Saturday, December 29, 2018
DEC. 28, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
Barring the effects of a lurking tropical storm in the country, our penultimate Friday Jam for year 2018 won’t be deprived from us. Though unclear at the onset of what would eventually be the outcome due to its presence, pretty soon it was quite clear that it was to be favorable. The festivity would have had an early start and will conclude at its usual closing time before day break.
Our busy and illusive house band drummer Bubui Colico who came straight from work, found freedom from the fuhrer and was the very first person to show up. Minutes later, Sgt. Peppers Studio proprietor and big boss Ed Evangelista along with balik-music room and guitar legend Nitoy Adriano arrived. By this time, bassist Rick Trinidad was already on his way over. The jam was now inevitable.
Immediately the jam got off spearheaded by Ed playing rhythm and vocals, Nitoy on lead guitar along with Bubui and Rick as back up. Ed rendered a whole set of classic 70’s rock tunes apart from some original compositions in his repertoire.
The jam became even more interesting with the surprise arrival of Shanghai based guitarist Tosh Murayama and his young and talented daughter Dyennes who incidentally plays the trumpet. By now more house band regulars had arrived to join in the fun among who were jazz instrumentalists Tinnie Esguerra, Dolf Cruz, Kiko Montecillo, Pj Cura, Jj Disini and Vincent Garrucho.
Dyennes was a total revelation as a trumpeteer. With her playing skills interpreting some familiar jazz tunes with the band was totally fascinating. Dyennes’ presence and participation was a joy to behold having added a brass section to the ensemble plus seeing a person as young as she is performing confidently on stage. Her stint was enough impetus to entice Vincent from bringing out his flute too. If I hadn’t had self control, I would’ve also brought down my saxophone as well and come out of retirement. Come to think of it, maybe i should soon. Nevertheless, awesome jam guys!
Much later, the youngsters arrived in a group. Spectators at first but eventually took over the stage while the elders enjoyed a much needed break. Leading the young blood of musicians on board were Ryan Nacino, Pierce De Guzman and Justine Lim among others. These guys are always welcome to alternate with the house band when the latter is on break. The kids did their finale set to close the jam after most of the regulars had already packed up and left. By past 4am the stage was quiet and empty. It was time to call it a night.
And so our final jam for the year had concluded. Looking forward to another exciting new year of bonding and great music ahead of us. Thank you Lord for a wonderful year!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, December 22, 2018
DEC. 21, 2018 - CHRISTMAS PARTY 2018 UPDATE & PHOTOS
Last night’s Pete’s Place Music Room Christmas celebration was one humongous success, to say the least. Praise and thank God. The festivity was action packed commencing at 7pm till about daybreak. It was totally monumental with a multitude of partygoers flocking the room coming relentlessly in droves to party all night long. Food and drinks were in abundance, as well, thanks to all the generous donors.
The place was packed right through the rafters with family, friends, regular music room guys and guest musicians in attendance. The live music started promptly from the very start with lap steel guru Haro Hecter at the forefront. The younger generation of musicians showed up early and joined Haro comprising the first wave of musicians on stage. The jam was nonstop from start to finish with each new set of musicians taking turns showcasing their talents. An array of genres from Rock, to Blues, to Jazz, to Pop, to classics and the new wave of music were in the menu for the evening.
To add even more excitement, the occasion was further highlighted with my mom’s 87th birthday salubong greetings and blowing of the cake happening right at the stroke of midnight. HAPPY 87TH BIRTHDAY TO MY MOTHER DEAREST!
Moving along, world class musicians in the likes of Lou Bonnevie, Brat Pack’s Xtine Mercado, keyboard wizard Rj Pineda, Joko Reantaso, Tinnie Esguerra, Kiko Montecillo, Bob the American jazz drummer from Califorina, along with a handful of regular house band honchos and a few others displayed their musical magic on stage to the delight of everyone around. Special mention to Dolf Cruz, Rick Trinidad, Joaco Marco, Monchie Henares, Vincent Garrucho, Mayette Clemente, Bubui Colico, Adriano sisters Michelle and Kat, Boots Bautista, Toby Alberto, Mark Ronquillo, Fonz Cabal, Pau Villanueva, Ryan Pineda, Ryan Nacino, Pierce de Guzman, Justine Lim and some other young musicians for their participation. Thank you guys!
Also acknowledging the presence of Air Force brats John and Peter Sarmiento, Deana Aquino, Luigi, Paul & Nomy Diano, John-John de Leon and Corky and Skip Aquino. Also to my wife Vicky and my kids Kevin and Nisee, my mom, my mother-in-law mama Loly, uncle Dom, sis-in law's Ana Mara and Tintin Mara-Reed, niece’s Fini and Tina Mara, dear friends Richard Parcia, Cali Tiansay, Gigi and Bambi Rubio, Luisa Distor, Weena Koike, Randy Soliven, Johnny Wassmer, Toto Gentica, Raul Julian, Gab Villanueva and to all the other personalities i had forgotten to mention. Always happy to see you guys around!
And so it goes. Another ultra successful event had come to pass. As always grateful for all the blessings! From all of us at Pete’s Place Music Room, A VERY MERRY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, December 15, 2018
DEC. 14, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
With everyone avoiding traffic anticipating an imminent carmagedon happening, the evening’s outcome was in question. Being a payday weekend, the holiday season plus the rain, compounding the situation even more. Smelling chaos up ahead, most of the guys opted to just stay put and not push it any more than reasonable. Totally understandable to say the least. And yes, the thought and acceptance that it was to be an early night did cross my mind. Well, i was wrong.
In fact, the festivity officially started earlier than usual, commencing timely while I was still busy setting up the room before opening time. High school batchmate and rhythm guitarist brader Allan Flores travelled straight from Bataan where he is based, made a surprise visit just a week too early prior to the Music Room’s Christmas party. He wanted to be sure to make it over and be around as he is unable make it to next week’s party. If that’s his situation, i’ll definitely take it.
Immediately, we went straight down to business. Just two of us on stage to start, with Allan playing the guitar and i playing bass complemented with some vocal harmonies, we were able to survive. Soon, Monotones honcho Ryan Nacino timely arrives and played the keyboards to complete a trio. All we needed then was a drummer.
Suddenly, at the middle of the jam, comes two strangers sheepishly entering the room both in astonishment and amazement of what they got themselves into, obviously first timers to the place. I stood up, approached and welcomed them in. An American and a Filipina couple from the US they are. Bob who is American and Laurice a Filipina are from California and in town just visiting. Asked how they found out about our place? Well, they said that they had Googled us. Actually, the majority of our international music room friends had similarly learned and found their way over to us through the internet, too. Amusing fun fact indeed.
Apparently, Bob is a prolific drummer and plays with a jazz trio in New York. The newbies had actually searched online a suitable place nearby to go to as Bob was already itching to play. Wish granted, Bob found a place deservedly earning his chance to jam with the band. He quickly sat behind the drum kit, enjoying and playing his heart out for an hour straight, to the delight of everyone. Truly a natural. We hope to see and jam with Bob again at the Christmas party on Friday.
The other musicians who also performed were house band bassist Rick Trinidad, guitarist Pau Villanueva, drummer Rj Palma, synth keyboardist Pierce de Guzman, drummer and vocalist Rich Cruz, vocalist John de Leon and to a lady guest volunteer who sang a few songs with us on stage.
Also acknowledging balik-music room Ed Diano’s presence. It’s been quite a while since Ediboy’s last visit to the place. Always great to see this chap around. And to Nikki Segundo, Rico Tayko, Larry Gabor, Gab Villanueva, Lauren Panuncialman and a few others i failed to recall, thank you all for coming. You guys made tonight’s gathering a total success.
The stage was quiet and empty at 4am with still a handful of guests around chatting, drinking and partying. The closers opted to sit and hang out at the smoking area outside for the nightcap. At exactly 4:35am, along with the thunderous roar of commercial jets taking off one after the other from the airport close by, it was time to call it the night. Mission accomplished.
On Friday Dec. 21, 2018 will be our much anticipated Pete’s Place Music Room Christmas Party. It promises to be another epic musical event in the making. Already looking forward to it! Don’t you dare miss it!
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, December 8, 2018
DEC. 7, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS
We were hitting almost midnight and still it was just bassist Rick Trinidad, music room regular Gab Villanueva and youngster Pierce de Guzman in the room with me. Bewildered, we wondered why the other guys had not arrived yet. Nonetheless, I was not really losing hope as I already got word, earlier in the day, that drummer Atty. Jj Disini will be coming over with some of his legal staff from his law firm to jam.
Apparently, apart from the usual weekend Christmas holiday traffic all over the metropolis, there was a vehicular accident on the west service road leading to our location that subsequently caused a gridlock. I was informed that some of the guys who were already on their way to the room decided to abort and so just turned back. Those who persevered successfully made it over.
The traffic must have had improved already at the choke point, that by 12:30am guests started arriving in droves. Just moments later, the room was already filled with merrymakers all hyped to party. Praise God, we were back in business.
By this time, Jj and his guests Attys. Pau, Nico, Michael and another one whose name i forgot, arrived as well. Still shy to come up on stage to jam, the guests were a bit giddy to join and were still hesitant at first. Rick, Jj and I decided to go right ahead and play just to start the ball rolling. Our plan seemed to have worked that soon the newbies eventually got their grip and were up on stage on their own jamming their hearts out. Mission accomplished.
Soon more regular musicians showed up to join in. Percussionist Vincent Garrucho, vocalists Monch Henares and Toby Alberto and later on keyboard lord Kiko Montecillo stepped in. As usual, Kiko wowed the guests with his exemplary performance playing practically every song request that was thrown at him. If you’ve already seen Kiko play, you know he will pull it off. What a fun jam! Kudos to the guys!
At post jam, some stayed around longer for the usual nightcap and chit chat prior to heading for home. The festivity concluded before dawn at exactly 5:05am with just Kiko, Vincent, Gab, Rick and myself being the last men standing.
And so goes our story for this week’s Friday Jam, as always unpredictable, but as sure as day, full of joy and blessings in the end. I praise and thank God.
Till the next time….
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
Saturday, December 1, 2018
At the onset, it was quite perplexing to call the night as to how it will eventually turn out being a long weekend as some regulars and guests might have had made other plans to go out of town or whatnot and couldn’t make it over. It was also payday for most employed and so anything can really happen. It was a wait and see scenario.
The evening started at past 9pm with just a few of us elders on stage, handicapped and just struggling to make it work. It continued on unabated with more and more musicians joining in and ended much earlier than usual at 2am, concluding with us stepping down and the younger generation now in total dominion. As you can already imagine, after us, the music pursued predominantly rock in genre and unrelenting chord progressions to boot that seemed to last forever. At some point it even became a fierce face-off between the lead guitarists on board. It was totally ear popping and mind-blowing to say the least. A total contrast to the previous weekends we had experienced, genre wise.
House band percussionist Vincent Garrucho was the first on the list of arrivals followed shortly by balik-music room guitarist Reg Gutierrez. Reg was a regular guy on stage back in the day before he got hitched and relocated elsewhere distant. He now comes over to jam rarely being busy with family, work and because of proximity where he now lives. Nonetheless, it’s always a pleasure to have him around.
When bassist Rick Trinidad showed up, we were then good to jam. I had no choice but to take on the drum chores to fill in before house band drummer Bubui Colico arrives. It became Reg’s call on what to actually play as he was the lone rhythm section on guitar on board. He did vocals at times too. Hall and Oates ( excuse me please...not “Holy Notes”!) eventually became the menu for the day for us.
Monotones honcho Ryan Nacino and Pau Villanueva of Athalie and Carousel Casualties along with Mean Jay front man Joko Reantaso and his musician friend were in the house, comprising the roster of jammers who performed on stage.
Among the others who were present were Joko’s dad Jay, Gab Villanueva, Nikki Segundo, John Sarmiento, Luisa Distor, Reynald Perez and Raul Julian. Thank you one and all.
After the jam, when most had already left, Rick, Jay and Joko still hanged around to unwind while having a few more beers and some chit chat till past 4am. All’s well that ends well…praise and thank God!
And so we look forward to the next jam night. December is now upon us. It’s the best time of the year for me. Looking forward to more blessings to come for all of us.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!
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