Review of the 4th Annual San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival: A Sunday Kind of Love

p Editor#39;s note: This review is of the 4th Annual Filipino American Jazz Festival that took place Sunday October 9th at span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yoshi's" data-scaytid="5"Yoshi#39;s/span San Francisco)/p p nbsp;/p p emspan _fck_bookmark="1" style="display: none"object width=560 height=315span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="7"param/span name=movie value=a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TfjgRKkorzQ?version=3amp;hl=en_US/cke:paramcke:param"http://span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="www.youtube.com" data-scaytid="1"www.youtube.com/span/v/span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="TfjgRKkorzQ" data-scaytid="19"TfjgRKkorzQ/span?version=3amp;hl=en_US/span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="9"param/spanspan class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="11"param/span/a name=span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="allowFullScreen" data-scaytid="23"allowFullScreen/span value=true/span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="13"param/spanspan class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="15"param/span name=span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="allowscriptaccess" data-scaytid="25"allowscriptaccess/span value=always/span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="param" data-scaytid="17"param/spanembed span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="src" data-scaytid="29"src/span=a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/TfjgRKkorzQ?version=3amp;hl=en_US"http://span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="www.youtube.com" data-scaytid="3"www.youtube.com/span/v/span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="TfjgRKkorzQ" data-scaytid="21"TfjgRKkorzQ/span?version=3amp;hl=en_US/a type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=560 height=315 span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="allowscriptaccess" data-scaytid="27"allowscriptaccess/span=always span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="allowfullscreen" data-scaytid="31"allowfullscreen/span=true/embed/objectnbsp;/span/ememspan class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Dahil" data-scaytid="33"Dahil/span Sa span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Iyo" data-scaytid="37"Iyo/span/emmdash;Lena Sundayrsquo;s voice weaved through the syllablesmdash;unfamiliar vowels and consonantsmdash;slowly becoming familiar and vibrant like the sweet fragrance of span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Sampaguita" data-scaytid="41"Sampaguita/spanmdash;blooming into the centerpiece of the 4supth/supannual San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival at span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yoshi’s" data-scaytid="43"Yoshirsquo;s/span, located in San Franciscorsquo;s historic Fillmore District.nbsp; Sunday, a gifted singer and daughter of a span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Filipina" data-scaytid="51"Filipina/span mother and African American father, shared with the audience that she did not learn Tagalog growing up, that her Filipino identity was something she was still embracing and claiming as her own.nbsp; Lena Sundayrsquo;s rendition of the classic Filipino love song span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Dahil" data-scaytid="35"Dahil/span Sa span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Iyo" data-scaytid="39"Iyo/span, dedicated to her mother, was one of many heartfelt moments for jazz span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="kababayans" data-scaytid="53"kababayans/span and community members to listen to, remember and celebrate in the month of Octobermdash;Filipino American History Monthmdash;highlighting the Fillmorersquo;s Filipino roots, Filipino Jazz performers and their contributions to the African American gift which is jazz.nbsp;/p p The San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival is in its 4supth/supyear celebrating and showcasing outstanding and world class Filipino jazz artists from both the US and the Philippines. The festival has featured artists including Mon David, Primo Kim, John Calloway, span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Tateng" data-scaytid="57"Tateng/span span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Katindig" data-scaytid="59"Katindig/span, Sandra span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Viray" data-scaytid="61"Viray/span and Jo span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Canion" data-scaytid="63"Canion/span. The founders and organizers of the festival are Carlos and Myrna span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Zialcita" data-scaytid="65"Zialcita/spanmdash;2 musicians whose marriage reflects their love of sharing music and culturemdash;a love that gave birth to the festival. Being immersed in the music business they saw many talented Filipino jazz musicians whose gifts were not being exposedmdash;span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="underappreciated" data-scaytid="75"underappreciated/span in roles as side musicians, not being afforded opportunities to shine as headliners.nbsp; The festival is their effortmdash;in tandem with community educators, activistsmdash;to showcase these talented Filipino jazz musicians and vocalists to a wider audience.nbsp;/p p The journey to span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yoshi’s" data-scaytid="45"Yoshirsquo;s/spanmdash;a major jazz venue on the West Coastmdash;followed a year of events featuring Filipino jazz performers including a concert commemorating Jazz Appreciation Month, The Asian Heritage Street Celebration, the ldquo;People in the Plaza Concert Seriesrdquo; and various events throughout the Bay Area.nbsp; ldquo;It took a year for us to get the festival tonbsp;nbsp;nbsp;span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yoshi’s" data-scaytid="55"Yoshirsquo;s/spanrdquo; said Myrna span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Zialcita" data-scaytid="67"Zialcita/span.nbsp; ldquo;There are so many Filipino musicians that are world classmdash;musicians that need to be heardrdquo;.nbsp;/p p It is befitting that the festival be hosted in San Franciscorsquo;s Fillmore District, home of many Filipino families that settled in the neighborhood in the span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="1920s" data-scaytid="77"1920s/span.nbsp; Among those families were the Robles and span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Sorro" data-scaytid="79"Sorro/span familiesmdash;large families whose lives were inspired by the sounds of jazz coming from clubs like span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Jimbo’s" data-scaytid="83"Jimborsquo;s/span Bop City and the Blackhawk.nbsp; Poet Al Roblesmdash;widely regarded as the Poet Laureate of San Franciscorsquo;s span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Manilatown" data-scaytid="85"Manilatown/span and who was honored by the Festival in 2009mdash;paid homage tonbsp;nbsp;span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Pinoy" data-scaytid="87"Pinoy/span jazzmen Charlie span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Abing" data-scaytid="91"Abing/span and Flip Nunez in poems such as Jazz of My Youthmdash;two musicians with deep ties to the Filipino community pavingnbsp;the way for Filipino musicians to follow.nbsp;/p p Bill span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Sorro" data-scaytid="81"Sorro/span, activist and community leader who would later be a central figure in the struggle to fight the eviction of Filipino elders from the International Hotel, was inspired by jazz in his physical beingmdash;becoming a dancermdash;with a goal of joining the Alvin span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Ailey" data-scaytid="93"Ailey/span Dance Company. nbsp;nbsp;The Fillmore was home to African American families, Filipino families, mixed families that were both Filipino and black, as well as Japanese American and other multiracial families.nbsp; One legendary performer who grew up in the Fillmore to Black and Filipino parents was Sugar Pie span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="DeSanto" data-scaytid="95"DeSanto/spanmdash;who Carlos span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Zialcita" data-scaytid="69"Zialcita/span has performed and toured with and has lobbied for induction into the Rock nrsquo; Roll Hall of Fame.nbsp; So inspired was Al Robles by this African American art form, this language that touched his life that he wrote:/p p emSometimes my heart is Filipino/em/p p emSometimes my heart is black/em/p p emAnd sometimes my heart is Filipino and black/em/p p emAt the same time/em/p p The language of jazz is the language of heartbreak, struggle, survival and resistance.nbsp; The Fillmore was a neighborhood under attack in the span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="50s" data-scaytid="97"50s/span and span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="60s" data-scaytid="99"60s/span.nbsp; Slowly the neighborhood was demolished to make way for redevelopmentmdash;the idea being that the neighborhood was blighted and needed to be cleaned up.nbsp; Many families were forced outmdash;mostly low income families of color.nbsp; Beautiful Victorian houses were demolished.nbsp; The antique dealers with their affluent clientele from Marin County converged on those abandoned housesmdash;taking door knobs, banisters, and fixturesmdash;anything that could be sold.nbsp; The landscape was bulldozed and scarred but the sound of jazz remainedmdash;nothing could erase its memory deep in the soil and in the concrete canvasses where songs and scores were yet to be composed.nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;/p p The event was a homecoming, anchored by the music of the span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Pinoy" data-scaytid="89"Pinoy/span Jazz Quartetmdash;whose passionate playing and relaxed presence showed deference and respect to the audiencemdash;a multicultural gumbo of jazz lovers, friends, elders, youthmdash;a multiethnic Bay Area audience who came out en masse to support the gifts of our community within the spacious yet intimate setting of span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yoshi’s" data-scaytid="49"Yoshirsquo;s/span.nbsp; The quartet included long time musicians Ben Luis on bass, Rey Cristobal on piano, span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Melecio" data-scaytid="121"Melecio/span span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Magdaluyo" data-scaytid="123"Magdaluyo/span on sax and flute and Richard span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Aguon" data-scaytid="125"Aguon/span on drums. Their range was impressive, expertly handling standards from the great American songbook, as well as classics and fusion.nbsp;/p p San Francisco born vocalist Lena Sunday wowed the audience with her vocal prowess on songs such as ldquo;Centerpiecerdquo; and ldquo;Throw it awayrdquo;mdash;showing why she was the featured singer in Lou Rawls#39; band for 4 years, as well as a session singer/songwriter for artists such as Stevie Wonder and Nancy Wilson.nbsp; Her self-effacing presence was engaging and refreshing in a world of self-absorbed lesser performers who are too often given the label of span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="“diva.”" data-scaytid="101"ldquo;diva.rdquo;/span/p p span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Millbrae" data-scaytid="103"Millbrae/span based, world class vocalist Ann Marie Santos revved up the audience with classics such as ldquo;Love for Salerdquo; and ldquo;It donrsquo;t mean a thing (If it ainrsquo;t got that swing)rdquo;.nbsp; Santos, who started singing at the age of 6 and has toured and performed all over Asia, is a returning performer to the Festival, having appeared in 2009, performing a duet with Mon David, bringing down the house in the eventrsquo;s finale. Her passionate performance prompted host Carlos span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Zialcita" data-scaytid="71"Zialcita/span to declare, ldquo;Somebody call the fire department lsquo;cause itrsquo;s getting real hot in hererdquo;.nbsp; Her rendition of ldquo;What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Liferdquo; got me teary eyed (but Irsquo;m sure I wasnrsquo;t the only one)./p p Pianist Winston span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Raval" data-scaytid="113"Raval/span shared his giftsmdash;which include being a pioneer in the area of jazz fusion as well as a band leader and musical director.nbsp; His playing struck an emotional chord that somehow connects jazz with our indigenous past.nbsp; span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Raval" data-scaytid="115"Raval/span is a pioneer in connecting jazz with indigenous Filipino instruments bringing aboutmdash;what Myrna span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Zialcita" data-scaytid="73"Zialcita/span describes as ldquo;A redefinition of what jazz means.nbsp; You canrsquo;t keep peoplersquo;s influence from coming into the genre.nbsp; When you bring your culture into jazz, you add it to that span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="gumbo.”" data-scaytid="105"gumbo.rdquo;/spannbsp; Winston span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Raval" data-scaytid="117"Raval/span is an extremely accomplished musician, having written the scores to 23 films in the Philippines.nbsp; During the evening, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award on behalf of the Festival.nbsp; His humor was not lost on the honormdash;in introducing the song ldquo;Who Can I turn To (When nobody needs me)rdquo;mdash;he changed the title to ldquo;Who can I turn to when your GPS is driving you span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="crazy.”" data-scaytid="107"crazy.rdquo;/span/p p Annie Brazil showed why she is called ldquo;Asiarsquo;s Queen of span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Jazz.”" data-scaytid="109"Jazz.rdquo;/spannbsp; Her style and repertoire is classic and classymdash;her songs coming from the Great American songbook.nbsp; Singing since the age of nbsp;6, she grew up in the district of San Miguel near span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Malacanang" data-scaytid="137"Malacanang/span Palace and has performed all over the world.nbsp; She performed with bands led by span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Iggy" data-scaytid="139"Iggy/span De Guzman, span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Pepe" data-scaytid="141"Pepe/span span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Merto" data-scaytid="143"Merto/span, Cesar span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Velasco" data-scaytid="145"Velasco/span and Ding span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Yalung" data-scaytid="147"Yalung/span.nbsp; Brazil ran clubs and booked acts which brought her into contact with American jazz performers. She jammed with Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, James Moody, Ellis span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Marsalis" data-scaytid="149"Marsalis/span and Sarah Vaughn.nbsp; When asked about Billy span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Eckstine" data-scaytid="151"Eckstine/span, she once said, ldquo;I bow to Billy span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Eckstine.”" data-scaytid="111"Eckstine.rdquo;/spannbsp;nbsp;Her unique voice nailed timeless songs such as ldquo;Satin Doll,rdquo; nbsp;ldquo;Smile,rdquo; and a medley of Tagalog songs.nbsp; The 78 year old Brazil recently released an album of classic songs with new arrangements, produced by her son, vocalist Richard Merck.nbsp; Currently based in New York, she continues to perform regularly./p p The festival honored Annie Brazil, Winston span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Raval" data-scaytid="119"Raval/span and Bob span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Parlocha" data-scaytid="129"Parlocha/span with lifetime achievement awards.nbsp; span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Parlocha" data-scaytid="131"Parlocha/span, a native of Vallejo and son of a Filipino father and Afro Filipino mother, is a musician and was music director for legendary radio station span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="KJAZ" data-scaytid="135"KJAZ/span, was affectionately spoken of for his radio programming and knowledge of jazzmdash;a genre that he celebrated on his syndicated program ldquo;Jazz with Bob span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="Parlocha" data-scaytid="133"Parlocha/spanrdquo;mdash;a program that is aired in both the US and Canada.nbsp;/p p The close of the show featured the three vocalists on stage together, singing in the scatting style that is beyond words but is all feeling.nbsp; And the feeling was that we were at homemdash;in the Fillmore, in the heart of jazz, in the heart of our story that is in a big pot of gumbo and rice and span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="adobo--that" data-scaytid="153"adobo--that/span pot of jazz in which Filipino musicians have added their own flavor to the many flavors that it is.nbsp; For more information on the festival, go to span class="scayt-misspell" data-scayt_word="www.sfpinoyjazzfest.com" data-scaytid="127"www.sfpinoyjazzfest.com/span./p p nbsp;/p p copy; 2011 Tony Robles/p p nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;/p