Jamming with Alvin Cornista

When Alvin plays his sax, conversation stops. He fills the air with soothing sounds and allows your emotions to mellow until you feel pleasure just sitting and watching the man blowing on his brass tube. International musicians have recognized Alvin Cornista, 34, and have invited him to play with them. A New Year’s Eve party with the Temptations, concerts with Norah Jones and three tours in Canada with Paul Anka gave him the exposure he needed. The tours would last about 21 days and the group would travel to a different city every day. Brunch by 10 a.m., nap, sound check at 4:30, back to the room to change, perform the concert, finish at 10, attend a reception, check out the nightlife, sleep at 2 a.m., wake up and go to airport by 6 a.m. The chance to use his talents to spice up classic songs with jazzy rhythms encouraged Alvin to join these hectic tours and enjoy being on stage. 

Alvin’s grandfather was also a saxophone player. Our bachelor was 10 years old when his grandmother passed her husband’s saxophone to Alvin. From the first moment he blew the sax, Alvin knew that he would love to do it all his life.

Born in Quezon City, Alvin studied in Canada, then moved to the University of North Texas. After college, our saxophonist decided to focus on music as a career. For six years, he concentrated on his saxophone and music writing. His partnership with his award-winning Canadian band, Sekoya, led to him being signed by Universal Records. His fame gave him access to celebrity yet his desire was to be known as a Filipino artist. So Alvin picked up his sax and moved back to the Philippines. Here he reflects on being nominated to the Canadian awards, learning how to cry and his Sofitel weekend gift.

I get inspired to write and make music usually after meals.

For grooming and style I rely on friends to give me tips. I don’t mind this at all.

I work best in my studio in Pasig. It’s relaxed and creative. It’s a studio for recording and mixing — private space where I write.

The last meal that truly impressed me was a home-cooked meal prepared by my friend, Kaphryn Eckstein. She made a Portuguese stew with pork bone and kidney beans.

Sax man: Cornista plays weekly at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, One Esplanade and M Café Ayala Museum, where his music varies from jazz to dance music with a tribal influence.

What helped me to conquer fear is to enjoy the moment.

My best moment was being nominated Best Contemporary Jazz Album and walking the red carpet at the Juno Awards (the Canadian Grammys).

My worst moment was the hangover the next day. (Laughs)

Best quality about me: I’m Mr. Positive.

A quality that I have been working to address is learning how to cry.

A recent find is a vintage vocal compressor (for recording). It is my job to record and write music. When I record Karylle, for example, I find a way to capture the best performance she can give for the song. Then, from the microphone, the voice goes through a voice compressor to smooth out any sound.

The last thing I bought and loved is a vintage sax from Bacolod. Thanks, Gina, and long live your late, great, sax player husband, Nick! I am building a vintage saxophone collection; anything 30 years or more or made before the 1980s can be considered vintage here.

The thing I’m hoping to buy next are shoes. It’s been a while ... too long!

If I had to limit my travels to one city… Manila, that’s why I moved here five years ago! It’s crazy like no other place on earth!

A memorable place I have traveled to in the past year: Bintan Island, Indonesia. We went for a vacation. In some ways it is like Boracay or Bohol with resort subdivisions.

The souvenirs I choose to bring home: musical trinkets.

The places that inspire me are beaches: Boracay, Palawan, as long as there is sand, blue water, and sunsets.

The best gift I have given recently is a weekend getaway to Sofitel. This was for my parents’ anniversary.

And the best one I’ve received recently: Love.

In my fridge you’ll always find mayonnaise!

My favorite websites: YouTube and eBay.

I am proud of my brother, completely different approach to life than me — he’s a suit — but equally successful.

Beside my bed are earplugs ... just in case!

My style icon is Johnny Depp. He is always a bit different. I am always trying to be a bit different.

If I wasn’t doing what I do, I’d be a chef and a restaurateur.

The grooming basic I am never without: wax for hair.

In school, I learned everything; I took it all. But majored in Music and minored in Philosophy.

After being in business, I realized that stock markets are much easier to handle.

A while ago I was browsing music history and recording studio techniques.

My talents include playing sax, writing music, producing songs.

The sport I do the most: Golf ... and gulp, gulp, gulp.

The books I am reading now are none. I’m not a reader; I fall asleep easily.

I remember an embarrassing moment at work… New Year’s Eve, a gig with the Temptations, my pants’ crotch tore open!

The way I plan my day is write it down and stick to it!

The last time I cried was… when I visited my lola in the hospital last week, I almost cried, but I didn’t. She is fighting cancer. I just visited her again and she can walk and talk. It’s a miracle.

Good advice I received is whatever you do, you got to be having fun!

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E-mail: aurorawilson@gmail.com.