100 artists, 15 bands to be featured at 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival

Emy Munji (Photo by Jude Bautista); Dr. Raul Sunico (inset)

In a recent press launch held at the Manila Hotel, Dr. Raul Sunico, president of the CCP, said that the 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival, which started in 2011, is in recognition of the jazz genre as a major style of musical creativity through improvisation as well as the distinct theories in its harmonic, scalar, and rhythmic components that are both appealing and inviting to the listener.

About 100 artists and 15 bands from the Philippines, US, Europe and Asia will be featured in this year’s festival, set to open on Sept. 17 to 22 in various venues of the CCP.

“The global attraction of jazz has reached a wide spectrum of enthusiasts including in Asia where its own brand of Eastern and ethnic music seems to fuse well with its style,” Dr. Sunico sad. “Through the Festival, CCP hopes to bring the Philippines into the mainstream of global jazz activity and make it a legitimate and recognized venue for international jazz festivals.”

Another objective the CCP hopes to achieve through the CCP jazz festival, according to Dr. Sunico, would be to create a harmonious relationship among the country’s jazz figures and groups.

He added: “With the establishment of so many of these ensembles, it is imperative for the CCP to provide a prestigious venue for our talents to perform and be discovered, to play and to listen, to seek a camaraderie with (collaborations) with other groups, and to help propagate this wonderful musical genre for everyone to enjoy.”

Aside from performances of jazz music in all its styles -from the big band, swing, blues, fusion and experimental – there will also be workshops and lectures on the various jazz genres, Dr. Sunico said.

Slated to perform at the event are the Dutch Quartet, Buzz Boys Band, drummer Harald Huyssen, Low-Cal, Johnny Alegre, Humanfolk, Indonesian guitarist I Wayan Balawan, Italian accordionist, pianist and guitarist Fabio Turchetti, Japanese guitarist Shun Kikuta, Malaysian acoustic guitar player Roger Wang, Royal Hartigan and Blood Drum Spirit, and top Filipino talents.

For tickets and further information, visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

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Monique Azerreda

Monique Azerreda Has Star Quality

With her beauty and talent, Monique Azerreda could easily penetrate local showbiz and be a movie and/or TV star. In fact, when she was younger, Monique appeared in a Sharon Cuneta-Aga Muhlach movie, she delightfully recalled during the after-premiere dinner for “Otso” at Club 1810 in Malate. But she’s more passionate about her theater career. Monique has been an active member of Vince Tañada’s theater group called Philippine Stagers Foundation (PSF) for the past six years.

Monique is Vince’s leading lady in Elwood Perez’s indie film “Otso,” an entry to the ongoing Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival: All Masters Edition. She plays Sabina, the mistress of a congressman, who is also the object of desire of Vince’s character Lex, an aspiring writer who just came back from Los Angeles. Lex’s obsession of her leads to his tragic end.

A Financial Management graduate from San Beda College, Monique first appeared on stage playing the role of Helen in “Troy Avenue,” after which she played Angela in “Bahay Pula” during the PSF Summer Theater Fest in 2009, Isabel in “Bangkay sa Corintho,” Ingrid in “Ako si Ninoy,” Madam de Gondi in “ San Vicente, A Zarswela,” Giselle in “4C-I (AIDS),” Tsang Yna in “Pest to Pest,” for the PSF Summer Theater Fest in 2011 and Lauri in “Papeng ni Kiko,” for the PSF Theater Fest in 2012. In “Cory Ng EDSA,” Monique played the role of Anette.

Not limiting herself to acting and production work, Monique also ventured into writing. She wrote the play “I Went to My Funeral,” which competed in the PSF Theater Fest in 2011. From 2009 to the present, Monique is a facilitator for the PSF Annual Summer Workshop. Her most recent acting assignment for PSF was as Rizal’s controversial lover Josephine Bracken in the play “Joe A Filipino Rock’sical.”

By the way, Monique is a candidate to the Miss Resorts World Manila 2013 search.

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THE ARTISTS: From left: Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Susan Fetalvero-Roces, Rosario Bitanga, Marivic Rufino and Lenore RS Lim

‘Appassionata’ At Altro Mondo Greenbelt 5

Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea is presenting “Appassionata,” ia group exhibition of new works by Rosario Bitanga, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Lenore RS Lim, Susan Fetalvero-Roces and Marivic Rufino at the Altro Mondo Arte Contemporanea at Greenbelt 5 in Makati City.

Regarded as “the most tempestuous” piano work by Ludwig Van Beethoven is his Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, which is popularly known as the “Appassionata.” The word is Italian for “passionate.”

Five artists also chose “Appassionata” as the title of their group exhibition. All ardent and brimming with passion for life and art are Rosario Bitanga, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Lenore RS Lim, Susan Fetalvero-Roces and Marivic Rufino.

“Appassionata” will be on view at the Altro Mondo Greenebelt 5 until Oct. 4, 2013.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings, Sept. 16, go to Irene Marcos-Araneta, Emeellee Mercado, Tommy Abuel, Janno Gibbs, Romy Posadas, Lito Legaspi, Rica Bagatsing, Janet Bordon, Rex Paul M. Cruz, Belinda Mejia, Norma Cobarrubias, Beth Lugtu, Gemma Cruz, Elma Fadiri, Millie Reyes, Betty Malong of PCSO, Joel Mejia, Arlene Silan-Vigilla of Atlanta, presidential photographer Gil Nartea, Jenny Reyes, Georgia, Lee Soliman, Imelda C. Baun, MB Research’s Leo Ortega Laparan II and Ms. Milen de Quiros…

100 artists, 15 bands to be featured at 2nd CCP International Jazz Festival

Source: Mb.com.ph (September 15, 2013 at 10:00PM)

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