Jazzmopolitan! Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz

FILIPINO AND AMERICAN MUSICAL STYLES FUSE TO MAKE“JAZZMOPOLITAN” AN UNFORGETTABLE SHOW

Got sax?! American jazz meets Filipino “flavor” in an evening of culturally fused music when PAE Live! in association with RAS Music Group, TDRZ Productioins, Inc. and ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) present “Jazzmopolitan: Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz” on Saturday, September 11 at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood . It will be an evening of finger-snapping, toe-tapping, betcha-never-heard-that-before music that showcases some of the best Filipino and Filipino-American jazz instrumentalists and vocalists. 

Headlining the concert is smooth jazz saxman Michael Paulo who makes a return to the Ford after a very long absence. One of the most versatile and cosmopolitan saxophonists in pop, soul and contemporary jazz for nearly 20 years, the Hawaiian born Paulo has added his distinct “saxpertise” to a virtual who's who of artists including Al Jarreau (Paulo's longest term touring association for over 10 years), James Ingram, trumpeter Rick Braun and guitarist Peter White, Oleta Adams, Kenny Loggins, Patti Austin, Jeffrey Osborne, Jeff Lorber, David Benoit, Carl Anderson, Bobby Caldwell, Johnny Mathis and more. Paulo grew up in a musical family (his father a pianist, his mother a singer, his siblings all playing instruments) and though he came upon the sax relatively late at age 15, he quickly became first horn player in his high school band and was playing professional gigs around the islands within a few years. He chose a more adventurous road by joining Hawaiian pop/rock band Kalapana, which had some success on the mainland but was most popular in Japan . As he says, "Music is always going to evolve, and it's up to the artist to respond gracefully to the changes. We don't know what the music will sound like years from now, but no matter what, it will be based on what the people in the audience feel."

Mon David, the only vocalist of the evening’s line up, makes his Ford debut at “Jazzmopolitan”. The seasoned performer and frequent guest performer at many of L.A.’s jazz hot spots is the champion of the 2006 London International Vocal Competition and has released a half dozen CDs which highlight his prowess as a true jazz singer. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of the ‘global tapestry in music’ and to explore the wonderful, rich and fertile musical playgrounds of the world” says David. “I am very proud to be Filipino and take joy when audiences from different cultures embrace this universal art form being created, performed and interpreted by an artist of Filipino descent.”

Saxophonist Ner de Leon, the Berkelee School of Music alumnus and emerging contemporary jazz musician, begins the evening with a tribute to some famous jazz musicians like Chuck Mangione and George Benson. Audience members will be surprised to learn that his versatility and musical prowess spans the genres of rock ‘n roll, R&B, pop and smooth jazz. “I take pride in that Filipinos are very musical and adapting jazz into its sound just adds another dimension to our musical complexities,” says de Leon.

“Music is not my primary profession, but it is my primary love”, says jazz guitarist Rafael “Raffy” Lopez. Indeed, when he is not busy being COO of ABS-CBN, the largest Philippine-based global media network, he “jams” with a San Francisco-based local jazz band. “When I was 6 years old, “explains Lopez, “my brother was taking guitar lessons. One day, he could not make it to his lesson and I took his place. It was love at first sight and I have been playing guitar ever since!”. Expect to hear Lopez perform bossa nova from Jobim, Lins and Gilberto infused with Filipino rhythms and beats.

A similar sentiment is expressed by musical director Edward “Tateng” Katindig, known affectionately as the Oscar Peterson of the Philippines . “Music is a universal language and jazz is music. My playing comes from soul!” beams Katindig who completes his trio with drummer Abe Lagrimas, Jr. and bassist Dominic Thiroux as the evening’s house band. “I don’t see myself doing anything else except music!” said the piano player.

A portion of the show’s proceeds will be donated to the Filipino American Library, a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to actively promote the history, culture and professional achievements of Filipino Americans through educational and cultural programming. “’PAE Live!’ believes in giving back to the community” says producer Rex Sampaga “which is why we are supporting the Library. They have always been an institution in the preservation of Filipino-American history and we want to support their goals, particularly in this unsteady economic period.”

Jazzmopolitan is proudly sponsored by ABS-CBN’s TFC (The Filipino Channel), Island Pacific Supermarkets, FUSICOLOGY and by media sponsors KSCI-TV Channel 18, radio station KJAZZ 88.1, The Asian Journal and Tribune U.S.A.

Tickets for “Jazzmopolitan” are $40.00 and $30.00 and are $12.00 for full-time students with ID and children 12 and under and can be purchased from the Ford box office at www.FordTheatres.org or 323-461-3673(for non-visual media 323-GO 1-FORD). Through the Ford’s early buyer incentive, adults who buy tickets on or before September 4 pay only $35.00 or $25.00. Special limited VIP tickets, which include a pre-concert reception at 6:30pm and premium seating, are available at $50.00, the net proceeds of which go to Bantay Banta, a project of the ABS-CBN Foundation International, Inc.

The Ford Amphitheatre is located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East , Hollywood , CA 90068 , just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway across from the Hollywood Bowl and south of Universal Studios. The grounds open two hours before show time for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options but patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink. The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On-site stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows. FREE, non-stacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford is available at the Universal City Metro Station lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle cycles every 15 – 20 minutes.

“Jazzmopolitan: The Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz”, produced by PAE Live!, is a part of the Ford 2010 Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County-based arts organizations. For a complete season schedule, directions to the theater and parking information, log on to www.FordTheatres.org.

PAE Live! in association with

RAS Music Group & TDRZ Productions, Inc.

ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Island Pacific Supermarket

present

JAZZMOPOLITAN: The Filipino Gentlemen of Jazz

Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 8:00pm

John Anson Ford Amphitheater

2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA. 90068

Featuring Mon David, Ner de Leon, Raffy Lopez, & Michael Paulo

with Tateng Katindig, Abe Lagrimas, Jr., and Dominic Thiroux.

Tickets: $40.00/$30.00 Adults, $12.00 Students and Children

$50.00 VIP Tickets include pre-show reception at 6:30 and premium seating.

Early Buyer Incentive Before September 4: Adults - $35.00 / $25.00

No Discounts on VIP Tickets

Please visit www.fordtheatres.orgor call 323-461-3673 for more information.

Family Togetherness at the Supermarket

Because of the very fast-paced lifestyle people lead here in America - working two or three or more jobs during the week, doing household chores and other errands on the weekend – people find it difficult to make time for themselves. And for kababayans who are used to a Pinoy value called “family togetherness,” it’s doubly harder to make time to get together with other members of the family.

Luckily, Island Pacific supermarket understands.
“Weekends are precious. Always very short but very important. We know that’s the time most of our patrons come to the market to buy their groceries and supply for the week. But we also know that it’s the only time kids are home from school and most parents are off from work so we think of ways to enable them to spend time together,” said Tracy Lim, Island Pacific Supermarket Advertising Manager
 

In their efforts to bring families closer together by giving them more time to spend with each other, island Pacific Supermarket in Panorama City, through the Kababayan Community Center located inside their establishment, is pioneering the concept of “market and more” for their consumers. What usually happens is that dads or sons drop off their moms to the market while they go and do other errands. After about an hour or two, they pick up the mom and help her load the groceries into the car. Or, the mom or sister would go to the salon while the dad or brother goes around the market to fulfill the family grocery list. But because of “market and more” concept, families are now able to enjoy the supermarket experience.

In the past, Island Pacific in Panorama City has staged a movie screening and free concert.
 

“I am a big fan of Juday. Kahit sa Pilipinas pa lang, hindi ko pinapalampas ‘yung mga palabas niya. So buti na lang nabalitaan ko na may palabas pala ng ‘Ploning’ sa Island last month. So nung namalengke ako, sinama ko ‘yung mga anak ko para makapanood kami ng sine. Sinamahan nila ako mamili. Tapos nanood kami ng sine. Libre pa. Isang punathan lang. Menos pa sa gas,” said Anabelle Gaddi of Northridge.
 

“Nakakatuwa nung nagkaroon ng concert dito si Marco Sison at si Patricia Javier. Nagpunta kaming mag-asawa dahil gusto ng misis ko mapanood si Marco. Ako naman, siyempre si Patricia,” said Efren Legazpi of Panorama City.
On January 17th and 18th, Island Pacific Panorama City – The one store that saves you more -  gives people yet another reason to go to the supermarket as a family. Spend time with family members as you navigate the Food Booths inside the Kababayan Community Hall where vendors are giving free tastings and samplings of their products.
 

In addition to this, there will be free entertainment from a family of singers – world class Pinoy Jazz artist Mon David will be sharing the stage with his son and daughter – Carlo and Nicole David, in a very rare yet memorable moment not just for the audience, but also for the David family. 
 

Mon David

Nicole and Carlo are Pinoy siblings to watch out for. Though both fresh in their twenties, the two don’t appear to be newcomers in the scene as they exhibit maturity and creativity in their music. Being middle children of acclaimed International Jazz singer Mon David, Nicole and Carlo have been immensely exposed to music since they were kids.
 

Carlo and Nicole David

Nicole started guesting in her dad’s shows at the age of 12, and has then been exploring various fields of the performing arts. She was a part of the Ateneo Glee Club, did several musicals, singing and hosting gigs, and was a student leader in high school. In 2007, she graduated cum laude from Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, with a degree in Communication Arts.
 

Carlo, on the other hand, knew from the start that music was going to be his life. He played the piano until his teens, and then moved on to drums and guitar. Eventually, his love for singing unfolded, which makes him a multi-faceted artist. He attended the University of the Philippines’ College of Music, majoring in Composition.
Nicole and Carlo have recently discovered their passion in collaborating and writing their own music and material. They have found music instrumental in expressing their heart’s desires and in connecting to their present and future audience. They formed a band in the Philippines and started gigging around the Metro in 2008. They are now busy cultivating their craft and preparing for recording of their debut album. This unstoppable young breed of talent is raring to make their presence felt, both in the Philippines and to rest of the world.
 

Catch them at Island Pacific Supermarket with their father, Mon David, on Sunday, January 18th 2008.