A night with Crossover’s ‘Awesome Threesome’

With the exception of jazz uber babe Dianna Krall’s recent Manila stopover, there hasn’t been any significant milestone in the local jazz scene – until last month, that is.

Even at the height of the bomb scare that triggered a frisking frenzy, many a jazz fan risked life and limb last Oct. 19 to watch 105. 1 Crossover’s musical tour de force for the year – a one-of-a-kind team-up featuring Bobby Caldwell, Phil Perry and former Seawind vocalist Pauline Wilson at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was a nostalgic evening for most of the fans who had experienced the advent of the smooth jazz boom during the late ’70s. More than being able to relive the same vivid remembrances of swings past, there was this pervading curiosity as to how the tandem would sound, considering the performers’ diverse musical styles.

When Phil Perry sauntered onstage a little past 9 p.m., the audience heaved a collective sigh. His trademark falsetto diffused all the tension brought about by those never-wracking, stress-inducing bomb threats.

Wearing a light-blue ensemble and a broad-rimmed hat, Perry – all of 250 pounds or more – moved about with the grace of a ballerina. Visibly delighted with the tight and masterful strokes of his all-Filipino band, Perry remarked, "You know, I was a little concerned about having Filipino musicians as my back-up band tonight, but based on my experience, I had the rare privilege of working with some of them before, and I can always say that they are very good, and have a lot of soul."

Perry’s "soulmates" that night were pianist Bond Samson, bassist Sonny Azurin, drummer Nino Regalado, musical director and second keyboardist Lorrie Ilustre, guitarist Cesar Aguas, and back-up vocalists Manolo Tanquilot, Zebedee Zuñiga, Marina Tolentino and Jingle Buena.

For someone who’s paid his dues as an in-demand back-up vocalist. Perry definitely knows whereof he speaks. And when he went backstage to escort back-up singer Jingle Buena centerstage, he was more than eager to trade bluesy riffs with her on the Earth, Wind and Fire classic After The Love Has Gone.

Sweeping through octave upon octave of scat-like solos, Perry coaxed an equally impressive performance from Buena – who readily obliged with her contrapuntal melodies. Never clashing nor overpowering each other, the duo wove their improvisatory threads atop musical director Lorrie Ilustre’s sure-footed comping.

Local guitar wiz Cesar Aguas’ light, rhythmic stabs and double-stops propelled Perry through such hits as Living For The Love Of You, You’re As Right As Rain, and One Heart, One Love, Cradling a Parker Fly, Aguas’ ably strutted his six-string prowess, proving to all and sundry why he is the session guitarist of choice in the local concert scene.

Amazed at the audience’s tremendous response, a very grateful Perry, midway through his set, remarked, "You know, you may not know the people next to you, but still, you took the chance and came tonight. And for that, I’m extremely thankful!"

Considering her hit-filled resume, Pauline Wilson’s set could very well pass for "musical foreplay." Following up her solo hit Stay with early Seawind faves like Follow Your Road and the Latin-tinged He Loves You, by the time she almost worked up her audience to a climax, she bid adieu. Well, after all, the three-time Manila visitor was merely the special guest and a last-minute addition to the show. But even then, her crystalline voice never lost its luster.

Maybe it was an excellent build-up for the show’s climax after all. Bobby Caldwell, all dapper and dandy in a three-piece suit and fedora hat, kicked off his set with Where is Love? His busy fingers glided effortlessly through a patch of synth sounds, and occasionally flirted with his guitar.

Knowledgeable music fans recognized that Caldwell’s set list paid homage to several standards, including Walk On By and I’ll Be Around. This is not at all surprising, since many Caldwell fans should know that during the late ’90s, the versatile arranger/composer toured extensively with his 18-piece big band, with a repertoire consisting of songs made popular by Frank Sinatra and his contemporaries.

But then again, the man can swing both ways – musically, that is. Despite his formidable grounding in the jazz/blues tradition, Caldwell could rock as well. After all, when he was 17, he played lead guitar for none other than rock and roll icon Little Richard! Although he slung his guitar only once or twice during the concert, Caldwell pulled off some simple but tasteful blues licks.

As expected, the audience roared upon hearing the opening strings of his more popular hits Heart of Mine and What You Won’t Do For Love. But somehow, compared to Perry’s warm and free-spirited performance, Caldwell moved about with an almost clinical, mechanical precision, occasionally mumbling an obligatory spiel.

As a stranger in a strange land (in a rather precarious time), maybe he did have reason not to smile much. But what he didn’t do for love, his band more than made up for. Caldwell’s regular touring group includes Mark McMillen (piano), Thomas Verndock (guitar), Russel Miller (drums), George Shelby (sax), Jon Murray (bass), and Christian Ebner and Jean McClain on backing vocals.

For the encore, Perry and Wilson rejoined Caldwell onstage for their rousing, foot-stomping rendition of At Last – a fitting throwback to their R&B roots, with the threesome screaming their heads off en route to bluesville.

Crossover 105.1’s Bobby Caldwell-Phil Perry-Pauline Wilson Manila Tour was presented by Philippine Airlines, Mossimo, New Creamsilk Leave-On Hair Moisturizer, Dove Cream Bar, Studio 23, MYX and San Miguel Super Dry, in cooperation with Citibank Pay Lite, Shell Helix, Shell Velocity, Off Soft and Scented, Johnson Wax Kit, Discovery Suites, Pantene Pro-V, Nescafe Classic, Coffeemate, Metro Magazine, Lifestyle Network, Kenwood Home and Care Audio. Supported in part by Ford Escape, Bactidol, Manila Bulletin, Nido Child Nutrition System, Cocolife, Cravings Group and PLDT MyDSL.