Gabe Cabonce, Anton & Joko (Isnt She Lovely)

FEB. 17, 2017 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE

In the music room's 36 years in existence, i had never really successfully mastered predicting how events eventually develop on a particular night. Sometimes circumstances even defies common logic. But one thing for sure, the festivities always ends up on a positive note (no pun intended) every time. Praise and thank God!

Last night was a perfect example. Just as when i had already perceived and concluded that it was going to be a slow and an uneventful night, it suddenly shifted. Hence i was again proven wrong. Things quickly turned around for the better. Oh, when will i ever learn?

In reality, there was really no special occasion in store despite house band main honcho Tinnie Esguerra's birthday. In fact, due to his recent car coding dilemma, there was no certainty if he will even show up at all. Furthermore, with a few regular key house band personalities currently out of town and some unable to come for some reason or the other, things were looking bleak for the Friday jam. And so i thought!

Earlier, I had already broadcasted through live feed about the prospects of an imminent quiet night happening. But when balik music room Gabby Villanueva showed up, there emerged a ray of hope upon learning that Tinnie had spoken to him about a plan of coming over along with Gabe Cabonce, a young prolific bassist of high repute who is also his personal friend. Immediately i knew that something exciting was brewing up.

Suddenly, while Gabby and I were nonchallantly conversing at the front entrance, teen prodigy Joko Reantaso and his dad Jay arrived. Guitarist extraordinaire Anton Atengco then made an appearance as well. And with house band drummer Bubui Colico around too, we were definitely on a roll.

As you might have expected, the jam was super awesome with Gabe's inimmitable bass playing a la Jaco Pastorius' rift and style. Joko and Anton, surely, was no pushover either. Bubui came to his own with his usual flair in drumming to complete the ensemble. Awesome jam indeed! Who says it's gonna be quiet?
...i plead guilty!

Though he played the keyboards and guitar on occasions, birthday boy Tinnie opted for less participation and was content to just chill out and be an audience instead, enjoying the band perform for most of the evening. Who can blame him? Birthday greetings to a good friend and one of the greatest musicians, in my book, that i had the pleasure of collaborating with. Truly a rare breed. God bless your kind Mr. Esguerra.

Thanks to Joaco Marco (still feeling under the weather), Rick Trinidad, Nikki Segundo, Tristan Bael, Roger Salazar, Mark Longos, Luisa Distor and to all the other friends and newbie guests who were present last night. Truly made the evening complete and extra special for all. Last but not the least, let me not forget to thank Jay Reantaso for the yummy pizza treat he shared to everyone! God bless you!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Jam at Pete's Place - Feb. 10 - 2017 - Feat Nitoy Adriano & Bobby Alvarez (The Joker)

FEB. 10, 2017 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE

NEWS FLASH: "FRIDAY JAM LASTED FOR 4 HOURS, SETS NEW RECORD".

If i were to ask this question to music room regulars, how do you think would they interpret this news bit? Normally, if one reads this particular play on words, you would quickly think of it as a feat or an achievement of sorts. Don't be fooled. Sometimes words can be tricky and don't usually seem as it is in reality.

It's amazing how ones perspective alters and changes everything. Nothing out of the ordinary, jammers did come to play and the live stage action began at it's usual time at around 10pm. It prospered and went on its usual business for 4 straight hours but it ended much much earlier by our standards. Too early for me, in fact. By 2:30am it was all over. 2 hours short of normal. We didn't even get to reach our much revelled Magic Hour. Earning a new record of sorts for the earliest time we packed up and closed shop since time immemorial. Come to think of it, even if our keyboard lord did show up eventually, he would have arrived too late and would've missed it anyway.

By the numbers, we actually did get a respectable turnout of musicians on stage last night. Among them were guitar icon Nitoy Adriano, houseband honchos guitarist Joaco Marco, bassists Rick Trinidad and Dennis Espiritu, keyboardist Pecky Casuela, guitarist/vocalist Mark Longos and vocalist Monchie Henares. Music room neophytes keyboardist Ralph Lauren Gulapa and guitarist Emman Yuzon and frequent guest jammer vocalist/guitarist Bobby Alvarez and his buddy (i forgot his name) were in the house as well.

The jam was free willy with no particular genre set on the menu but ended predominantly towards classic rock and blues. As usual, i had my hands busy on playing the drums and bass alternately. Some of the guys even took turns alternating instruments along the way just to fill in the vacancy to complete the overall sound of the band. Don't we always.

Personally, i would have wanted to jam longer but some of the guys were already tired and some had early commitments the next day needing to leave prematurely. It was just one of those days. Well, there's always next time to look forward to. No problem.

To the other houseband mates who are under the weather and indisposed, do know that we are wishing you well. Get well soon guys!

Special thanks to my ever resourceful and crafty kumpadre Monchie for volunteering and successfully repairing the drum mic clamp i broke earlier. You are the man! God bless your kind.

And so we bid adieu to an odd record breaking and historic night. Let's see what next Friday brings. As always, I thank and praise God for all the blessings!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Jam at Pete's Place - Feb. 3, 2017 - We Are The World/ We Are The Children

FEB. 3, 2017 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE

From dismal to epic was to be the big story on Friday's jam night. It was imminent that a turnaround was forthcoming after the past few serene and sober nights we've had in the music room lately. Sooner or later it was meant to change.

Last night was totally diffferent! Seeing guitarist Loren Orendain's early morning post on facebook while he was replacing his guitar strings, i knew right away that he was up to something. I consciously made an effort to come down and get ready earlier than schedule knowing that he habitually comes early if he does. As predicted, Loren arrived right on queue along with his trusty roadie right behind him. It was time for the flyboy to try out his new toys.

Minutes later, house band bassist Rick Trinidad shows up. We were ready to start. Quickly, we got into position. Balik-music room Ralph Lauren Gulapa and his younger brother who also arrived early joined in too. That was to be the first wave of jammers for the night.

Good to see vocalist/guitarist Bobby Alvarez back and timely catching up with his good friend and bandmate Loren. Both of them along with the other regular guys already on stage ably took second slot.

Meanwhile, the evening quickly turned extra special when friends you have not seen for so long suddenly shows up. Fellow Air Force brats, childhood friends and music room pioneers, who all came from another event, got together and decided to make a surprise visit. Currently based abroad, music room pioneer and childhood buddy Leo Diano's surprise appearance was the highlight of it all. Ecstatic to see the presence of the Diano clan in full force last night.

Among the kindred present were Lucas and Myla Diano, Paul and Nomy Diano with their daughter Breanna Elise, Erik Diano and cousin Ediboy Diano a.k.a. Edgar Mortiz..

Ana Distor-Mcgroarty and her son Kyle were also in the house. Incidentally, it was Ana's birth anniversary as well. Happy birthday to our dearest Ana Distor-Mcgroarty! May God shower you with more blessings!

Incidentally, the other co-military brats around were Bob Gabor, Larry Gabor, Pito Lawas and Corky Aquino. Also present were batch mates Jun Bediones and Selo Cruz...good friends Arabelle Jimenez, Nikki Segundo....bandmates Joaco Marco, Bubui Colico, Monchie Henares and Vince Garrucho. Thank you, thank you so much! I love you guys!

At about 3am, when most of the guests and the other musicians had already packed up and left, and just as he had appropriately claimed, keyboard lord Kiko Montecillo arrives and resuscitates the jam to life as foretold. As always the best time for me and maybe for the rest. Kudos to Kiko, the Magic Hour lives up to its word because of him. Thanks man!

At exactly 5am and after all of the jamming was over, it was time to call it a night. Awesome jam, as always! Thank and Praise God!

So what's it going to be next Friday? Your guess is as good as mine. We'll soon find out. See you all then!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!