Music review: A night of jazz with Skarlet and AMP Nonet band

There is no better way to celebrate one's birthday than with music. And what better music than jazz? Who better to celebrate with than one's family and Skarlet and the Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino (AMP) Nonet?

 

Skarlet and the latter party had a gig at the Dusit Thani mezzanine last April 16, 2012. They were amazing, as they always are. The capacity-crowd reacted warmly to the music, applauding solos and cleverly-turned improvised phrases. A few stalwart audience members even jitterbugged to the more infectious numbers. Heartening.

 

It has long been my belief that jazz lost mainstream popularity when people stopped dancing to it. 

Many wonder why Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, et al hold people in such thrall. Who cares what the performer is wearing (or not wearing, as the base may key) if the music gets your booty shaking?

 

In the case of artists such as Skarlet and AMP Nonet honcho Mel Villena, it doesn't take much to inspire booty-shaking in the audience, as these musicians' own booties shake infectiously all night long.

 

There are perhaps no better jazz ambassadors to the mainstream than Mel and Skarlet. Skarlet sets nights ablaze with her sass, fervor, and Ella-informed vocal chops. Mel is always endearing in a total-performer, jazz teddy bear sort of way. He's a thinking man's Christian Bautista.  

And boy, his musicians are great!  

 

Simon Tan is our generation's best bassist. Michael "Pikong" Guevarra is a monster saxophonist whose incantations on tenor sax are inspired enough to make Coltrane turn over and raise a glass in salute. Keyboardist Joey Quirino is a mad scientist on the keys, a whirling dervish of post-bop who inspires equal measures of awe and fear in the cognoscenti. Drummer Jun Austria is a senyor who sets a good example for younger generations with his tasteful, passionate playing and his clean living. Trumpeter Nestor Gonzaga is an ideal exemplar of how to age well as a musician. His chops put to shame that of many players in their 20s and 30s.

 

Trombonist Ronnie Marqueses is another exemplar musician. Each gig finds him in good form. His playing impresses us more and more with each passing gig.

 

Alto saxophonist Joey de Guzman is one of the finer alto players of his generation, and is a fine amateur photographer as well.

 

Guitarist Noel "Dikong" Santiago is a monster player whose command of nearly all genres (blues, jazz, rock, classical, pop, funk, kundiman) makes him a truly exemplary guitarist.

 

Mel Villena is a pleasure to watch if only because he straddles so many aspects of music and performance. That he is an arranger par excellence and the very epitome of taste is common knowledge. That he's an incredible baritone saxophonist is obvious and need not even be said. That he is an amazing, charismatic band leader, this too is well-known. A pleasant surprise last night was hearing Mel sing a few Sinatra numbers.

 

This writer applauds Mel's vocal competence and wishes to hear more of his singing.

 

His dancing chops are noteworthy too! When the mood hits, he takes Skarlet for a few spins on the dance floor, to appreciative hoots and catcalls from the audience.

 

This writer can think of no better way to turn 39 than with a vision of senyor Mel Villena dancing and jazzing the night away. –KG, GMA News