Over 150 musicians to jam at The Story of Jazz: The 1st CCP International Jazz Festival

I’ve been to a handful of jazz performances held at the lobby of a museum and saw first hand there that there is indeed a following for jazz music here. And jazz music will be on the spotlight once again at the upcoming The Story of Jazz: The 1^st CCP International Jazz Festival happening on August 23-28, 2011 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

The festival showcases performances by over 150 jazz musicians from various groups and jazz styles like bebop, blues, ragtime, modal, experimental, big band and fusion. Lectures and workshops facilitated by some of the performing artists are also scheduled and The Story of Jazz in the Philippines produced by Richie Quirino and Collis Davis Jr. will also be screened during the festival.

Slated to perform during this six day festival are the royal hartigan and blood drum spirit (USA), Korean Soul and Beat Project (Korea), Stelzhamma (Austria), Shun Kikuta (Japan), Neris Gonzalez (Spain), jazz vocalist Charito, guitarist Joric Maglanque, Michael Bourne, Bleu Rascals, Lowcal, Blue Rats, Faith Gospel Singers, the UP Jazz Ensemble, UST Jazz Ensemble, Cooky Chua and Bluesviminda, Majam, Emy Munji, and the AMP Band. Collaborations and jamming sessions between the local and foreign artists are among the highlights during the performances in the festival.

The concert performances will be held at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (CCP Main Theater), Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) and the Silangan Hall. Some of these venues will be transformed into jazz clubs and lounges and will also serve drinks to complete the jazz experience. The lectures and workshops will be held at the MKP Multi-Purpose Hall while the documentary will be screened at the Tanghalang Manuel Conde (CCP Dream Theater).

Keyboardist Emy Munji

During the event’s recent press conference, members of the press and media were treated to a sample of the upcoming jazz festival through a performance by Emy Munji who played on both electronic keyboards and on an upright piano, Ruben Reyes on the bass guitar and Joey Valenciano on percussion. These three are respected veterans in the jazz scene here but that doesn’t mean that jazz music can only be appreciated by old people. Thomas “Tomcat” Colvin of the Blues Asia Network was extremely proud to tell everyone that the busiest blues band in the country today has members who are still in their teens which only proves that jazz music can also be appreciated by the youth.

Guitarist Ruben Reyes and percussionist Joey Valenciano

Ticket prices:

Tanghalang Nicanor (CCP Main Theater) performances

P800

P600

P400

P200

Tanghalang Huseng Batute (CCP Studio Theater) and Silangan Hall performances

P300

MKP Multi-Purpose Hall lectures

P100

50% student discount

20% senior citizen discount

For inquiries:

CCP Box Office 832-3704

CCP Music Division 832-1125 loc. 1604-1605

TicketWorld 891-9999