Manila - Ermita - Jazz Singer - Thursdays - 7/2010

Philippines has a lot of bands and a lot of singers. Quality is variable, but many are very good. The focus is primarily on rock and pop songs. There is probably hip-hop too, but I do not enter nightclubs with high-volume deafening music system.

On Mabini Street, next to the CityState Tower Hotel, which is on the corner of Padre Faura Street is a new small hotel, called Grand Prix Hotel. On its 7th floor is a small restaurant, called Namayan, after one of the three kingdoms in 12th century Luzon island.

A banner in front of the hotel advertised 25-peso beer on Thursdays and Fridays, starting at 8 pm in its restaurant.

On the first Thursday night in July 2010, I checked it out.

The restaurant was small with about a half dozen tables in the front room, more tables in the back room to the left, and a dark terrace to the right that might have tables but I could not see what was there. The main room was refreshingly air conditioned and each table was covered with an ornate white table cloth and dinnerware settings for four persons. Musical instruments, music stand, and speakers were set up to the right, besides the door to the terrace.

When I entered about 11 pm, there were three people at the table next to the music setup, two people to the left at the table next to the glass divider to the back room, and two people at a table in the back room on the far left. In addition, there were about half dozen restaurant staffers.

I sat down and ordered a San Miguel pilsen beer. A waiter handed me a menu. It listed various Filipino dishes, starting at about 150 pesos and with most dishes priced in the mid-200 pesos.

A little after 11 pm, two people at the table next to the music setup got up. One was a female singer (looked late 20s or early 30s) and the other was a male guitarist (looked like a serious classical musician). She picked up a microphone and he turned on an amplifier. They began to perform.

The music was ranged from jazzy pop to bossa nova songs. She sang all the songs, except a middle selection. The guitarist sang it and he was the contrast that reminded how excellent her singing was. Her voice was powerful, always on key and musical. When her voice reached for high notes, she brought in an earthly growl.

I requested any slow jazz song, like a Sade tune. She selected a song that she said she had not sung in a long time and called it an Ella Fitzgerald classic. It was "Misty". Her voice did not imitate Ella, but reminded me of Ella's jazz power. By the way, her version of Misty did not give goosebumps, like the Roberta Flack rendition done in Clint Eastwood's film "Play Misty For Me".

After the approximate 45-minute set, the last for the evening, I thanked the singer. She said that her name was Leah. It was the first time that she sung there and would return next Thursday with her first set at 7 pm.

I left a little before midnight, since it was her last set. Also, I drank four beers which was enough for me. My restaurant bill for four beers was exactly 100 pesos. By comparison, beer price on the menu was 47 pesos, which it stated included VAT. The restaurant did not tack on a service charge on the bill.

If you like jazz and bossa nova songs by a most excellent female voice to an electric guitar, then Thursday nights at Grand Prix Hotel is highly recommended. The air conditioning was a nice relief and the cheap beer was a liquid confort.

Update.

Grand Prix Hotel's restaurant no longer offers 25-peso beer after 8 pm. As of mid-July 2010, it offers a bucket of beers (5-6 bottles) for under 300 pesos. Fair price for an air-conditioned room with entertainment.

Another jazz or jazzy pop singer. Sunday night, about 8 pm at Poseidon. Located on Del Pilar Street, half block north of Padre Faura Street. The club is next to Hobbit House and near Best Western Hotel. No air conditioning, but there are several rotating fans. Beer price started at 50 pesos plus 10 percent service charge.

Band consisted of four Filipinos: two female singers, one male keyboard plaer, and one male drummer. One of the female singers was very good, although she did not have as large a vocal range as Leah Cruz at Grand Prix Hotel's restaurant on Thursdays.

One little problem was that occasionally the audience has to listen to the other female sing (too much high range distortion - due to her microphone technique, or a flat quality to her high notes?) and a barely audible song by the keyboard player. I think my table of customers indicated clearly who we liked to hear. Otherwise, I enjoyed the club stop.

Manila - Jazz Festival - Feb 2011

Manila has jazz groups and singers. But, you have to search to find them.

Part of the problem is determining what is jazz. Reason is that a lot of music groups and singers do not do only jazz, but other types of music. Also, there are many types of jazz.

Personally, as a casual listener, I prefer a great singer singing sadly. Sometimes, I like the cool jazz of Brubeck, the classicism of the Modern Jazz Quartet, New Orleans jazz, or Dixieland jazz.

Where to find them?

In Ermita, try:
-- Grand Prix Hotel, 7th floor restaurant on Thursday nights starting about 8 pm.
-- Hyatt Casino, 2nd floor, currently the Moonjazz band is playing 3 or 4 sets on Wednesday nights, starting about 9 pm.
-- Hotel Pavillion casino, 2nd floor, formerly Thursday nights for the Manila Brass Quintet.
-- Samba Brasil restaurant bar used to have a band that played some Brazilian jazz, but the place closed in December 2010 and is now Bloopers that offers acoustic music (usually a solo guitar player/singer doing pop and folk tunes).
-- Poseidon had a band with one of its singers who did jazz-like singing, but this place closed about November 2010.

In Makati, try:
-- Merk's Place, Colbella Arcade, 2nd floor, 910 Pasay Road, 378-0546, 701-2289, 0906-490-4730. Wednesday nights.
-- Oxford Suites, O Lounge, Burgos street, between Makati Avenue and Kalayaan Ave. Thursday nights.

Now for the heart of this post.

P.I. Jazzfest 2011 is being held Feb 3 - Mar 2, 2011. Several venues are being used for the daily shows. See www.pijazzfest.com .

A photo shows the schedule. Note that: Salon DeNing is at The Peninsula Hotel, Ayala Ave and Makati Ave. O Lounge is at the Oxford Suites hotel, Burgos St, Makati.

June 2012

See www.pijazzfest.com

Jazz festival on June 1 and 2, 2012 at Sofitel hotel, Philippine Plaza, the filled-in bay area behind the Cultural Center (CCP) and Star City.

Tickets are available. Try https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/Online/default.asp