Like everybody else in the fully-packed venue, I had a good time at the 4th Annual Fil-Am Jazz Festival held at the Catalina Bar and Grill in Sunset Blvd., LA, last Saturday Dec 27.Saxophonist Jon Iragon’s playing was simply breathtaking. Charmain Clamor certainly deserves all the good press given her. Mon David (now pronounced DAY-vid) and the other Fil-Am performers gave world class performances.
But did I hear Filipino Jazz last night? The jazz was excellent; the playing and the music superb, no doubt about it. (The lyrics became stilted and preachy at times, though.)
But even with the “jazzipino” label being bandied about, I still have to hear jazz where you can perceive and feel Filipino music and sensibility (not just playing known Filipino music in jazz or using Filipino lyrics). We still have are waiting for our Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes and João Gilberto to create our jazz.
This inappropriately and scruffily dressed jazz fan, seated on the bar to the right of the stage, managed to consume 5 corona extras ($45 including tips). This on top of the $30 entrance ($5 service fee included) and a $15 Charmain Clamor CD, duly autographed. And for this unemployed, dollar to peso converting migrant, it was all worth it.
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