MANILA, Philippines?It was a celebration of the pleasure of hearing exceptionally good music.
On Monday, first night of the main concerts in the 3rd Philippine International Jazz & Arts Festival at Sofitel, Lee Ritenour played like a wizard with the magic wand that was his guitar.
With ?an all-star? backup, Ritenour breezed through a lineup of eight songs that stretched to what seemed like unending bliss, prompted by wonderful exchanges of improvised solos.
Ritenour, also fondly called ?Rit? and ?Captain Fingers,? was visibly delighted as he urged each musician to let go and play freely. That, he got? in large doses.
Drummer Will Kennedy, formerly of the Yellow Jackets, thundered through his rolls and relentless pounding; bassist Melvin Davis, music director of Chaka Khan, was astounding with his custom-made guitar, which he played like a melodic lead instrument; and keyboardist Patrice Rushen, whom Rit called ?Baby Fingers,? surprised everyone who thought she was merely the singer behind the ?80s disco staple, ?Forget Me Nots.?
The songs were a frolicsome variety that bore traces of the blues, funk, swing, straight-ahead jazz and Brazilian melodies. They were alternately sweet, wild, meditative, imaginative. One number, a funky version of Jobim?s ?Ague de Beber,? was scorching hot.
Earlier, Tillie Moreno dished out scatting versions of such standards as ?Fly Me to the Moon,? ?A Night in Tunisia,? ?Route 66,? and a well-applauded ?Umagang Kay Ganda? (with guest Bambi Urgino).
Opening the show was Jazzista, led by young saxophonist Alvin Cornista, who explained he was playing ?nu-jazz,? or improvising over rhythms from a laptop computer.
When the PI Jazzfest ends tomorrow night, it should be clear to the organizers and sponsors that there?s no stopping this annual event now.
Featured tonight are the British band Incognito and the Japan-based Filipina singer Charito with the Manila-Paris Confidential.
Taking the stage tomorrow are the French group Chico & the Gypsies, Toti Fuentes with Kevyn Lettau, Anna Fegi, Tillie Moreno, Charito, the Brass Munkeys and Lorraine Desmarais.
