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| Koh Mr. Saxman, RAd and Noel Cabangon |
Featuring:
Unit Asia
Isao “Sankichi” Miyoshi, guitar
Koh Mr. Saxman, saxophone
Tay Cher Siang, piano
Shigeki Ippon, bass
Tomo’o Tsuruya, drums
The Music Museum was indeed the night for
jazz music as the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, Manila , Radio High 105.9 and Yoshinoya presented the Asian jazz group, Unit Asia along with special guest Noel Cabangon in celebration of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Month and the 40th
Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation.
Things
looked promising for this concert earlier on for about an hour before the show
started, for there were quite a number of people on the waiting list already. The
concert was free admission but one had to make prior reservations to avail of
tickets. And based on how well events during the Philippines-Japan Friendship
Month have been received in previous years, one really had to contact the Japan
Foundation as early as possible to secure these tickets.
For
those who were fortunate to get in weren’t disappointed as Unit Asia, made up
of Isao “Sankichi” Miyoshi (guitar), Koh Mr. Saxman (saxophone), Tay Cher Siang
(piano), Shigeki Ippon (bass) and Tomo’o Tsuruya (drums) put on a show that
people would pay good money for to watch. Just right after the second song, New Blues, that had each member
performing solos and doing some wicked improvisation, the audience was already
at the palm of group’s hands. Despite accents that were difficult for Filipino
ears to understand, Miyoshi and Mr. Saxman were able to pump up the crowd as
the group’s frontmen. The concert also provided a change of pace when the group
played a couple of pianist Tay Cher Siang’s compositions namely Elephant Vanishes and The Sea Outside My Window. The group’s
special guest for the night was Filipino singer Noel Cabangon. Known for his
rock, folk and socially relevant songs, Noel also showed that he had some jazz
in him as well. With an acoustic guitar in tow, Noel performed Bulag, Pipi at Bingi, Tinamaan Mo
 |
| Japan Foundation, Manila Director Shuji Takatori and Noel Cabangon |
Aside
from the amazing music, the lighting design was also one of the impressive
things about this concert. The musical highlights, modulations and player solos
were emphasized, given more weight and excitement through the impeccably timed
light spectacle. So this concert turned out not only as a musical treat but
also as a visual treat for everyone inside the Music
Museum
I
missed Unit Asia’s performance last year so I was only too happy that they came
back and that I was able to catch them this time. Since their latest
performance here was such a huge hit, I wouldn’t be surprised if they come back
again very soon.
