Mishka Adams - Stranger On The Shore (Candid Productions 2013)

Since graduating from London's prestigious Guildhall College of Music, Mishka has honed not only her vocal skills, but as is clear from this new album she has also developed admirably her compositional and arranging skills. Here she puts her indelible stamp on a hand picked collection of songs internationally know and loved. Here Star Eyes gets a pulsating Bossa Nova treatment, while the groovy Benny Golson classic Whisper Not and the poignant rendition of Stranger in the Shore emphasize the lyrics to great effect. Other highlights showcase Mishka's passion for the 'Great French Songbook' as she sings Sous le ciel de Paris in its native tongue and likewise Chico Barque's masterpiece Beatriz. Another landmark album from this Anglo-Filipina artist.
http://mishkaadamsmusic.com

USA: The Filipino American jazz Fest 2012

Celebrate Filipino American History Month this year with Jazz – join the 5th Annual San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival October 12th and 13th at Yoshi’s Oakland and October 14th at Yoshi’s San Francisco. This three-day celebration will feature legendary jazz master, Archie Shepp; Afro-Filipino King of Latin Soul, Joe Bataan; winner of the 2008 London International Jazz Vocal Competition, Mon David; and Jo Canion, the SF Bay Area’s Grande Dame of Pinay Jazz. Prior to this, there will be a free “Meet and Greet” with Joe Bataan at Miss Pearl’s in the Waterfront Hotel on Thursday October, 11 from 5-7pm.  Music by the Nerio DeGrazia Mambo Jazztet.
ASIANWEEKCOM

Philippines: Whole lotta love and good music in ‘Pijazzfest’

There’s a whole lotta love and exhilarating music in store for everyone. The annual Philippine International Jazz Festival (Pijazzfest), whose 2012 edition is dedicated to one of its founders, Edgar “Koyang” Avenir, runs for three weeks this month. It boasts a lineup of over 100 artists representing all music genres including rock, blues, folk, funk, progressive, standards, classical and pop.
Following last year’s successful formula of mounting performances in small and large venues around Metro Manila (and one night in Bacolod), Pijazzfest 2012 kicks off February 11 at the Insular Life Auditorium in Alabang with “Honoring the Maestro,” a tribute to Filipino classical and jazz luminary Angel Peña. To perform his original compositions are the AMP Big Band conducted by Mel Villena, Gina Medina, Jonathan Coo, Kasilag Guitar Trio, Renato Lucas, Rommel Cruz and Sheryl Ann de Dios.
A special piano festival starring Bong Infante, David Starck, Emcy Corteza, Joey Quirino and Romy Posadas is set on February 16, 6 p.m. at the Ayala Museum, Makati. On February 17, the fest moves to Eastwood City in Libis with The Brass Munkeys, Dino Fiumara, Dave Eggar and Deoro, The Executive Band and Kevyn Lettau. By: Philippine Daily Inquirer

WORLD JAZZ FLASH / October 7, 2011

Philippines: Aiza claims 'jazz is mainstream'
MANILA, Philippines -- Aiza Seguerra and Cooky Chua attempt to prove that jazz can be mainstream preference through “Love Jazztified” happening Oct. 7 at the Music Museum.
A former child actress, Aiza managed to carve her own space in the music industry starting with her breakout hit “Pagdating Ng Panahon.” Aiza just came back from a series of shows in the USA with the Sessionistas, and is excited to do a new genre of songs – jazz & blues – with Cooky Chua.


ALL ABOUT JAZZ NEWS
INTERVIEW/PROFILE: Jazz Musician of the Day: Aaron Parks

Namibia: Jazzing with Jimmy Dludlu - by Clemence Tashaya
 A jazz encounter under the stars with a special performance by the South African jazz maestro, Jimmy Dludlu, takes place tomorrow night in Windhoek.The multi-award s winner and celebrated South African guitarist graces the Old Mutual Jazz Encounter with South African counterpart Simphiwe Dana and other Namibian artists like Lizy Eises, Major 7s, Big Ben, Adora, R.U.N Nams featuring Lize Elhers and Dantagob. Jimmy Dludlu will offer Namibian jazz fans tunes from his latest album, Tonota, released in July in Johannesburg. It really paints him in the middle of his career.

Canada:  CELLIST HELENA JUNG, pianist Sean Mooney and others, including drummer James McRae will play Oct. 23 at the Sid Williams Theatre in Courtenay.

Philippines : CCP to host first international jazz festival

Once graced by legendary musical gods such as B.B. King and Ray Charles, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) will be transformed into the country’s biggest jazz lounge when it hosts “The Story of Jazz: 1st CCP International Jazz Festival 2011" this month.

Cookie Chua sings the blues
The line-up of Filipino and international jazz musicians and singers performing during the Aug. 23-28 jazz smorgasbord in various CCP venues is enough to leave local jazz enthusiasts breathless. Guest artists from South Korea, Japan, Austria, Spain and the US will “combine their talents with our leading jazz musicians," said CCP President Raul Sunico.

An internationally acclaimed classical pianist and music professor, Sunico said the jazz festival is part of the CCP management’s campaign “to democratize and open the institution to events not yet done within its premises."

At the press conference announcing the event, he noted that “Philippine jazz figures can compare with the best in the world. Only the venue for their performance is lacking. Delayed as it maybe, it is not too late to start a jazz festival."

He added that the festival intends “to show the world that the Philippines can be a serious venue for this genre of music."

Giving a sample of what to expect at the festival, Filipino jazz artists Emy Munji, Ruben Reyes, and Joey Valenciano performed “Stompin’ at the Savoy," a 1934 jazz standard composed by Edgar Sampson to honor the Savoy Ballroom, a music and public dancing venue opened in New York City’s Harlem in 1926.

They also performed “I Remember April" by Gene de Paul, a song introduced in 1942 in the Abbott and Costello comedy “Ride ‘em Cowboy" that featured Ella Fitzgerald.


CCP Artistic Director and Vice President Chris Millado enthused: “Someone said jazz is like liquid architecture. It is a wonderful way of putting it. We are very excited to have this kind of liquid architecture meld with the architecture of CCP."

150 jazz musicians

Millado said Filipinos have been described as “the blacks of Asia because of the internal rhythm that we carry." Filipino musicians and singers perform all over the world, even in remote places, such that Filipino travelers often hear a Filipino band playing when they walk into a hotel lobby overseas, he said.

Menchi Mantaring, head of the CCP Music Division, said the CCP Jazz Festival “will be a time for the participating foreign and local artists to bond together and collaborate, in this enjoyable language of musical expression."

More than 150 jazz musicians are expected to converge at the CCP to jive and jam in various venues, Mantaring said. Participants will share their narratives through lectures and performances of jazz in various styles such as bebop, blues, ragtime, modal, experimental, big band, and fusion, among others.

World renowned royal hartigan and blood drum spirit will hold lectures on the evolution of jazz music, the beginnings of be bop, and “free jazz" on various dates. Royal hartigan, who has done extensive research on West African traditional drumming and culture, also lectures on African jazz on Aug. 27.

The group will perform “African-American Music: History of Jazz from its African Origins to the Future," be bop, hard bop, and modal jazz during the festival.

The story of the how the blues became the blues will be the topic of Joric Maglanque while Japanese jazz guitarist Shun Kikuta will talk about the blues in the modern setting.

American jazz guitarist Michael Bourne collaborates with the young Filipino jazz trio Bleu Rascals while Japanese jazz guitarist Shun Kikuta performs with the famous local jazz group the Blue Rats in the Blues Night on Aug. 24. Other featured performers are the Faith Gospel Singers, Cookie Chua, and Bluesviminda.

Joey Valenciano talks about the influence of Indian music on jazz on Aug. 25, while Neris Gonzalez and Lowcal discuss Brazilian jazz on Aug. 26.

Munji and Majam perform be bop on Aug. 25 at the Silangan Hall.


Pinoy jazz

Pinoy Jazz is the subject of a video documentary by Richie Quirino and Collis Davis Jr. to be shown free of charge on Aug. 28 at the Dream Theater.

Based on Quirino's book, “Pinoy Jazz Traditions," which won the 2004 National Book Award in the music category, the 58-minute video documentary provides the first-ever visual exposition on the development of jazz in the Philippines. The video traces the evolution of jazz from its infancy in 1898, when Filipinos were first exposed to Black music performed by African-American soldiers, to its coming of age when musicians are turning to indigenous sources for inspiration.

The documentary incorporates historical still photography, turn-of-the century film footage, maps, old recordings, modern performances, and interviews with veteran and contemporary musicians to present an eye-opening view of the local jazz scene.

Other highlights of the festival are the Jazz Singing Workshop by Japan-based Filipino jazz singer Charito and performances by the UST Jazz Band, Austrian jazz quartet Stelzhamma, Korean Soul and Beat Project. – YA, GMA News

For more information, please call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 and CCP Performing Arts Department at 832-1125 local 1605 or visit www.culturalcenter.gov.ph

15-year-old phenom Jonathon Dompor Furer plays at Trumpets Jazz Club

For New Jersey based Jonathon Furer, it came a few years ago in seventh grade, at a school talent show. The classically trained 15 year old singer, songwriter, pianist and saxophonist was already teaching piano to younger students. He first played Scott Joplin’s classic rag “The Entertainer” at age six and was introduced to the music of Billy Joel and Elton John by family members. He knew he liked all different kinds of music, but he wasn’t sure about his abilities as a performer. Furer took the stage and for the next five minutes captivated the audience with a powerhouse rendition of Joel’s classic Piano Man, even playing the trademark harmonica fills while playing the keys. The crowd gave him a rousing standing O—and nothing has ever been the same since.

“It was the greatest five minutes of my life,” Furer says. “I was in shock, and it’s hard to describe what it is about the experience that makes it so incredible. It’s not just the rush, but more about the deep connection with the audience. It just felt very liberating, like when I’m performing, that’s when I am most connected with the music. I knew I wanted to spend my life doing this.”

Furer is well on his way. In addition to performing with the Cranford High School jazz band and in other settings related to the academic setting, Furer has played gigs at numerous clubs, benefit concerts, restaurants and private events. Having entertained at such events as Night With the Stars for the local Ronald McDonald House and a talent show to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, he has also become a true musical philanthropist. As a way of giving back to his community, he also enjoys playing and singing at senior citizen centers, local hospitals and at various Autism Walks. While maintaining good grades, and actively involved with YMCA Model United Nations and Youth & Government, the high school junior has also built a clientele of 24 piano students, creating individual curriculums for children ranging in age from five to 17.

Read more: asianjournal.com