Kazins: The band to watch

As the age of Bisaya rock comes to a bloom lately, I established a connection with Sir James "Jimvoy" Dionson, keyboardist of Bisrock band "Makadawa". Sir Jimvoy teaches students of mixed ages at the A. Salonga Music Center - SM City Cebu on how to play musical instruments.

Under the tutelage of Sir Jimvoy are teener-music protégés Jhelsea Maine Flores, Jogen dela Cruz, twin sisters Whenvy Lyn Noel and Whenvy Jean Noel, and Mary Adrean dela Cruz of Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.

Playing on vocals, keyboards, lead guitar, bass guitar and drums, respectively, this band of pretty faces is collectively called "Kazins", obviously because they are first-degree cousins.

I learned of their series of performances first through a variety show last June 11 at the SM Atrium Plaza conceptualized by A. Salonga School of Music where the five are into voice lessons and on playing instruments.

Of the five, I got the opportunity to exchange conversations with Jhelsea a few minutes before her voice lessons started, and found out she is a promising talent. Born January 6, 1993, this grade eight student at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion started joining campus singing contests at the tender age of four.

From 2000 to date, she is a voice recitalist at the A. Salonga Music Center where she takes up her voice lessons. She bagged top prize in the Cebu Province Singing Contest four years ago sponsored by the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Also on same year, she was grand finalist of Bulilit Star Quest hosted by the now defunct "Magandang Tanghali Bayan" variety show of ABS-CBN. The contest was held at the Mandaue Sports Complex and was hooked up via satellite for nationwide broadcast.

In 2004, Jhelsea emerged grand champ for Duet Bulilit hosted again by MTB. Last year saw the formation of her band Kazins together with her first-degree cousins as her instrumentalists.

Last February 18, the group - for a feat - romped away as grand champion in a band explosion sponsored by the San Roque Child Development School of Liloan, Cebu, besting other 11 groups that were composed mostly of adults, as reported.

Also, Jhelsea was with Madamme Aida dela Cruz, founder of A. Salonga Music Center, at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel last December for a performance which also opened a venue for Jhelsea to be exposed to another kind of crowd.

Last Saturday, Kazins band didn't fail to meet with expectations. They stood out during the Ladies Rock Night (A Bisrock Event: One Nite Stand 2) at Wuzzzup RestoBar along Escario street.

Sharing space on the platform with Bisrock bands Indephums (Hukom, Angay Na Ba?, Bisrock); Timeslot (Wala Ko Nimo Tagda, Nag-inusara, Balitok); Makadawa (Mangga, Duwaan, Abat); and Ossified (Deep Pressed, I Hate Being Like This) as special guest, Kazins showed what musical prowess should be and how musical intelligence should be put into productive use to entertain a rockin', bumpin', stompin', groanin', hoompin' audience whose applauses fueled such an explosive performance.

Early this week, the girls sent me a text message they would be up with a recording on some songs Sir Jimvoy helped sort out for them to be given a soulful rendition that is typical of Bisdak musicians. I also learned Sir Jimvoy will be directing them to connect with the realization of recording original compositions in the tradition of beautiful music, of playing this good music, and of upholding music that leaves a mark!

Kazins are homegrown talents who are working hard to pursue their musical craft. Expect to see more of them soon in musicians' watering holes, in artists' havens, in mall entertainment centers; and hear more of them over the airwaves.

This is all about girl power supported by the lone male on keyboards. This is Kazins - the band to watch!