . whew! Not to mention performances by each band and jointly by the two bands, all eleven artists side by side, plus an encore that lasted half an hour . . . the curtains were finally lowered on the stroke of midnight!

This production goes on tour in Baguio, Cebu and other cities. To those who plan to catch this rare musical event, I say manage your expectations.  If you’re anticipating the original repertoire of The Circus Band or The New Minstrels, this show isn’t for you. But for those who love 70s dance music, especially disco, this three and a half hour concert is well worth its ticket price.