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.
