Monk’s Dream: The new jazz mecca

This isn’t a place where you’ll find fully-robed, clean-shaven monks muttering polysyllabic mantras or Gregorian chants.

Instead, what you’ll definitely hear is pure, unadulterated music from the high priests of jazz – Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and of course, Thelonius Monk – as played by the country’s finest exponents.

One of the most revered jazz pianists and composers from the bebop era, Monk wrote such classics as ‘Round Midnight, Straight No Chaser, Blue Monk, Epistrophy and of course, Monk’s Dream, which was adopted as the new jazz haunt’s fitting monicker.

Having been an ardent jazz fan since his college days, Monk’s Dream proprietor Gus Lagman initially toyed around with a few fancy tag lines, which later turned out too kitsch for comfort.

"Monk’s style really grew on me, and since his Monk’s Dream album is a favorite, I thought it sounded like a nifty throwback to the jazz years," Lagman narrates.

If his name rings a bell among infotech denizens, it’s because he’s also the founding chairman of STI, the computer school chain, and is also the chairman and COO of Systems Standards Inc., a leading IT-services provider.

But don’t let that corporate exterior fool you. The man knows his music – having led a charmed double life since his days at IBM during the early ’70s. After the long hours of furious number-crunching behind his desk, the computer wizard would switch hats, roll up his sleeves and hie off in search of a good place to quench his insatiable thirst for jazz – a routine we aptly described as ‘switching from one keyboard to another.’

"My passion actually started way back during my college years in U.P." Lagman reminisces. There were these weekly jam sessions at DRB along Sta. Mesa which featured such big names as Lito Molina, Nelda Lopez-Navarro (Leah Navarro’s mom), Emil Mijares, Toots Dila and Tony Velarde."

Name it, he’s been there – from the Manhattan Club along Shaw Blvd to Café Indonesia along Roxas Blvd., Calesa Bar, Vineyard, Birds of the Same Feather, Hugo’s and Hot Tube in Makati.

"It got tiring after a while, because most of the bands ended up playing fusion and showband fare at full volume. There’s music for the ears and music for the feet. I love the former," he reiterates.

Still, his passion never waned. Even long after STI and its affiliates became by-words in the industry, the ghosts of the jazz gods (and ‘remembrances of swings past’) still haunted him. Even with his coffers full, he still felt empty inside.

"I still had this nagging thought that by the time I reach 60, I should have my own place where I can enjoy good food and listen to good jazz," he wistfully recounts.

His dream finally came to fruition early this year, when Monk’s Dream finally opened to a very exuberant jazz audience. "What sets us apart is the music. We have a pretty eclectic mix here. There are big band nights with Ugoy-Ugoy, Latin and Brazilian-flavored stints with Bo Razon and of course, mainstream jazz from the JR Cobb Jazz Chamber and our own house band," Lagman proudly avers.

Located at the 2nd level of Jupiter Place Bldg. Along the plush Bel-Air resto row, Monk’s Dream has now become the haven of yuppies, expats and die-hard jazz buffs.

"But we’re also pushing Monk’s Dream as a good dining place," he stresses. "After all, we have a good selection of Tex-Mex and Cajun-inspired dishes. We also serve lunch now." Interestingly enough, some of the entrees have been aptly christened.

"Where elese can you get an appetizer called Miles Dilis?," he chuckles. The late trumpeter Miles Davis must be turning over his grave. "Also, it’s not yet in the menu, but we also plan to have Duck Ellington," he said teasingly.

With his dream partially fulfilled, Lagman fervently hopes to attain his ultimate goal: to turn Manila into Asia’s jazz mecca. "Let’s face it. Everywhere we go, Filipinos rank high among the best musicians in the world. There was (pianist) Bobby Enriquez, a stranger in his own land, who reaped accolades in the European jazz market," he points out.

"I’m looking forward to the time when there’ll be an annual jazz festival here in Manila. With proper planning and marketing, it can be done," Lagman asserts.

Coming from someone who single-handed built a computer empire from scratch, that elusive dream might soon become another reality.