Bituin Escalante sang to a packed crowd of eager music lovers at the Ayala Museum last October 28, 2023. One of the country’s foremost vocalists, Escalante was the star of Jeepney Jazz Sessions Two: The New York, Cubao Project.
The Jeepney Jazz Sessions are a series of mini concerts presented by the Filipinas Heritage Library in partnership with Purefoods Deli. The performance on October 28 was the debut of New York, Cubao, an original jazz musical by composer and saxophonist Dan Gil.
In the audience for Jeepney Jazz were current Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) president Tony Lambino and former EVP and COO of AFI Bill Luz. Also present were president of BDO Capital and jazz head Ed Francisco, tech tycoon and jazz club owner Gus Lagman, former Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., Ernie and Michelle Lopez of the ABS-CBN Metro Society, and veteran broadcast journalist Abner Mercado.
Gil first thought of New York, Cubao as a story about sweethearts separated by circumstance. The romantic plots of classic Sampaguita movies seeded the story concept in his mind
Gil continued playing with the idea during jam sessions with frequent musical collaborators, such as Escalante. They began working on a concept album of Filipino songs inspired by American jazz standards. The musical New York, Cubao is the end result, an original composition in the jazz idiom, distinctly Pinoy in story and sound.
New York, Cubao tells the tale of a plucky young probinsyana who loves life, jazz, and her ambitious musician boyfriend. Escalante in the lead was backed by Gil on the piano and saxophone, Jose Aris Antinero on trombone, Gabe Dandan and Johnny Alegre on guitars, Enrique Santa Maria on bass, Benjo Robles on drums, and Marc Nicolas on trumpet and flugelhorn.
Escalante’s singing swept the audience away as her character followed her heart and her boyfriend to Manila. From the catchy opening of “Tsokolate at Suman” to the quick rhythms of “Sa Dewey Boulevard,” the songs traced her journey towards realizing that she and her boyfriend had grown apart.
The last three songs turned quickly from heartbreak to a form of healing familiar to many Pinoys, a celebration of food. The bittersweet melodies of “Huwag na Natin Pilitin Pa” and “Pasko na Naman” gave way to “Piniritong Manok,” a fast-swinging tune that capped the night.
The Jeepney Jazz Sessions mark the first time that the songs of New York, Cubao were played in before a live crowd. Purefoods Deli chefs created a special line-up of flavorful dishes, such as Sausage in Rendang Sauce, Sinuglaw, and meat-free Lumpiang Prito, that had the audience coming back for seconds and even thirds.
The miniconcerts of Jeepney Jazz form part of FHL’s music appreciation program which also includes talks about jazz and an archiving project digitizing Philippine jazz music, music sheets, and related materials.
Visit filipinaslibrary.org.ph for more information on the library and its upcoming events.