|
Affinity performing at the Upsilon Jazz Concert XII, November, 2003 at the University of Philippines Theatre, and televised on RPN-9. Compositions included Alegre’s “Perfect Imperfect” and Bermejo’s “Dark Cloud”.
AFFINITY: Tues. Sept. 14, Conspiracy Garden Café, 59 Visayas Ave., QC
A review by Rocelle Aragon
THE PLACE:
The first thing to know about this place: if you live anywhere except Quezon City, it’s FAR.
The second thing to know: it’s worth it.
'Inuman, kainan, tambayan, kuwentuhan, kantahan, mitingan, kontsabahan' in Joey Ayala’s words. “Owned and operated by Bayang Barrios, Joey Ayala, Noel Cabangon, Cynthia Alexander, Cooky Chua, Gary Granada, Conrad de Quiros, Lynn Sherman, Risa Hontiveros and close to a hundred others!” This is what it says on their e-group homepage.
Unusual for a jazz venue, Conspiracy is airy and gently well-lit (you can always see what you’re eating, and whose toes you’re stepping on), with smoking strictly kept outside. The menu’s got a bit of everything, including tofu and pakbet for QC’s vegetarian contingent. After all, nowhere is it written that jazz venues must be pitch-dark and hell on your lungs and liver.
But the best thing about Conspiracy is the entertainment: diverse and adventurous, while strongly reflecting the alternative bent of its co-owners. Among the regulars is AFFINITY: a trio/quartet/quintet (depending on the gig), which has evolved from a one-time session band to become a staple of Manila’s jazz scene.
THE BAND
At the time of jazzphil night, Affinity was Johnny Alegre (guitar, bandleader), Koko Bermejo on drums, Tots Tolentino on sax, Colby de la Calzada on bass, and Elhmir Saison on keyboards. It really is all-star – some of the best in local jazz, each with a name and following of his own. Other musicians regularly drop in or substitute, but this is the group that’s recorded an album, which we’ll talk about later.
It’s unusual to find a band that has different numbers, and different members. “It’s a dynamic group concept,” as Alegre puts it. Some of them have known each other over 25 years: Alegre first met bassist de la Calzada in 1976, sax maestro Tolentino in 1977. But no matter who’s on, the rotating cast is bound by a musical kinship. As keyboardist Saison puts it, “You [find bandmates] by getting to know them, what they’re like and how they think -- even more than hearing them. Because music is character; who you are comes out in how you play.” Affinity, indeed.
Onstage, they don’t talk much, going from one song straight into another. They’re always intense, animated; whether it’s a mainstream or fusion set or whatever instrument you prefer, you’re sure to catch more than one fiery solo that makes it worth the price of admission. (If anything, some of the solos go on too long!) You hear the rapport, but also the challenge and provocation. This is why they’re fun to watch: you’re never sure how (or when!) the song’s going to end.
When a vocalist joins them (Cooky Chua or Mishka Adams at recent gigs), she becomes an instrument like the others, not “singer-with-a-backing-band.” During a gig at Chaquico’s, Cooky standards like “If I Were a Bell” were relaxed and impressionistic -- if you didn’t know the lyrics yet, that wouldn’t have been the night to learn!
How does such a band begin? “It’s only recently that my personality emerged -- not as a composer, but as a performer… my playing had to catch up to the sounds in my head.” A music geek since being in the first batch of the UP Jazz Ensemble, playing rock in the ‘70s and helping shape the sound of ‘80s OPM as a producer, Alegre had quit music altogether before crawling out of his shell to join JR Cobb – an ad hoc band literally born in the pinoyjazz e-group. But when the band that had drifted together eventually drifted apart, there was no going back for Alegre. He formed Affinity, cherry-picking the local scene’s best to record his composition “Stones of Intramuros” for 2002’s Adobo Jazz anthology. Two-and-a-half years later, the single has grown into an album.
THE ALBUM
As yet untitled, the album is targeted for release early 2005 on Candid. It features eight compositions by Alegre, one by former bassist de la Calzada (who’s since left the group, with Simon Tan taking over). It will be packaged with a performance video featuring two more compositions, by Alegre and Koko Bermejo. Early mixes (“Guardian Angel” by Alegre and “Groove” by de la Calzada) are intriguing, controlled and oddly serene compared to the band’s blazing live performances. However it turns out, though, the album will be an event: a rare document of some of Manila’s top jazz talent dancing each other toward the edge.
THE NIGHT
September 14, 2004 saw a full house -- something all too rare at jazz gigs! It seems the band’s once-a-month Conspiracy gigs have earned them a regular following. The first set was a stroll through the standards (Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, a Brazilian tune, a “Night & Day” that rescued the song from lounge singer hell). A rare treat that night was guitarist Bob Basa, in town from San Francisco, who took the stage for a restrained but masterly “Desafinado”. In the second set, Koko Bermejo’s drumstick flew off midway through one of his characteristically explosive solos. But he literally didn’t miss a beat, just calmly reached back with his left hand while the right kept time. Sadly, we had to leave when the second set had barely started. It was a long way from home -- but as always, Affinity made the miles worthwhile.
|
Rhany Torres is at it again :)
